Audi A3

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2018 Audi A3 Overview

The two thousand eighteen Audi A3 ranks thirteen out of twenty Luxury Puny Cars.

Despite its low price, the two thousand eighteen Audi A3 can still satiate spirited commuters, and it sources high-grade materials and technology from higher priced Audi stablemates. A puny back seat and trunk thrust it down in our rankings.

Scorecard

• Overall: 8.1
• Critics’ Rating: 8.Four
• Spectacle: 8.Five
• Interior: 8.0
• Safety: 8.Five
• Reliability: N/A

Pros & Cons

• Upbeat acceleration, especially with upgraded engines
• Dynamic treating balanced with a slick rail
• High-tech infotainment system and available virtual cockpit
• Spacious front seats

• Puny back seat
• Limited cargo space in all-wheel-drive, hybrid, and convertible models

Notable for 2018

• Heated front seats and two USB ports now standard
• Safety technology added to Premium Plus trim
• Fresh RS three high-performance model introduced

2018 Audi A3 Specs

Audi A3 Rankings and Research

The two thousand eighteen Audi A3 ranking is based on its score within the Luxury Petite Cars category. Presently the Audi A3 has a score of 8.1 out of ten which is based on our evaluation of twenty nine lumps of research and data elements using various sources.

Rankings

• # thirteen in Luxury Puny Cars
• # thirteen in Luxury Convertibles

2018 A3 Pictures

2018 Audi A3 Review

Despite its low price, the two thousand eighteen Audi A3 can still satiate spirited commuters, and it sources high-grade materials and technology from higher priced Audi stablemates. A petite back seat and trunk shove it down in our rankings.

Is the Audi A3 a Good Car?

For this price point, the A3 is a good car. It is joy to drive, gets superb fuel economy, and comes nicely tooled.

There’s a broad multitude of models available, including a four-door sedan, a two-door convertible, a plug-in hybrid with a hatchback figure style, and two performance-oriented editions. Audi made a few improvements for the two thousand eighteen model year: Heated front seats and two USB ports now come standard and extra safety features have been added to uplevel trims. The high-performance RS three is all fresh for 2018.

The A3 is not a good option for those who need to regularly transport adults in the rear seats. Like most vehicles this size, the back seat’s limited legroom and headroom are best suited for children. The car comes nicely outfitted with luxury appointments like leather seats, advanced safety features, and responsive technology, but shoppers looking for a higher level of opulence will find more opportunities to upgrade and customize with some rivals.

Should I Buy the Audi A3?

If you want to spend less than $35,000 for a well-built car that’s accompanied by the premium interior and technology expected from a luxury brand, you should buy the two thousand eighteen A3. “Expertly balanced” is the flawless phrase to describe this Audi’s best qualities; it combines satisfying acceleration, outstanding fuel economy, and an appealing list of standard features with a low embarking price.

Shoppers eying the high-performance editions may want to take a closer look at the price tags. If it`s imperative that your sports sedan comes with the four rings emblem, the S3 and RS three present an excellent kicking off point. However, it’s worth noting that the larger (and higher-ranked) Audi S4 is cheaper than the RS Trio. The BMW two Series and three Series are also good alternatives.

We Did the Research for You: twenty nine Reviews Analyzed

Stop wasting time searching through numerous websites and find everything you need to know in our comprehensive two thousand eighteen Audi A3 review. It includes evaluations from twenty nine professional reviews, as well as concrete data like fuel economy, safety ratings, and spectacle specs.

The current generation of the A3 launched with the two thousand fifteen model. Since there have been few major switches since then, this overview includes applicable reviews and data from the two thousand fifteen through two thousand eighteen model years.

Why You Can Trust Us

The U.S. News Best Cars team is a branch of U.S. News & World Report, and we’ve been ranking and reviewing cars, trucks, and SUVs for ten years. To produce our Best Car Rankings, along with our Best Cars for the Money and Best Cars for Families awards, our editorial team draws from more than seventy five years of combined automotive practice.

How Much Does the Audi A3 Cost?

With its beginning price of $31,950, the two thousand eighteen Audi A3 sedan is one of the least expensive luxury petite cars you can buy. Pricing for the cabriolet (convertible) models commence at $38,350. High-performance editions include the S3 ($43,650) and the RS three ($54,900). Audi also sells a hatchback version with a plug-in hybrid powertrain: the A3 Sportback e-tron. Prices for this model embark at $39,500, tho’ some shoppers may be eligible for a $Four,502 federal tax credit.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for fine deals at your local Audi dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Audi deals page.

Audi A3 Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Audi A3 or Audi A4?

In almost every way, the Audi A3 can’t hold a candle to the Audi A4. The larger A4 is roomy enough to accommodate adults in the back seat, and its fatter trunk makes road trips much lighter. More standard features come with the A4, including advanced safety technology, Apple CarPlay, and tri-zone climate control. The only real edge the A3 has is its lower price.

Which Is Better: Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz CLA?

The interior of the Audi A3 outshines the Mercedes-Benz CLA. It comes standard with niceties like leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof, both of which cost extra in the CLA. Audi’s infotainment system also features a more straightforward, easy-to-learn interface.

Which Is Better: Audi A3 or Acura ILX?

Tho’ the Acura ILX is in the same pricing neighborhood as the Audi A3, it doesn’t fairly match the A3’s level of refinement and spectacle. Among the downsides of the ILX are lower quality cabin materials, a coarse rail quality over uneven pavement, and fewer standard features than the A3.

A3 Interior

How Many People Does the A3 Seat?

You can seat five people in sedan and hatchback configurations of the A3 and four people in the convertible. Leather seats are standard, and those sitting in the front get 12-way power adjustments and heated seats. These, along with comfy cushioning, will have everyone clamoring over the front seats. Like many other vehicles this size, the rear seats are best left for your prodigy and not your peers. If you frequently use your back seat, it’s worth noting that the A3 has more leg- and headroom than a Mercedes-Benz CLA and Acura ILX.

A3 and Car Seats

All Audi A3s come with a tether anchor and a set of lower anchors on the rear outboard seats. Figure styles with a middle seat include a third tether anchor for this seating position. For the most part, caregivers will have little trouble locating and using the LATCH hardware, tho’ the lower anchors are a little taut to stir around.

A3 Interior Quality

This is the cheapest model you can buy fresh from the Audi dealer, but even with the low embarking price, it doesn’t feel as however the interior has been shortchanged. Everything feels solid and durable, and materials include high-grade selections like genuine leather and aluminum inlays. However you can find a few swankier interiors in the luxury petite car segment, you have to spend about $Five,000 more for them.

A3 Cargo Space

Cargo space varies depending on the model, but all A3s come up brief in this area. The sedan has 12.Three cubic feet of cargo room, which is less than most compact sedans. Still, some test drivers found it large enough to carry four carry-on-size suitcases, plus a duo of petite bags. The hatchback bod of the A3 e-tron is a little larger, at 13.6 cubic feet. All-wheel-drive sedan models and convertible models measure around ten cubic feet.

A3 Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

No matter which A3 trim you choose, you’ll get an infotainment system that’s responsive, straightforward, and effortless to use. The base system features a 7-inch touch screen and a control knob, with two USB ports, a 10-speaker audio system, and a rearview camera in every model.

The technology options list has a duo items that turn up the wow factor, embarking with Audi’s virtual cockpit – a 12.3-inch driver’s gauge cluster display screen that’s also found in models like the A4 and TT. A little more subtle, but still state-of-the-art, is the enhanced infotainment system. Its handwriting recognition lets you trace letters and numbers to quickly input an address into the navigation system, and smartphone integration (through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) gives you quick access to your beloved apps.

A3 Spectacle

A3 Engine: From Plug-In to High Spectacle

There’s a rich selection when it comes to powering your fresh Audi A3. Most come with a Two.0-liter four-cylinder engine. In the standard setup with front-wheel drive, this engine pairs with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and has a rating of one hundred eighty six horsepower. Upgrade to Quattro all-wheel drive and you’ll get a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a 220-horsepower rating. This Two.0 TFSI engine (as Audi calls it) is upbeat, and both transmissions feel slick and responsive.

The S3 has the same engine, tuned to crank out two hundred ninety two horsepower. If you indeed want to wiggle things up, you can achieve impetuous acceleration times with the 400-horsepower RS Trio. It comes with a Two.5-liter five-cylinder engine, which bears a unique harass sound.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Sportback e-tron. This plug-in hybrid uses a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine and an electrified motor that together produce two hundred four horsepower.

A3 Gas Mileage: One of the Most Economical

The A3 manages to be both vigorous and economical. Its base Two.0-liter engine has one of the highest fuel economy ratings among luxury puny cars, at twenty six mpg in the city and thirty five mpg on the highway. Opting for all-wheel drive drops this to twenty four mpg city/31 mpg highway, and as you budge up in horsepower, gas mileage decreases even further. Expect 21/28 mpg for the high-performance S3, and subtract two mpg in the city for the RS three rating.

The Sportback e-tron also does an excellent job of delivering peppy spectacle in a fuel-sipping package. When powered by both electrical play and gasoline, it gets eighty three mpg-equivalent and can drive about sixteen miles on all-electric power.

A3 Rail and Treating: Light and Upbeat

Front-wheel drive is standard in the A3 sedan, but if you pony up around $Trio,000 more, you can get Audi’s very praised Quattro all-wheel-drive system in all models but the A3 e-tron. This system, which is standard in the S3 and RS Three, brings extra grip, an increase in horsepower, and a six-speed automatic transmission. The steering is precise, and you can adjust it (along with throttle response and transmission shifts) by setting the car in Convenience, Dynamic, Auto, or Individual mode.

A3 Reliability

Is the Audi A3 Reliable?

The two thousand eighteen A3 hasn`t received a predicted reliability rating yet, but the current generation A3 has received predicted reliability scores of three out of five. While that’s about average for all fresh vehicles, it`s lower than what most cars in this class get. Among the baker’s dozen with a higher reliability score are the Lexus RC and Mercedes-Benz CLA.

Audi A3 Warranty

All Audi A3s come with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty.

A3 Safety

A3 Crash Test Results

Tho’ the two thousand eighteen model hasn`t been tested yet, older A3 models of this generation have performed exceptionally well in crash tests. For example, every model year in the current generation has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety`s Top Safety Pick+ designation, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the A3 an overall safety rating of five out of five starlets for the past three years.

A3 Safety Features

Standard safety equipment includes Audi Pre Sense Front (front collision warning and brake assist), Audi Pre Sense Basic (a system that prepares the car for an influence by rolling up the windows and sunroof, activating the hazard warning lights, and tightening seat belts), a rearview camera, and rain-sensing wipers and headlights. Optional safety features include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capabilities, front and rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.

Which Audi A3 Model Is Right for Me?

There’s a bevy of choices to sort through when selecting the right A3 for you, including front-wheel or all-wheel drive, three trim levels, three bod styles, two high-performance editions, and a plug-in hybrid variant. For the drivetrain, a few trims come standard with the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. All others have front-wheel drive, with the option to upgrade to all-wheel drive for inbetween $Two,700 and $Trio,000.

For its excellent value, we recommend the base Premium trim. Its embarking price of $31,950 makes it one of the least expensive luxury petite cars you can buy, but it doesn’t feel like Audi skimped on luxury features. Leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and a 10-speaker audio system give the car a high-class feel. Goodies like heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch touch screen, two USB ports, a rearview camera, and advanced safety assistance features are also included. The Premium trim level is also available as a convertible (the A3 cabriolet) for $38,350.

Audi A3 Premium Plus

For an extra $Three,250, you can add smartphone integration (via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a proximity key, and push-button and remote commence to your fresh A3 sedan. These tech treats are part of the Premium Plus trim, which also grants you a power-adjustable passenger seat and Audi Side Assist (a safety package that includes rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring). The sedan’s MSRP starts at $35,200, and pricing for the cabriolet version starts at $41,600.

Audi A3 Prestige

The Prestige sedan ($40,700) and Prestige cabriolet ($46,800) are the highest trim levels of the A3. In addition to standard features from the Premium Plus trim, you also get an upgraded infotainment system with navigation, voice directives, handwriting recognition, and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. Standard safety features include lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capabilities.

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron

The Sportback e-tron is the plug-in hybrid edition of the A3. Its solitary configuration includes front-wheel drive, a hatchback assets style, and a hybrid powertrain (a 1.4-liter gasoline engine and a single electrical motor). The A3 e-tron is available in all three trim levels: Premium ($39,500), Premium Plus ($42,600), and Prestige ($48,100).

Audi S3 and RS Trio

Audi’s performance-tuned models are the S3 and the all-new RS Three. With the S3, you get the same size engine as the A3, but horsepower increases to 292. A six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, heated front sport seats, and a sport suspension are among the enhancements. Pricing also gets a boost, to $43,650 for the S3 Premium Plus and $48,950 for the S3 Prestige.

The RS three comes with a 400-horsepower five-cylinder engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and has a commencing price of $54,900. Other standard features include all-wheel drive, Nappa leather seats with diamond-patterned stitching, and a specially tuned magnetic rail suspension system.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for excellent deals at your local Audi dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Audi deals page.

The Final Call

The Audi A3 is a excellent car if you want to ease into the luxury segment and like the spectacle and sophistication characteristically associated with German engineering. Its refined powertrains quickly get you up to speed (especially the high-performance variants), and you’ll get one of the best fuel economy ratings with the base engine. The sedan has a low commencing price compared to its competitors, yet still offers an authentic luxury practice, with leather seats and advanced technology included in every trim. Size-wise, this car works best if you will mainly use the front seats only and have few groceries or bulky items to haul.

Don`t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• “With a base price commencing around $33,000, it’s effortless to stream up a two thousand eighteen Audi A3 Sedan or Cabriolet convertible with familiar Audi luxury features and still walk away for less than $40K. The sport-oriented S3 and RS three suggest sizzling spectacle, but at a hefty price. … The two thousand eighteen Audi A3 doesn’t have the same visual pop as a Mercedes-Benz CLA or an Infiniti QX30, and you’ll find a better price and more legroom in an Acura ILX. Albeit its base price is attractive, once you embark piling on options, the A3/S3 can lightly treatment the $50,000 mark.” — Kelley Blue Book
• “Just because it has a premium badge doesn’t mean it’s out of your reach. Attractive, upscale and joy to drive, the two thousand seventeen Audi A3 sets the standard for the fresh smaller crop of entry-level luxury cars.” — Edmunds (2017)
• “The two thousand seventeen Audi S3 starts at $43,850, but can reach $56,000 when loaded up. Albeit the price may seem a bit high due to the car’s lack of refinement in some respects, the car keeps its promise on cornering, power, and overall spectacle, which are much more significant qualities for this car.” — Motor Trend (2017)

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