# Which battery does the Audi A3 take? Generation by generation

> Audi A3 battery: 4 generations (from 1996), AGM, EFB and conventional, with and without Start-Stop. Check it by number plate.

- **Canonical URL**: https://bateriasonline.es/en/audi-a3-battery
- **Language**: en
- **Last update**: 2026-11-10

Car battery by model
It depends on the generation and on whether your Audi A3 has Start-Stop. The Audi A3 8P (2003-2013) almost always takes a battery like the Varta E11: conventional, 74 Ah and 680 A, case size L3. With Start-Stop, the Audi A3 8V (2012-2020) usually takes a battery like the Varta N70: EFB, 70 Ah and 760 A; without Start-Stop, the Varta E11 (conventional, 74 Ah). Below you will find all 4 generations, each with its battery.
- 4 generations
- from 1996
- 63 engines
- AGM · EFB · conventional

[Check with your number plate](https://bateriasonline.es/en/battery-finder-plate-or-vin) We show you only the batteries that fit your exact version.

- [ **Audi A3 (8Y)** from 2019

](#gen-audi-a3-8y)
- [ **Audi A3 (8V)** 2012-2020

](https://bateriasonline.es/en/audi-a3-8v-battery)
- [ **Audi A3 (8P)** 2003-2013

](https://bateriasonline.es/en/audi-a3-8p-battery)
- [ **Audi A3 (8L)** 1996-2003

](#gen-audi-a3-8l)

## Audi A3 generations and their battery

Newest first. If you are not sure which one you have, go by the year of manufacture or check with your number plate.
A3 Sportback (8YA, 8YF)

- A3 Limousine (8YS, 8YM)

### Audi A3 (8Y)

from 2019 · 9 engines
With Start-Stop: [Varta N60](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-n60) EFB · 60 Ah · 640 A · L2 Also: [Varta N70](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-n70)
Without Start-Stop: [Varta N70](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-n70) EFB · 70 Ah · 760 A · L3 Also: [Varta A7](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a7)
[Check with my number plate](https://bateriasonline.es/en/battery-finder-plate-or-vin)

A3 (8V1, 8VK)

- A3 Sportback (8VA, 8VF)

- A3 Limousine (8VS, 8VM)

- A3 Convertible (8V7, 8VE)

### [Audi A3 (8V)](https://bateriasonline.es/en/audi-a3-8v-battery)

2012-2020 · 25 engines
With Start-Stop: [Varta N70](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-n70) EFB · 70 Ah · 760 A · L3 Also: [Varta A7](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a7), [Varta A6](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a6)
Without Start-Stop: [Varta E11](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-e11) conventional · 74 Ah · 680 A · L3
[See the battery for each engine Audi A3 (8V) ](https://bateriasonline.es/en/audi-a3-8v-battery)

A3 (8P1)

- A3 Sportback (8PA)

- A3 Convertible (8P7)

### [Audi A3 (8P)](https://bateriasonline.es/en/audi-a3-8p-battery)

2003-2013 · 22 engines
With Start-Stop: [Varta A7](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a7) AGM · 70 Ah · 760 A · L3 Also: [Varta N70](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-n70)
Without Start-Stop: [Varta E11](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-e11) conventional · 74 Ah · 680 A · L3 Also: [Varta D24](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-d24), [Varta F16](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-f16)
[See the battery for each engine Audi A3 (8P) ](https://bateriasonline.es/en/audi-a3-8p-battery)

A3 (8L1)

### Audi A3 (8L)

1996-2003 · 7 engines
Battery: [Varta E11](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-e11) conventional · 74 Ah · 680 A · L3 Also: [Varta D24](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-d24), [Varta C22](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-c22)
[Check with my number plate](https://bateriasonline.es/en/battery-finder-plate-or-vin)

## How the Audi A3 battery has changed

Start-Stop becomes widespread with the Audi A3 8V (2012), and with it come AGM and EFB batteries. Earlier generations —Audi A3 8L and Audi A3 8P— use conventional batteries from 52 to 80 Ah. The most common case size is L3, but not every generation uses it: check yours before you buy.

## How to tell which Audi A3 you have

Each generation has its own production years and model code, which you will find in the car’s documents. These are the body styles of each one:

| Generation | Years | Body styles (model code) |
|---|---|---|
| Audi A3 (8Y) | from 2019 | A3 Sportback (8YA, 8YF), A3 Limousine (8YS, 8YM) |
| Audi A3 (8V) | 2012-2020 | A3 (8V1, 8VK), A3 Sportback (8VA, 8VF), A3 Limousine (8VS, 8VM), A3 Convertible (8V7, 8VE) |
| Audi A3 (8P) | 2003-2013 | A3 (8P1), A3 Sportback (8PA), A3 Convertible (8P7) |
| Audi A3 (8L) | 1996-2003 | A3 (8L1) |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which battery does the Audi A3 take?

It depends on the generation and on whether your Audi A3 has Start-Stop. The Audi A3 8P (2003-2013) almost always takes a battery like the Varta E11: conventional, 74 Ah and 680 A, case size L3. With Start-Stop, the Audi A3 8V (2012-2020) usually takes a battery like the Varta N70: EFB, 70 Ah and 760 A; without Start-Stop, the Varta E11 (conventional, 74 Ah). Below you will find all 4 generations, each with its battery.

### Do all Audi A3 generations take the same battery?

No. The battery changes with the generation, the engine and Start-Stop: the Audi A3 (8P) mostly takes the Varta E11 (conventional) and the Audi A3 (8V) the Varta N70 (EFB).

### Since when has the Audi A3 had Start-Stop?

It became widespread with the Audi A3 8V (2012). Those versions need EFB and AGM; if your Audi A3 is older or has no Start-Stop, it takes a conventional battery.

### How do I know which generation my Audi A3 is?

By the years of manufacture (Audi A3 (8L): 1996-2003; Audi A3 (8P): 2003-2013; Audi A3 (8V): 2012-2020; Audi A3 (8Y): from 2019) or, more easily, with your number plate: our search identifies the exact model and engine and shows you only the batteries that fit.

## More information

- [Car battery sizes: L1-L6, LB1-LB5, B and D (Asian) cases](https://bateriasonline.es/en/car-battery-sizes-l-lb-b-d-cases)
- [Varta A7 (formerly E39): what changed and equivalents](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-a7-e39-agm-battery-equivalents)
- [Varta, Bosch, Exide and Tudor car battery equivalents table](https://bateriasonline.es/en/varta-bosch-exide-tudor-car-battery-equivalents)
- [Start-Stop batteries (AGM and EFB)](https://bateriasonline.es/en/start-stop-batteries-agm-efb)
- [Car batteries](https://bateriasonline.es/en/car-batteries)
- [L3 car batteries](https://bateriasonline.es/en/l3-car-batteries)
- [What battery does my car need? Guide by model](https://bateriasonline.es/en/car-battery-by-model)

Updated: 1 November 2026 · Source: battery application data by engine (KType TecDoc), the same data our number plate search uses, plus the datasheet of each battery.

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*bateriasonline.es — Batteries and accessories · 2026-11-10*