2019 Audi A3

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: The 2019 Audi A3 has revised horsepower ratings and some models get new transmissions. The base turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder is now rated at 184 horsepower for front-wheel drive cars and 228 hp for all-wheel drive quattros versus last year’s ratings of 186 and 220 respectively. The quattro swaps its 6-speed automated manual transmission for a 7-speed automated manual transmission. Front-wheel-drive versions also have a 7-speed automated manual transmission. Horsepower for the sporty S3 drops slightly from 292 to 288, but it also exchanges a 6-speed automated manual transmission for a 7-speed automated manual. The turbocharged 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine of the high-performance RS 3 is now rated at 394 hp instead of the previous 400. The RS 3 also gains a 7-speed automated manual transmission. The e-Tron plug-in hybrid has been dropped. The premium compact A3 is available in 4-door-sedan or 2-door-convertible form. S3 and RS 3 come only as a sedan. The 2019 Audi 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 and the RS 3 is almost supercar fast, but both require a fairly steep price premium.