Starting at $36,895
8.5/10
C/D RATING
Specs
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Audi
8.5/10 C/D RATING
Specs
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- Highs Fuel-efficient powertrain, ideal seating position and sightlines for driver, handsome styling.
- Lows Lives in the shadow of the far more engaging S3, cabin's hard plastic surfaces, minuscule trunk.
- Verdict The A3 is a genuine Audi sedan in two-thirds scale, despite some obvious cost cutting compromises.
Overview
As the smallest car in Audi’s U.S. lineup, the A3 sedan is tasked with imbuing a compact four-door package with a premium feel and upscale content, and it mostly succeeds. This 2024 Editors' Choice award winner wears the Audi brand’s familial styling language well, offers respectable levels of performance and handling, and includes some key safety and tech items as standard equipment. Audi’s ubiquitous 201-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is the sole powertrain; the Quattro all-wheel-drive system is optional. The snug cabin offers a brilliant driving position and the digital gauge cluster and infotainment screen are bright and legible. Though it’s positioned against entry-level luxury models, including the Acura Integra and the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe, it also counts the Audi S3, its slightly higher priced and significantly more powerful and performance-focused sibling, as a prime competitor.
What's New for 2024?
Redesigned in 2022, the Audi A3 receives minimal updates for 2024. The Black Optic package gets a new 18-inch wheel design, and the available HomeLink tech (available as part of the Convenience package, it controls garage doors, gates, and lights in your home) is now integrated into the rearview mirror.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2024 Audi A3 starts at $36,895 and goes up to $40,495 depending on the trim and options.
The Premium trim sees no price increase for 2024, and the Premium Plus creeps up by a scant $200. That’s not enough to deter us from recommending the Premium Plus model, as the added features offer a great return on the modest price increase. Included are adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, memory seat and mirror settings for the driver, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and passive keyless entry. Adding Quattro AWD to both models is a $2000 upcharge.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
A3 buyers won’t lose any sleep debating which powertrain to choose, as the 201-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 48-volt hybrid system and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is the sole choice. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. Though it’s down about 17 ponies and about a half-a-second slower to sixty mph compared to the 228-horsepower 2020 A3, it more than makes up for it with quick responses aided by all 221 foot-pounds of torque reporting for duty at a low 1600 rpm. The chassis remains playful and reactive enough to make commuting entertaining, and it delivers a pleasant ride over most surfaces—though you won’t mistake it for a genuine sport sedan. Those looking for heightened performance and faster reflexes are encouraged to consider the 308-horsepower S3, which shaves nearly 2 seconds off the A3’s 6.0-second 60-mph time.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The 2024 A3 earns an impressive 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway fuel economy estimates from the EPA; all-wheel drive models are rated for 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. In our hands, however, the all-wheel drive A3 actually beat its official EPA number, returning a solid 40 mpg on C/D’s 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route. For more information about the A3's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The interior of the 2024 A3 strives to blend emerging tech and infotainment with traditional European sedan elements with mixed results. The seating position is excellent, the available sport seats feature quilted seating surfaces and faux-suede trimming, and a line of stitching on the dash adds a touch of visual appeal. Unfortunately, those efforts are offset by the funky shift “flipper,” a multi-function audio control and acres of hard plastic. Comfort for the driver and passenger is ample, but if you’re looking for innovative or spacious storage solutions, you’ll be disappointed. That said, the A3's 10.9 cubic feet of trunk space is enough for an average grocery store haul or a weekend's worth of luggage.
View Photos
Infotainment and Connectivity
Both A3’s feature a digital instrument cluster; a 10.3-inch display is standard but can be upgraded to a larger 12.3-inch unit as part of the Technology package on the Premium Plus trim. Opting for the Tech package also brings navigation and enables the ability to display the navigation map in the center of the instrument cluster. It also adds traffic-sign recognition, a Bang and Olufsun audio system, and six months of Audi Connect Plus, 4G LTE wi-fi connectivity. Mercifully, the A3 forgoes the brand's new dual-screen setup that makes climate controls and vehicle driving-mode switches a digital affair. On the other hand, the car's single-screen setup rules out the new Audi app store that supports services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, and the like. It’s available on the rest of the lineup, so tech-dependent buyers may wish to consider the A4 or other models.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Driver-assistance technology is featured heavily on the new A3, with basics including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beams included on all models. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors, and park assist are all available. For more information about the A3's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Audi's standard warranty package is nothing special and both its limited and powertrain warranties match those offered by BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Rivals such as the Cadillac CT4 will offer more value in this area with longer powertrain coverage; the BMW 2-series offers three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
Specifications
Specifications
2022 Audi A3 Quattro
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $37,895/$45,390
Options: Premium Plus package (adaptive cruise control, vehicle alarm with motion sensor, active lane assist, side- and cross-traffic assist, full LED headlights, driver's seat memory, park assist, wireless phone charger), $3300; Technology package (Audi Connect Plus, Audi MMI Navigation Plus, virtual co*ckpit with 12.3-inch display, Bang & Olufsen stereo, side-traffic alert), $2250; 18-inch wheel package with all-season tires, $800; Manhattan Gray metallic paint, $595;interior style package (Agate Gray grain birch wood inlays, LED interior lighting), $550
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 121 in3, 1984 cm3
Power: 201 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 221 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.0-in vented disc/10.7-in disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero All Season
Tire Size:225/40R-18 92H M+S AO
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 103.5 in
Length: 176.9 in
Width: 71.5 in
Height: 56.2 in
Passenger Volume: 88 ft3
Trunk Volume: 8–11 ft3
Curb Weight: 3509 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.6 sec @ 95 mph
100 mph: 16.1 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.8 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.6 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 127 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 181 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.89 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 26 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 40 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 560 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 31/28/36 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
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