Audi

Audi A3 build years & generations

Coverage 2003-present3 named generationsHatchbackDIESEL / PETROL / HYBRID ELECTRIC

The Audi A3 spans several build years and named generations (2003-present). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Audi A3 generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2003-2004
Generation
8P
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2008
Generation
8P
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2011
Generation
8P
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with 8P and 8V cars built in the same years.
Built 2012
Generation
8V
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted together with 8P and 8V cars built in the same years.
Built 2013-2016
Generation
8V
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2017-2019
Generation
8V
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted together with 8V and 8Y cars built in the same years.
Built 2020
Generation
8Y
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted together with 8V and 8Y cars built in the same years.
Built 2021+
Generation
8Y
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2003-2004	8P	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2008	8P	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2011	8P	2009-2012	Counted together with 8P and 8V cars built in the same years.
2012	8V	2009-2012	Counted together with 8P and 8V cars built in the same years.
2013-2016	8V	2013-2016	Counted with this generation only.
2017-2019	8V	2017-2020	Counted together with 8V and 8Y cars built in the same years.
2020	8Y	2017-2020	Counted together with 8V and 8Y cars built in the same years.
2021+	8Y	2021 onwards	Counted with every car built from 2021.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Audi A3 build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2021 onwards

8Y only

All 8Y cars built from 2021. Newer cars join this group until there is enough MOT history to split it.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

10.5%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

35,792

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

3 years

21,40710.0%

4 years

14,38510.5%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 4 years old.

Built

2017-2020

A mix of 8V and 8Y

These build years include both 8V and 8Y cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

12.1%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

111,299

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

4 years

8,2339.7%

5 years

17,79111.3%

6 years

27,57812.2%

7 years

34,12012.1%

8 years

23,57713.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

8V only

These build years are all 8V, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

21.5%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

179,416

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

19,61014.3%

9 years

46,47015.2%

10 years

51,16117.4%

11 years

42,44719.6%

12 years

19,72821.5%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 12 years old.

Built

2009-2012

A mix of 8P and 8V

These build years include both 8P and 8V cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

27.9%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

119,534

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

13,30125.8%

13 years

32,04626.4%

14 years

28,94127.2%

15 years

29,91928.0%

16 years

15,32727.9%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 15 years old.

Built

2005-2008

8P only

These build years are all 8P, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

31.9%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

60,710

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

9,22629.7%

17 years

20,42730.1%

18 years

15,08931.3%

19 years

11,29531.7%

20 years

4,67331.9%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 20 years old.

Built

Before 2005

8P only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the 8P.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

29.6%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

8,775

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

1,87133.7%

21 years

2,35632.3%

22 years

1,62931.7%

23 years

1,12728.3%

24 years

73529.4%

25+ years

1,05729.6%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 20 years old.