Launched in 2012, the Audi A3 8V was the first A3 to move onto the MQB platform, just like the Volkswagen Golf VII. It felt lighter, quieter and more modern than the 8P from the start, giving the impression of a much more mature premium compact. The range quickly expanded with the Sedan from 2013 and the Cabriolet, which is why this generation is now very common on the used market in a wide variety of use cases.
The core of the market revolves around the `1.4 TFSI COD 140/150`, `1.8 TFSI`, `2.0 TFSI`, `2.0 TDI 150/184` and the `7-speed S tronic DQ200` on many front-wheel-drive versions. MQB makes the car more coherent overall, but it also brings a stronger dependence on software updates, control units and the actual condition of the dry-clutch `DQ200`. The `1.4 TFSI COD` is pleasant and efficient, yet it has to be read carefully for timing service, low-load running quality and oil-change discipline.