How much is auto insurance for an Audi A3?

The 2011 Audi A3 is a luxury hatchback that is ranked high among all small upscale cars alongside such vehicles as the 2011 Volvo S40, 2012 BMW 1 Series, Acura TSX, and the Volkswagen GTI.

Starting at $27,270, the 2011 A3 is priced more competitively than the 1 Series or the TSX, but higher compared to the 2011 GTI’s base price of $23,695.

The A3 is also more affordable than full-sized luxury wagons like the BMW 3 Series Sport Wagon and Audi’s own A4 and A6 wagons.

Compared to more pedestrian compact wagons like the Hyundai Elantra Touring and the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, though, the A3 hatchback is quite pricey. These models start at $15,995 and $19,995, respectively.

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U.S. News explains that if you need the practicality of a wagon, but don’t want to sacrifice performance, the Audi A3 is a good choice; however, the 2011 GTI delivers an even more impressive driving experience without sacrificing much in the way of interior luxury or quality.

Despite being classified as an “Affordable Compact Wagon” by U.S. News, the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen is also competitive with the A3 in terms of performance, cargo space, and interior quality.

It’s base price is about $7,000 lower than the A3’s, and if you equip it with a TDI Clean Diesel engine, it’s still over $2,000 cheaper.

How much is auto insurance for an Audi A3?

Estimates from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) suggest auto insurance rates of $1,145 annually for the Audi A3.

That breaks down to a monthly bill of $95, and it will add up to $5,725 worth of auto insurance payments over five years.

That’s for drivers with records longer than six years, though. If your driving record is just three to six years long, you’ll pay about $2,154 a year for auto insurance. Less-experienced drivers will pay about $3,273 a year, the NADA reports.

Compared to the $1,268 projected annual auto insurance premiums for the Volvo S40 or the $6,319 expected bill for the Volkswagen GTI, rates for the A3 are quite low.

They’re also more affordable than the projected rates for full size luxury wagons like the BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon and the Acura TSX Sport Wagon, which are expected to exceed $1,300 per year.

Anticipated rates for the Volvo V50 wagon are also within this range.

Audi A3 Repair Costs

Since the A3 is covered by a 4-year/50,000 mile warranty, the manufacturer will provide any necessary repairs free of charge until about the fourth year the car is on the road.

The warranty could expire sooner or later, though, depending on your driving habits. The fourth-year repair bill that the typical driver pays is $855, and the average fifth-year bill is $1,282.

Combined, this equals $2,137 that you’ll spend on repairs over five years for your 2011 Audi A3.

Compared to those for the Volvo V50 wagon, Audi A3 repair costs are high. The NADA estimates that it will cost just $1,727 to repair a V50, which is about $400 less than what A3 owners will pay.

Repair costs for the TSX Sport Wagon and the VW Jetta SportWagen are both lower than the Audi A3’s as well, at about $1,422 annually.

If you drive an Audi A4 wagon or a 3 Series Sport Wagon, though, you’ll pay about the same as what A3 drivers do.

Maintaining an Audi A3

Audi will cover the cost of your first scheduled maintenance visit after one year or 12,000 miles, but you’re on your own after that.

According to the NADA’s data, most drivers pay $134 for auto maintenance the first year they own their Audi A3s, and $285 the second year.

For the third year of scheduled maintenance, expect to pay $249, and your maintenance overhaul during year four will cost $1,889.

The fifth year that you drive your 2011 A3, expect a maintenance bill of $410. Your total bill after five years will be somewhere around $2,968.

One of the least-expensive luxury wagons to maintain is the Volvo V50, which has estimated scheduled maintenance costs of $1,360 over five years.

For a Jetta SportWagen, you’ll pay about $1,900 for maintenance, and TSX wagon drivers will pay closer to $2,300. Maintaining an Audi A4 wagon will cost about $3,300 for the same time period.

Audi A3 Reliability Ratings

As calculated by J.D. Power and Associates, the Audi A3’s reliability score is 5.0 out of 10. That’s a mediocre score that’s easily bested by the Volvo S40 and the Acura TSX, both of which earned scores of 8.0.

The Mini Cooper Countryman also earned a score of 5.0, and the Volkswagen GTI scored just a 4.0.

For overall mechanical quality, the 2011 Audi A3 earned a rating of “Better than Most” from J.D. Power for 2010 and 2011.

For 2010, the A3 only earned a “Below Average” rating for overall design quality, but its rating in this category improved to “Average” for 2011.

The A3’s overall dependability was rated “Below Average” in both 2007 and 2008. More recent ratings aren’t available yet.

Audi A3 Crash Test Results

No federal government safety ratings are in yet for the 2011 A3, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates it a “Top Safety Pick.”

This means that all A3 models are equipped with dynamic stability control and that the A3 aced all four of the IIHS’ crash tests. These include a rear impact test, a roof strength test, and side and front impact tests.

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