Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi A3 Cabriolet - MPG, running costs & CO2 (2014-2020)

The Audi A3 Cabriolet comes with a sophisticated range of engines that offers low running costs

Carbuyer Rating

3.3 out of 5

Owners Rating

5.0 out of 5

Read owner reviews
MPG, running costs & CO2 Rating

3.5 out of 5

Although it's now bigger than before, the new Audi A3 Cabriolet is actually lighter than the car it replaced, which means Audi has managed to make fuel economy improvements across the board. The standard version is available with four engines – 1.4 and 2.0-litre petrols as well as 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesels. There's also the 306bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine of the high-performance Audi S3 version.

Audi A3 Cabriolet MPG & CO2

The 1.6-litre diesel engine offers the lowest running costs in the range, with fuel economy of 70.6mpg but we wouldn't blame you for wanting a little more performance from your sporty cabriolet.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Go for the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel and that's exactly what you’ll get. Fuel economy only drops below 60mpg if you choose to fit quattro four-wheel drive and even then the figure is a perfectly reasonable 57.6mpg.

The 1.4-litre petrol is a nippy performer, but can still return up to 55.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 118g/km. The 2.0-litre is quicker, but its turn of speed doesn’t affect fuel economy too badly – with the manual gearbox fitted, 49.6mpg should be possible, along with CO2 emissions of 131g/km.

Unsurprisingly, the fast S3 will hit your wallet the hardest, but 39.8mpg economy from a car that can do 0-62mph in just 5.4 seconds isn't too bad.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The Audi A3 Cabriolet will cost £140 per year in road tax. If you're buying one of the higher-spec models, keep an eye on the final price; if you add enough optional equipment to push the cost of the car over £40,000, the car will be liable for a surcharge of £310 in years two to six of ownership, bringing your road tax bill to £450 during that period. The starting price of the S3 version is over £40,000 to start with, so that version of the Cabriolet will incur the surcharge regardless of options.

Servicing

The Audi Complete plan offers three levels of scheduled maintenance for your Audi A3 and it can be paid for in small monthly instalments.

The cheapest is Service, which covers all services for the first three years, while the Service and Maintenance plan adds cover for engine, suspension, gearbox and brake components, as well as three years' breakdown cover.

The final level of cover (Service, Maintenance and Tyres) also includes replacement tyres (with a fair-use clause) as well as related wheel alignment and puncture repairs. The cost varies depending on the level of cover and whether it's for a basic A3 or the pricier S3 model.

Warranty

The three-year/60,000-mile warranty that comes with the A3 is pretty average by today's standards – a BMW 2 Series has the same length of cover, but with no mileage limit. Audi's cover can be extended to four years or 75,000 miles or five years and 90,000 miles, but when you’re paying top dollar for a small convertible, a longer warranty would be nice. Remember, even the most basic Kia has a 100,000-mile/seven-year warranty.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car tax: VED rates and increases explained 2024/25
Car tax
Tips and advice
4 Nov 2024

Car tax: VED rates and increases explained 2024/25

Ford EcoBoost engines: reliability, problems and should you buy one?
Ford Puma EcoBoost front
Tips and advice
5 Nov 2024

Ford EcoBoost engines: reliability, problems and should you buy one?

New Renault 5 is here! Retro EV costs from just under £23k
Renault 5
News
19 Nov 2024

New Renault 5 is here! Retro EV costs from just under £23k

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024