DecodedCars2006 Audi A3
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2006 models.
- Class
- Small Station Wagons
- Body styles
- 4dr Hatch AWD, 4dr Hatch FWD
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.2L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 25 combined · 22 city / 29 hwy
- Length
- 168.9 in
- Curb weight
- 3,263–3,660 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2006 Audi A3 is a small station wagon offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 3.2L 6-cyl) and front-wheel drive and 4-wheel or all-wheel drive.
It measures about 169 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 102-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,660 lb (4dr Hatch AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 25 MPG combined (22 city / 29 highway), 11% better than the 2006 small station wagon average of 22.5 MPG, for an estimated $3,300 a year in fuel.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Hatch AWD | 168.9 in | 68.5 in | 57.5 in | 101.6 in | 59.8 / 58.3 in | 3,660 lb | 60/40 |
| 4dr Hatch FWD | 168.9 in | 68.5 in | 57.5 in | 101.6 in | 59.8 / 58.3 in | 3,263 lb | 60/40 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A3 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 29 / 25 | +11% | $3,300 | 355 |
| A3 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | +7% | $3,400 | 370 |
| A3 quattro | 3.2L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | -7% | $3,900 | 423 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2006 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2006 Audi A3 under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2006 small station wagons
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Audi A3 (this car) | 25 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2006 Volvo V50 | 23 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
Recalls (2)
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Jan 30, 2018
NHTSA campaign 18V082000 · 162,782 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69R6. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Feb 10, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V079000 · 151,767 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Not every 2006 Audi A3 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2006 Audi A3 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 53 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Power Train — 7 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 4 owner reports. Smell for fuel around the car and in the cabin, check that it starts easily when warm, and look at the oil dipstick for a fuel smell or rising level.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 98,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2006 Audi A3. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other A3 years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 A3 | 28 | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 A3 | 28 | 177.2 in | Not rated | 0 | 2 |
| 2025 A3 | 28 | 177.2 in | Not rated | 0 | 5 |
| 2024 A3 | 32 | 177.2 in | Not rated | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 A3 | 32 | 177.2 in | Not rated | 2 | 7 |
| 2022 A3 | 32 | 177.2 in | Not rated | 6 | 9 |
| 2020 A3 | 30 | 175.6 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 17 |
| 2019 A3 | 29 | 175.6 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 15 |
| 2018 A3 | 36 | 174.8 in | ★★★★★ | 7 | 45 |
| 2017 A3 | 34 | 174.8 in | Not rated | 5 | 71 |
| 2016 A3 | 39 | 174.8 in | Not rated | 6 | 121 |
| 2015 A3 | 35 | 174.8 in | Not rated | 7 | 176 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Audi. How we calculate this →