2020 AUDI A3 tow

Stowing and using

Other storage

| BBV-0434

Applies to: sedan
Fig. 73 Luggage compartment: bag hooks*
There are additional storage compartments,
compartments and holders at other locations in
the vehicle:
— Glove compartment: the glove compartment
can be locked* using the key.
— Retainer* for the vehicle key and cell phone in
the front center console
— Storage compartment under the front center
armrest*
— Storage compartment on the rear side of the
front seat*
— Garment hooks* on the B-pillar
— Garment hooks* above the rear doors*
— Side bag hooks* in the luggage compartment
— Applies to: sedan: Bag hooks* under the rear
shelf > fig. 73

ZX WARNING
—To reduce the risk of injury, make sure all
storage compartments are always closed
while driving.
— Loose objects can be thrown around the ve-
hicle interior during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers, which increases the risk of
an accident. Store objects securely while
driving.
— Only use the storage compartments in the
door trim panels to store small objects that
will not stick out of the compartment and
impair the function of the side airbags.
— Make sure your view toward the rear is not
blocked, for example by hanging clothing or
objects in the vehicle.

60


— No heavy or hard objects may be placed on
the storage compartment behind the rear
seat backrest. There is a risk of injuring the
vehicle passengers when braking suddenly.
— Applies to: vehicles with garment hooks: On-
ly lightweight clothing should be hung from
the garment hooks in the vehicle. Do not use
clothes hangers to hang clothing. The pock-
ets of the clothing must not contain any
heavy, breakable, or sharp-edged objects.
This could impair the effectiveness of the
side curtain airbags.
() Note
Objects on the rear shelf that rub against the
rear window can damage the rear window
heating wires.

Luggage compartment
General information
All pieces of luggage or objects must be securely
fastened in the luggage compartment. Note the
following to maintain good vehicle handling:
> Distribute the load evenly in the luggage com-
partment.
> Stow heavy luggage as far forward in the lug-
gage compartment as possible.
» Use non-elastic cords attached to the tie-downs
to secure objects.

ZA WARNING
— Applies to: sedan: The storage compartment
must not be used to transport heavy objects,
hard objects, or animals. Such objects en-
danger vehicle occupants and increase the
risk of injury during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers or in an accident.
— The luggage compartment cover must al-
ways be securely fastened when in use to re-
duce the risk of an accident.
— The luggage compartment cover is not a
surface for storing objects. Objects placed
on the cover increase the risk of injury to all
vehicle occupants during sudden driving or

8V2012721BK
Stowing and using



braking maneuvers or in the event of an ac-
cident.
Loose objects can be thrown around the ve-
hicle interior during sudden driving or brak-
ing maneuvers, which increases the risk of
an accident. Always stow objects securely in
the luggage compartment and secure them
at the tie-downs. Use straps suitable for
heavy objects.
If pieces of luggage or objects are secured
to the tie-downs with unsuitable or dam-
aged straps, this can increase the risk of in-
jury during braking maneuvers or accidents.
When transporting heavy objects, the vehi-
cle characteristics will change due to the
shift in the center of gravity, which increases
the risk of an accident. You may need to
adapt your driving style and speed to the
current conditions.
The cargo net is only strong enough to se-
cure light objects. Heavy objects are not ade-
quately secured. Attempting to secure heavy
objects increases the risk of injury.
Never exceed the permitted axle and load
and vehicle weight > page 380.
Never secure a child safety seat to the tie-
downs.
Never leave your vehicle unattended, espe-
cially if the luggage compartment lid is
open. Children could enter the luggage com-
partment and close the luggage compart-
ment lid from the inside. This creates the
risk of fatal injury, since the children would
be locked in and may not be able to escape
by themselves.
Do not allow children to play in or on the ve-
hicle. Close and lock the luggage compart-
ment lid as well as all other doors when you
leave the vehicle.
Never transport passengers in the luggage
compartment. Every passenger must be cor-
rectly secured with the safety belts in the
vehicle > page 245.
Be careful when releasing the backrest and
folding
it forward. To reduce the risk of be-
ing pinched, pay attention and check when
folding backrests forward.

— The backrest must be securely latched so
objects cannot slide forward out of the lug-
gage compartment during sudden braking.
— The backrest must be latched securely to en-
sure that the safety belt is protecting the
center seating position.
— Always pull forward on the backrest to make
sure it is check if it is correctly locked in
place.
@) Note
—To reduce the risk of damage, move the rear
head restraints down > page 57 before fold-
ing the rear backrests forward.
— When folding the backrest forward, make
sure the outer safety belts are in the belt
guide recess so that they do not get pinched
in the backrest lock and damaged. Other ob-
jects should be removed from the rear
bench seat to protect the backrest from
damage.
— If you move the front seat back when the
rear seat backrest is folded forward, you
could damage the head restraints on the
rear seat.

— Make sure that the heating grid strips for
the rear window defogger are not damaged
by abrasive objects.
@ Tips
— The tire pressure must be adapted to the
load > page 330.
— You can purchase straps at specialty stores.
Luggage compartment cover
Applies to: vehicles with luggage compartment cover
5 = S$
= = &
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Fig. 74 Luggage compartment: luggage compartment cov-
er >
61

Stowing and using

Follow the safety precautions > page 60.
> To remove the luggage compartment cover, un-
hook the straps (4).
> Pull the cover (3) out of the retainers @) in the
direction of the arrow.
> To install the luggage compartment cover, slide
the cover (8) horizontally into the designated
holder @) in the side bracket until the cover is
lined up.
> Hook the straps into the luggage compartment
lid @.

Fig. 77 Luggage compartment: cargo net stretched out
Follow the safety precautions > page 60.
Tie-downs


Applies to: vehicles with adjustable cargo floor There are tie-downs @) in the luggage compart-
ment to secure pieces of luggage and objects.
>» Use the tie-downs to secure the cargo.
Cargo net
Applies to: vehicles with luggage compartment net
Use the cargo net (2) to secure lighter objects in
the luggage compartment

> Fold the clip for the tie-downs upward.
>» Attach the hooks for the cargo net to the tie-
downs.

Fig. 75 Luggage compartment: lowered cargo floor
The cargo floor can lower to expand the storage
area in the luggage compartment.

a
A pplies to: vehicles with folding backrests
> Lift the cargo floor in order to lower it.
> Pull the cargo floor back slightly and insert it in
the lower position @).

g 3
S| = & Ea
To make loading and unloading easier, bringing


Fig. 78 Backrest: outer release lever
The rear seat backrests can be folded forward ei-
ther separately or together.
Follow
the safety precautions > page 60.
Folding the backrest forward/back
> Push the corresponding head restraint down-

Fig. 76 Luggage compartment: location of the tie-downs ward » page 57.
62

8V2012721BK
Stowing and using

> Pull the release lever (@) in the direction of the
arrow and fold the backrest forward.
> Fold the backrest down until it latches securely.
When you can no longer see the red mark on
the pin Q,, the seat is latched.
Pee dalceltela)
Applies to: vehicles with pass-through
2 2 S
<. = & oO


Fig. 79 Version 1: left side: backrest: pass-through cover;
Version 2: right side: luggage compartment: release lever
Follow the safety precautions > page 60.
Opening/closing the pass-through from the
vehicle interior
> Applies to: version 1: To open the pass-through,
fold down the center armrest in the backrest
and fold down the pass-through cover in the di-
rection of the arrow > fig. 79.
> Applies to: version 1: To close the pass-
through, fold up the pass-through cover and
the center armrest > fig. 79.
Opening/closing the pass-through from the
luggage compartment
» Applies to: version 2: To fold the backrest for-
ward, pull the release lever on the respective
seat in the direction of the arrow. The backrest
will fold forward automatically after it has been
released.
> Applies to: version 1: To open the pass-through,
press the lever in the rear seat backrest down-
ward.
> To close the pass-through, fold the backrest
back until it latches securely.
Roof rack
Applies to: vehicles with roof rack

B8V-0386

||
_B8P-1962


Applies to: vehicles with roof rail
Fig. 81 Roof rail: mounting points
If luggage or cargo is to be carried on the roof,
you must observe the following:
— Only approved roof racks may be used on your
vehicle. These roof racks are the basis for a
complete roof rack system. Additional attach-
ments or carrier systems are needed to trans-
port luggage and sports equipment. Roof racks
and attachments from the Audi Genuine Acces-
sories program are recommended.
— When installing the roof rack, make sure that it
is mounted only at the designated points on
the roof > fig. 80 or > fig. 81.
— Note the permitted axle load, permitted total
weight, and permitted roof load of your vehicle
=> page 380. The roof load is the total of the
weight of the roof rack, the attachments and
the cargo you are carrying. However, you must
also note the permitted load of the carrier sys-
tem being used.
63
>

Stowing and using


— Follow the installation instructions provided
with the roof rack system. If you do not se-
cure the roof rack system and objects on the
roof correctly, they could come loose from
the vehicle and cause an accident.
— The risk of an accident increases when using
a roof rack system, because it changes the
driving characteristics by shifting the center
of gravity and/or the increasing the surface
area exposed to wind. You may need to
adapt your driving style and speed to the
current conditions.
— If you use other roof luggage rack systems
or do not install the racks as intended, any
damage to the vehicle is not covered by the
warranty. Carefully follow the assembly and
installation instructions included with the
roof rack carrier system.
— Make sure that the luggage compartment
lid and the panoramic glass roof* do not
come into contact with objects on the roof
when they are open.
Your vehicle will use more energy due to the
increased wind resistance. Remove the roof
rack when you are no longer using it.

8V2012721BK
Driving

Gears and driving programs

RAZ-0405



HEeEes
D/S .
a
Fig. 86 Center console: selector lever


The automatic transmission shifts automatically
depending on the selected gear and the current
driving style. When driving with a moderate driv-
ing style, upshifting early and downshifting late
will help to improve fuel economy. When driving
with a sporty driving style, the transmission per-
mits higher RPMs.
The gears are displayed next to the selector lever.
— P (Park): parking lock
—R (Reverse): driving in reverse
—N (Neutral)
— D (Drive): driving forward
Selecting a gear
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
— Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the
brake pedal.
— Press the release button (@) on the selector lev-
er.
—To select a gear, move the selector lever into
the corresponding position.
— The label next to the selector lever for the se-
lected gear will light up.
“N” (Neutral) gear
In the “N” gear, power is not transmitted to the
driving wheels. Use the “N” gear in a car wash
(with conveyor belts), for example.
If you unintentionally select “N” while driving
(faster than 1 mph (2 km/h)), you can also shift
back to “D” without pressing the brake pedal.
For safety reasons, the vehicle cannot be locked
when the transmission is in the "N” gear.
“Pp” (Park) gear
The vehicle is secured from rolling away by the
parking lock when in the “P” gear.
If you cannot shift out of “P”, for example be-
cause the vehicle has no power, you may need to
use the emergency release for the parking lock
=> page 88.
Selecting a driving program
Various driving programs can be selected when in
the “D” gear. The programs influence when the
transmission shifts and how the accelerator ped-
al responds.
The selected driving program is displayed in the
instrument cluster.
—D (Drive): normal driving mode
—S (Sport): sporty driving mode
If you select the Dynamic mode in Audi drive se-
lect*, the “S” driving program will be activated.
When the ignition is switched off, the driving pro-
gram may be reset to “D”.
To switch between the current driving program
and “S”, push the selector lever toward the rear.
Plug-in hybrid drive: if you press the while in “S”, the “D” driving program will be se-
lected.

Z\ WARNING
— Before starting to drive, check if the desired
gear is displayed next to the selector lever.
— Always secure your vehicle from rolling
away. Press the brake pedal or shift to “P”.
When leaving the vehicle, also set the park-
ing brake.
— Power is still transmitted to the wheels
when the engine is running at idle. To pre-
vent the vehicle from “creeping”, you must
keep your foot on the brake in all selector
lever positions (except "P" and "N") when
the engine is running.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, do not
press the accelerator pedal when changing
gears if the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is running.

75

Driving


— Never select the “R" or "P” gears while driv-
ing. Doing so could cause an accident.
— The vehicle can roll even if the ignition is
switched off.

iG) Tips
If you shift between “D” and “R” within one
second, you do not need to press the brake
pedal. This makes it possible to “rock the ve-
hicle if it is stuck”, for example.
Manual shifting

RAZ-0406


Fig. 87 Center console: shifting manually with the selector
lever

RAZ-0003|



—
Fig. 88 Steering wheel: shift paddles*
You can shift the gears manually when in “D”
mode. The transmission must be in tiptronic
mode.
Shifting with the selector lever
You can shift into manual shifting mode while the
vehicle is stationary or while driving.
> To switch to manual shifting mode, tilt the se-
lector lever toward the front passenger's side
> fig. 87. “M” will be displayed in the instru-
ment cluster.
> Upshifting: push the selector lever forward ().
76
> Downshifting: push the selector lever toward
the rear ().
> To switch back to automatic mode, tilt the se-
lector lever toward the driver's side.
Shifting with the shift paddles
Applies to: vehicles with shift paddles
> Upshifting: press the @) shift paddle > fig. 88.
> Downshifting: press the ©) shift paddle.
> Applies to: RS models: To engage the lowest
possible gear for maximum acceleration, press
and hold the ©) shift paddle.
> To switch back to automatic mode, press and
hold the (#) shift paddle or push the selector
lever toward the rear.
If you stop using the shift paddles temporarily,
the transmission will switch back to automatic
mode. To keep shifting manually, tilt the selector
lever toward the front passenger's side.
@ Tips
— The transmission only allows manual shift-
ing when the engine speed is within the per-
mitted range.
— The transmission automatically shifts up or
down before critical engine speed is
reached.
— Applies to: RS models: When accelerating,
the transmission will not automatically shift
to the next gear shortly before the maxi-
mum permitted engine RPM is reached.
Shift to the next highest gear at the right
time.
Accelerator pedal
Maximum acceleration
You can accelerate the vehicle using the accelera-
tor pedal. If you press the accelerator pedal all
the way down, the motor’s full power will be
used and you will reach maximum acceleration,
also called “kick-down”.
Applies to: vehicles with boost function: The elec-
tric motor can switch on for a brief period if the
accelerator pedal is pressed all the way down in
the “D” and “S” driving program. The availability
of this function depends on the charge level of >

Driving


ZA WARNING
— Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic conditions permit. You must not en-
danger other road users and increase the
risk of an accident.
— Due to the risk of injury, only have an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility work on the brake system.
Incorrect repairs could impair the function.
— Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident.
— During automatic braking maneuvers, the
brake pedal may move downward automati-
cally. To reduce the risk of injury, do not

place your foot under the brake pedal.
@) Note
— Never let the brakes “rub” by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not actually
necessary. This can cause the brakes to over-
heat and increases braking distance and
causes wear.
— Observe the important information for driv-
ing downhill > page 89. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
@) Tips
— If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil-
er, wheel covers or similar items, make sure
that the air flow to the brakes is not ob-
structed. Otherwise the brake system can
overheat.

— Also refer to the information about brake
fluid > page 313.
Ga i © Brakes: malfunction! Safely stop ve-
hicle
There is a malfunction in the brake system. If
EES / & and Ef also turn on, there is a malfunc-
tion in the ABS, ESC, and braking distribution.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
86
sistance. Read and follow the other safety pre-
cautions > A\.
EG if @ Warning! Brake servo inoperative
If the brake booster is not working, you have to
use much more force when braking the vehicle.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
EG - @® Brake pads: wear limit reached. You
can continue driving. Please contact Service
The brake pads are worn. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility as
soon as possible to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
Brake booster: limited functionality. You can
continue driving. Please contact Service
There is a brake booster malfunction. The brake
booster is available, but its effectiveness is re-
duced. The braking performance may be different
compared to the usual performance. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Brake booster: deactivated. See owner's manual
The brake booster remains active for a brief peri-
od of time after switching off the ignition. Secure
the vehicle from rolling by selecting “P” and set-
ting the parking brake.

ZA\ WARNING
If a malfunction occurs in the ABS, ESC, and
braking distribution, interventions that stabi-
lize the vehicle will no longer be available.
This could cause the vehicle to swerve, which
increases the risk that the vehicle will slide.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.