Overview

What's New for 2019

Audi offers the A3 in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. Premium models come with leather upholstery, automatic xenon plus headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, power adjustable driver's seat, 60/40 split folding rear seat, panoramic sunroof, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, anti-theft alarm and immobilizer, Bluetooth connectivity, rain sensing wipers, SD car slot, Audi pre sense, cruise control, and a sound system with 10 speakers, CD player, MP3 playback and HD/satellite radio. Premium Plus models add dual zone automatic climate control, an electromechanical parking brake, power adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats, keyless entry and ignition, aluminum interior trim, automatic headlights, 18-inch 10-spoke wheels, LED turn signals, dual exhaust tips, and an integrated trunk spoiler. Prestige models include all of the above, plus ambient LED lighting, aluminum door sills, navigation with voice control, a Bang & Olufsen 14-speaker sound system, color driver information system, SiriusXM Traffic, rearview camera and parking system, LED headlights, an S-line exterior appearance package, and heated windshield washers. An A3 comes with a factory invoice of about $29,000 for a Premium model and an MSRP of about $30,000. The Premium Plus trim level adds about $3,200 to the vehicle’s MSRP, while the Prestige adds about $4,000. As a member you always receive an upfront price from your Certified Dealer that includes guaranteed savings, all without the usual car shopping hassle.

Three different engines are available on the A3. The first is a 1.8-liter four cylinder that is turbocharged, making 170 horsepower and 200 lb.-ft. of torque. Front-wheel drive and an automatic dual-clutch 6-speed transmission are standard. The second engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder that makes 220 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. It comes with the same transmission, but has Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive as standard equipment. The third engine choice (late availability) is a diesel-powered turbocharged 2.0-liter that puts out 150 horsepower.

Audi has made huge improvements to the A3's interior to make it more competitive in the growing market. The result is the absence of cheap plastics and other questionable materials that were present in the first generation. For example, leather upholstery is standard on all trim levels, instead of offering a vinyl upholstery option. The layout is very much like in other new Audis, which is modern and well-organized. The infotainment screen measures 7 inches, making it quite easy to read, while the interface is reasonably easy to use. As a huge benefit, the WiFi hotspot feature allows passengers to surf the Internet or even stream online music for everyone to listen to. Interior space is good for the front passenger and driver, but in the rear seating area it's a little bit tighter for tall adults. All of the seats are comfortable, with the front seats more contoured and supportive than the rear. The trunk space is about average for the class.