2026 Audi A3
Midsize luxury cars
Safety Overview
Crash Test Performance
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π Our Analysis
The 2026 Audi A3 belongs to the Midsize luxury cars category. This vehicle class has a below-average driver death rate compared to the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle years. Vehicles in this class generally offer a good balance of structural protection, weight, and safety technology.
The Audi A3 has not earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick award for the 2026 model year. This may indicate that the vehicle has not yet been fully tested under the latest IIHS criteria, or that it received less than "Good" ratings in one or more evaluations. Note that absence of an award does not necessarily mean the vehicle is unsafe β it may simply reflect testing schedule gaps or marginal performance in IIHS's increasingly stringent sub-tests.
In individual crash test components, the Audi A3 earned 2 "Good" ratings out of 3 evaluated categories. This is a strong overall showing, with only minor areas where the vehicle didn't achieve the top rating.
The estimated class death rate of ~23 per million places this vehicle 39% below the national average β a meaningful safety advantage. Our guide to choosing a safer car explains the factors that drive these differences.
Important note: Death rates are class-level estimates adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023). Individual model risk may vary based on specific safety features, weight, and how the vehicle is driven. Read our full methodology for details on how we calculate safety scores. This analysis is produced independently β we have no affiliations with Audi or any vehicle manufacturer. Learn more about us.