2024 Audi A3 steps out, including higher-riding Allstreet

The facelifted 2024 Audi A3 has debuted in Europe armed with a sleek new look and more equipment to help keep the small luxury car competitive in the second half of its lifecycle.

Due to arrive in Australia in the third or fourth quarter of this year, the upgraded Audi A3 brings a sleek new look with fewer hard edges and creases on its front-end, plus a much flatter and wider ‘singleframe’ grille that is now intruded upon by the German car-maker’s four-ring logo.

The headlights and daytime running lights retain their familiar shapes but score customizable new graphics, while the bumper’s lower lip has been redesigned to show more of a connection to the rabid RS 3.

The RS inspiration is even more apparent at the back – particularly the revised rear apron with all-new black mesh diffuser.

It’s a similar story within the cabin, where there’s a reworked interior full of sharp new details like a redesigned gear selector, different air-vents, new door trims (now made from recycled polyester and Dinamica microfiber) and fresh ambient lighting elements.

A 10.1-inch touch-screen infotainment interface sits atop the dash, while drivers monitor vehicle parameters via a digital instrument cluster in all grades.

Other key features comprise a wireless charging pad, leather upholstery, four USB-C ports (two front, two rear), adaptive cruise control, head-up display, three-spoke leather steering wheel and the full suite of Audi driver aids including autonomous emergency braking, turn assist, lane departure warning, lane change warning, exit warning, rear cross-traffic assist and more.

Debuting alongside the updated A3 Sportback and A3 sedan is the new higher-riding Audi A3 Allstreet hatch derivative, which adds 15mm to the standard ride height and a bunch of unique SUV-inspired design touches like more rugged bumpers, darkened side skirts and door trims, and exclusive 17-inch wheels.

The alloys are an inch wider than the base A3’s but wear the same profile tyre, which adds another 15mm of ground clearance to the equation, totalling 30mm of extra ride height.

The raised suspension set-up also features a bespoke crossover tuning.

Our spy photographers spotted the new A3 Allstreet undergoing winter testing back in early 2022, before a flurry of local trademark activity prompted questions around whether the raised hatch was a chance for Australian release.

Audi Australia has now confirmed it will not release the new Audi A3 Allstreet locally.

European versions of all refreshed A3 variants will largely offer carryover engines from launch and the same is expected for Australian cars, however, upgrades for the plug-in hybrids and more performance-oriented variants are anticipated, based on improvements made recently to the closely related Volkswagen Golf 8.5.

Australian pricing and specification details will be announced closer to the 2024 Audi A3’s local release in the second half of this year.

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