How much does the 2016 Audi A3 cost?

Prices have softened 9.98% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 593 listings available, which suggests you have some room to compare prices and condition.

If you find a listing below $10,812.26, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2016 Audi A3 a good car?

Generally — the 2016 Audi A3 earns a 4/5 user rating and a 7.83/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Look and feel at 9/10.

The A3’s appeal is strongest if you value a compact luxury car that feels polished, stylish, and easy to live with. The overview points to a well-sorted chassis, classy interior, and everyday usability, while the expert notes reinforce that it adds features without losing its practical character.

The market shows 30.2% of listings as good or great deals, which gives you a decent chance to find a strong value if you shop carefully.

Is the 2016 Audi A3 reliable?

Owners rate it 4/5, a solid signal of long-term satisfaction.

The overview emphasizes a refined, thoughtfully equipped package, and the expert notes describe a car that continues to feel attractive and usable after the novelty wears off. The performance write-up also suggests the drivetrain and transmission are competent and enjoyable, which matters when you’re living with the car every day.

The cost-effectiveness notes add that the A3 can be a strong value in lower-spec form, though higher-spec versions push the price up quickly. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is paying too much for features you may not need, especially if maintenance history is incomplete.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Audi A3?

At 53.6% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially on cars with higher mileage or visible cosmetic wear. Focus on how the car drives, whether the interior electronics work properly, and whether the equipment level matches the trim being advertised.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Premium trim includes leather, power seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-speaker stereo, xenon headlights, LED running lights, auto wipers, and the MMI interface, but it lacks the lane-keep assist mentioned on higher trims.
• Powertrain: The 1.8-liter engine is competent, but the 2.0-liter option brings more power and less turbo lag. The diesel option is the slowest, though it returns strong fuel economy.
• Safety package: Audi Pre-Sense adds collision-avoidance braking, and the car also offers adaptive cruise and lane-keep assist on higher trims. The base Premium trim sacrifices lane-keep assist.
• Infotainment: The standard MMI interface is well regarded, and the upgraded system adds a touch-sensitive rotary dial, navigation, voice controls, a Wi-Fi hotspot, configurable digital gauges, and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.
• Fuel efficiency: The 1.8-liter FWD sedan is rated at 27 mpg combined, with 23 mpg city and 33 highway. The 2.0-liter FWD engine gains 1 mpg in city driving, while the AWD convertible is rated at 26 mpg combined, with 23 mpg city and 32 highway. The diesel is rated at 36 mpg combined, with 31 mpg city and 43 highway.

Which 2016 Audi A3 trim should I buy?

The 2016 Audi A3 is offered in 3 trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: Premium gives you the core luxury and convenience features, but it misses the lane-keep assist that appears on higher trims.
• Sweet-spot trim: Premium Plus is the best balance for many shoppers because it adds heated front seats, keyless entry and ignition, power for the front passenger seat, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
• Premium/top trim: Prestige is the most fully equipped choice, adding adaptive cruise, Audi Pre-Sense, lane-keep assist, upgraded tech, and the most complete feature set.
• Off-road trim: The Sport package adds suspension and steering changes that sharpen the car, but it is better suited to enthusiasts than typical daily drivers.

The safety package note is simple: lane-keep assist is not included on the base Premium trim.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Audi A3?

This is a moderate buyer’s market, so you can shop selectively without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 30.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 593 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.98% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 53.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $10,812.26, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Audi A3's resale value?

The current average of $10,931 sits slightly below last year's $12,143.

That price movement suggests the market has already adjusted downward, which can help you as a buyer but may limit upside if you plan to resell soon. If you buy at a strong price and keep the car in clean condition, you can reduce the impact of that softer trend. Higher-spec versions may still appeal to shoppers who want Audi luxury, but the market is likely to reward well-kept examples more than heavily optioned ones.

Vehicles with solid owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Audi A3 safe?

It earns a five-star overall rating in government crash tests, with four-star ratings in frontal crash, and five-star ratings in all other NHTSA tests. Independent testing from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety saw top scores across the board.

It earns a 8/10 safety score from our experts.

Audi Pre-Sense brings collision-avoidance braking, and the car also includes standard stability and traction control, 4-wheel antilock discs, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, and a full airbag suite. Higher trims add adaptive cruise and lane-keep assist, while sedans can also be fitted with rear side airbags.

One caveat is that the automatic braking system can be overly sensitive in some situations, so you should pay attention to how the driver-assistance tech behaves during your test drive.

Should I buy a 2016 Audi A3 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 30.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 53.6% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.98% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4/5 — a solid satisfaction signal.
• The 2016 adds standard reversing camera, parking sensors, and heated washers and mirrors, plus an S Line appearance package.

Consider the 2015 if:

• At $10,153, the 2015 costs less than the current year's $10,931 average.
• It helped establish the sedan shape and broadened the A3’s appeal.

The bottom line: If you want the better-equipped and more polished version of the A3, the 2016 is the stronger pick. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2015 remains the value-oriented alternative, especially if you find a clean example with the right equipment.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.