With plenty of airbags and a strong chassis structure, the A3 scores well for a car launched in the early nineties, receiving a four-star Euro NCAP rating. It also scored two stars (out of four) for pedestrian safety. Security isn’t brilliant, especially on pre-98 cars, but more recent models come with remote central locking, an immobiliser and visible vehicle identification number as standard.

The A3 offers reasonable boot space, but if you want to carry luggage for four adults it probably won’t all fit. There are plenty of cubby holes for bottles and drinks however and the split folding rear seats give a bit more practicality, but the boot opening is a little high and a can be awkward to access.