2027 Audi A3, S3 and RS3 Updated. Bigger Screens, Fewer Buttons, Redesigned Interior

Audi has given the entire A3 family, A3, S3, and RS3, a significant interior overhaul, bringing the curved Digital Stage cockpit architecture down from the A5 and A6 into its entry-level lineup. The update launches in Europe in September 2026, with Audi Australia yet to confirm local timing.

Image: Audi Media

Momentum in Australia. Before the Update Even Lands

The timing of this refresh couldn't be better for Audi Australia. A3 sales have surged in 2026, with 875 units sold in the first five months of the year, a remarkable 72.9% increase year-on-year. The new interior will give the already-popular model a compelling reason to keep that momentum going into 2027.

Digital Stage Comes to the A3

Image: Audi Media

The centrepiece of the update is the Panoramic Display, a curved, single-glass unit housing both a 11.9-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument display and a 12.8-inch MMI touchscreen. That's a significant step up from the current car's 12.3-inch digital cluster and 10.1-inch infotainment screen, and the two now flow together under one seamless piece of glass rather than sitting as separate units.

This is the same Digital Stage architecture Audi debuted in the A5, A6, Q5, and Q7, now cascading down to the brand's most accessible model. If you've sat in a new A6 recently, the A3's cabin will feel instantly familiar, and that's very much a compliment.

Fewer Buttons. But Not Completely

Image: Audi Media

Climate controls have been pulled off the centre console and integrated into a strip beneath the MMI touchscreen, a move that will divide opinion. The centre air vents have also relocated downward. However, Audi has kept physical buttons for drive mode selection, hazard lights, and a handful of frequently used functions in the centre stack. It's a more pragmatic approach than the all-touch interiors that drew criticism in some rivals, Audi seems to have learned from the industry's overcorrection. The decorative inlay spanning the dashboard has also been widened, with options including carbon fibre and Dinamica microfibre trim.

Powertrains Stay. S3 Gets a Visual Distinction

Image: Audi Media

Under the bonnet, nothing changes. The A3 carries its 201hp turbocharged four-cylinder, the S3 retains its 328hp unit, and the RS3 keeps its beloved 394hp five-cylinder turbo, the engine enthusiasts would riot over if Audi ever dared remove it. The S3 does gain a unique daytime running light signature to visually differentiate it from the standard A3, a touch that's been a long time coming.

Smarter Behind the Wheel

Image: Audi Media

The driver assistance suite has been meaningfully upgraded. Traffic light recognition now pairs with automatic stop and go, the car reads upcoming signals and responds without driver input in stop-start traffic. On the highway, the system can execute automatic lane changes when you activate the indicator. And a new Trained Parking feature lets the car memorise up to five parking manoeuvres, then repeat them autonomously, useful if you park in the same garage every day and the space is tight.

Remote monitoring gets a boost too: the MyAudi app now lets you check the status of the parking brake, lights, doors, and windows from your phone. Small feature, but genuinely useful before a long trip.

European Pricing and What to Expect Here

In Europe, the A3 Sportback starts from €31,850, the S3 from €57,200, and the RS3 from €68,500. Australian pricing will be set closer to local launch, which Audi Australia hasn't yet confirmed, though given the model's strong sales trajectory here, expect it to arrive in 2027.

The updated A3 is a car that was already selling well in Australia getting meaningfully better. The interior refresh brings the entry-Audi experience much closer to the brand's more expensive models, and if the pricing stays competitive, that's a compelling package for anyone considering the premium small car segment.