2027 Audi A3, S3 and RS3 update brings bigger touchscreen, fewer buttons

The Audi A3 and its hotter S3 and RS3 siblings are being updated, with a significantly overhauled interior resembling that of newer models from the brand.

The updated small-car lineup is arriving at European dealerships in September 2026. Plans for local launch have yet to be detailed by Audi New Zealand.

The A3, S3 and RS3 gain Audi’s panoramic display, which features an 11.9-inch ‘virtual cockpit’ digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with neither screen as neatly integrated into the dashboard as before.

The outgoing A3, S3 and RS3 had a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch touchscreen.

The larger touchscreen has resulted in the removal of physical climate controls, which are now anchored at the base of the screen; the centre air vents also sit lower. However, a row of physical switches for functions such as drive mode selection and the hazard lights remains on the centre stack.

The redesigned dashboard features a wider decorative inlay, and there’s a choice of carbon-fibre, Dinamica microfibre trim, Light Crepe fabric or Impressum Black fabric trim.

The centre console has been revised, if not to the same extent. However, Audi has reoriented the (now 25W) wireless mobile phone charger towards the driver.

All steering wheels across the small-car lineup feature gloss-black buttons and a pair of slide wheels.

While the interior has been substantially updated, there have been no mechanical changes and the exterior is essentially unchanged – Audi has flagged only revised LED daytime running light signatures for some variants.

The adaptive cruise control system can now brake for red lights. If the vehicle hasn’t come to a complete stop, it’ll also automatically drive on when the light turns green.

The lane assist systems now use swarm data, adjusting the vehicle’s speed to the average speed of the road. If you have an active connected services subscription, the adaptive cruise assist system will also use online data to maintain the vehicle’s lane position even if the road markings aren’t visible.

The park assist pro features a remote function, allowing the driver to exit the vehicle before a parking manoeuvre is completed – handy if you’re pulling in or out of a tight spot.

A new trained parking feature will also allow the vehicle to memorise specific parking manoeuvres, for example if you have a garage or carport that's difficult to access. Up to five manoeuvres with a distance of 50m can be saved and named in the system.

It's not yet clear if all of this new functionality will be made available in New Zealand.

The current, fourth-generation A3 debuted in 2020, but didn’t arrive here until 2022. A facelifted model was revealed in 2024, arriving here in 2025. This facelift brought revised front- and rear-end styling, but a largely unchanged interior.