2015 Audi A3

Pros: Nimble, sporty handling with decent ride quality; upscale (if understated) cabin; available all-wheel drive; peppy acceleration, especially with 2.0-liter engine

Cons: Limited passenger and cargo room; some drivers dislike Audi MMI infotainment system; premium-grade gasoline is required

CG Says: After a short hiatus for the 2014 model year, Audi revives its A3 compact as a 4-door sedan instead of a 4-door hatchback. An A3 convertible joined the lineup as a mid-year addition. The new A3 undercuts the base price of Audi’s larger A4 compact 4-door sedan by about $4000 in comparable entry-level form, and about $2000 all-wheel drive form. The three available engines are a 170-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder, a 220-hp 2.0-liter four, and a 150-hp 2.0-liter diesel (which is offered only on the sedan); all engines are turbocharged and come standard with a 6-speed automated manual transmission that works much like an automatic. We at Consumer Guide were fans of the previous A3, but many potential buyers apparently thought that its four-door hatchback body style was too “budget-looking” for the price tag. The 2015 Audi A3 has a traditional sedan body that should rectify those concerns, and it’s an invigorating drive as well. If you can live with the cozy passenger- and cargo room, the A3 is a fine premium compact.

Links

Test Drive: 2015 Audi A3 1.8T

Test Drive: 2015 Audi A3 TDI

The Redesigned 2015 Audi A3: A Change in Direction (First Spin)

2016 Audi A3 Review