Pros: Nimble, sporty handling with decent ride quality; upscale (if understated) cabin; available all-wheel drive; peppy acceleration
Cons: Limited passenger and cargo room; some drivers dislike Audi MMI infotainment system; premium-grade gasoline is required
CG Says: Audi A3 has revised styling, along with new safety and technology features for 2017. Audi pre-sense automatic front braking is now standard. Newly available features include: active lane assist; Audi’s virtual cockpit instrument and information display; and Audi connect with Wi-Fi hotspot. The A3 is available in 4-door-sedan or 2-door-convertible form. The S3 comes only as a sedan, and the e-Tron Sportback is available only as a 4-door hatchback. The e-Tron is front-drive only and is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor for a total output of 204 horsepower. The e-Tron has an all-electric driving range of up to 17 miles (its electric motor puts out 102 hp on its own). The conventional A3’s engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four which makes 186 horsepower in the front-wheel-drive A3, 220 hp in all-wheel-drive A3 quattro, and 292 hp in the S3. The front-wheel-drive A3 has a new 7-speed automated manual transmission, while all-wheel-drive A3 and S3 have a 6-speed automated manual transmission. Both transmissions work much like an automatic. The A3 significantly undercuts the base prices of Audi larger A4 compact lineup and offers a similarly invigorating driving personality, albeit in a smaller, slightly less versatile package. If you can live with the cozy passenger- and cargo room, the A3 is an excellent premium compact. The S3 offers even zippier performance, but at a fairly steep price premium. The e-Tron Sportback offers the cargo-versatility benefits of a hatchback body style (which we hope Audi eventually sees fit to offer on the rest of the A3 line) and superior efficiency for a reasonable price premium and only minor sacrifices in all-around performance.
| Class | Premium Compact Car |
| Body Style(s) | 4-door sedan, 2-door convertible, 4-door hatchback |
| Passenger Count | 5, 4 |
| Drive Wheels | front or all-wheel drive |
| Manufacturer | Audi |
| Nation of Manufacture | Germany, Hungary |
| Base Prices | 2.0T Sedan: $31,200 AWD 2.0T Sedan: $34,200 2.0T Cabriolet: $37,600 AWD 2.0T Cabriolet: $40,300 AWD S3 Sedan: $42,900 e-Tron Sportback: $38,900 |
| Base Engine 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder (A3) |
| Horsepower 186 (220 with all-wheel drive) |
| Std. Transmission 7-speed automated manual |
| Avail. Transmission 6-speed automated manual |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 24-26 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 30-35 |
| Optional Engine turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (S3) |
| Horsepower 292 total |
| Std. Transmission 6-speed automated manual |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA City Range (mpg) 21 |
| EPA Hwy Range (mpg) 28 |
| Optional Engine turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder/electric (e-Tron) |
| Horsepower 204 total |
| Std. Transmission 6-speed automated manual |
| Avail. Transmission NA |
| EPA Combined Range (mpg) 34 |
| EPA Combined Range (MPGe) 83 |
