Inside, the Audi A3 feels upscale. It offers a fine combination of utility and comfort. The 2.0T and 3.2 Quattro both exude a high quality of workmanship. Most materials are pleasing, though the dash material is not the best. The cockpit is a paragon of applied ergonomic science, with logical placement of controls and highly legible read-outs.To evoke the feel of driving a sports car, the seating position is placed low in relation to the high and wide console. We found the standard cloth seats in the 2.0T a bit short in the thigh, and we prefer more lateral support. The leather seats are very nice front and rear. Legroom is adequate front and rear. The back seats are quite comfortable, more supportive than the front seats on many compacts, but the slope of the roof means tall passengers may find rear headroom compromised.
The point of a five-door hatchback, of course, is the versatility of the interior. For starters, the luggage area can be increased by folding flat the split rear seatbacks. Indeed, the rear seats flip down easy. This does not result in a perfectly flat cargo floor, but this isn't usually an issue. Several package options are available to augment the trunk's utility, including a ski sack that can hold six pairs of slats. An accessory roof rack is available in a choice of several different configurations depending on the intended use.