2022 Audi A3 Review

Name: 2022 Audi A3 Review
Brand: Audi
Price: 23799 USD

2022 Audi A3 Prestige Sedan Exterior Shown

+228

The newest Audi A3 is fun to drive and offers some of the best in-car tech you'll see today. There are a few negatives — namely a small trunk and limited rear passenger space — but overall the A3 simply feels like a small Audi, not a cheap one.

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2022 Audi A3 Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Peppy yet efficient engine and sporty handling
Excellent in-car tech and audio system
Comfortable seats with refined ride comfort
Loads of standard and available features

Cons

Limited rear passenger space
Trunk smaller than the competition

What's new

All-new interior and exterior design
Updated in-car tech and driver aids
Efficient mild hybrid powertrain
Kicks off the third-generation A3

Overview

After skipping the 2021 model year, the Audi A3 sedan returns for 2022 with new looks, new tech, and an even more efficient engine and mild hybrid system. Audi has taken what's made the relatively recently redesign A6 and A8 and distilled it into a smaller package. And small it is, as the A3 is one of the most compact sedans on sale today, luxury or not. While that makes the rear seat a bit cramped, it's a boon for driving as the A3 is easy to park and offers nimble handling.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 Audi A3 Premium 4dr Sedan w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$132/mo

$179/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Since the A3's debut, rivals like the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz A-Class and CLA sedans have made it feel a bit long in the tooth. Other worthwhile rivals include the Volvo S60 and Lexus IS. To see why we think the A3 is one of the best luxury sedans both in its class and on the road today, check out our Expert Rating below.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.2

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the A3 drive? The Audi A3 is one of the smallest sedans on the market, luxury or not. That small footprint makes it feel light and nimble whether you're out on a mountain road or maneuvering through a parking lot. The A3's steering is light and accurate, though it doesn't give you much feel for the road. The brakes are equally impressive and produced impressively short panic stops at Edmunds' test facility.

We like this turbocharged engine too. There's lots of low-range and midrange power, so the A3 feels quick on the street, reflected by a solid 0-60 mph sprint of 6.4 seconds. The transmission helps, with smooth, quick shifts and better around-town drivability than other small luxury cars. While Audi left more on the table for the sportier S3 and RS 3, the base A3 is still plenty fun to drive.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the A3? The A3 has a comfortable and compliant ride, though it leans more toward the firm side of comfortable. You'll feel road bumps and imperfections, but the ride is never harsh. The standard heated leather seats are supportive and comfortable in both rows, though the rear bench is a bit flat.

The standard three-zone climate control system is excellent, working quickly and evenly to cool the car down. The heated seats work well in cooler weather. The climate control buttons are all on a row on the dash, making them easy to operate without taking your eyes off the road. We also appreciate Audi's use of real buttons.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The A3 is a fairly small car even as far as compacts go. Still, there's more space than there would appear. Even taller passengers should have no issue finding space up front. The seats offer a lot of adjustment, so it doesn't take too long to get a good driving position dialed in. Rear passengers will be a little more snug, though there's room for adults to be comfortable over shorter trips. The A3's small width and short doors make it relatively easy to get in and out.

The A3's buttons and stalks are easy to see and reach. As with some rivals, Audi has reduced the number of buttons and moved some controls to the touchscreen. The menu system works well, but some settings are buried deeper than we'd like.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? The A3 features the latest in-car tech from Audi, much of which we've seen on other redesigned models. The navigation system works well, with a clear map that can be displayed in the instrument cluster. It makes turn-by-turn directions a cinch. The available head-up display helps here, too, projecting navigation info onto the windshield. We were impressed by the rich sound of the A3's available Bang & Olufsen audio system. Every A3 has wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad is available.

The A3 is available with a full suite of driver aids and safety features, most of which must be added as options. A few rival cars, such as the Lexus IS 300, give you more standard features, such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. But the good news is that these driver aids are easy to engage and work smoothly and unobtrusively.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? The A3 is one of the smallest vehicles in its class, something reflected in both passenger space and cargo volume. The A3's 10.9-cubic-foot trunk is larger than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class', but it offers less than other luxury compacts. The available space is tall and wide, and the rear seats fold flat to open the space up further. Don't focus on the figure so much as the usable space itself. Storage up front offers a similar story. The center console is small, so we appreciate the decently sized door pockets and nice phone bin in front of the cupholders.

The small rear seat might be tight, but larger car seats should fit relatively well. The anchors are easy to access on the seat bottom and back.

Fuel Economy

9.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Audi A3 gets an EPA-estimated 32 mpg combined or 31 mpg combined when it's equipped with all-wheel drive. Either way that's better than what you'll get from the rival Mercedes-Benz A-Class or BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. Our all-wheel-drive test car returned an impressive 34.7 mpg on our 115-mile mixed-driving evaluation route.

Value

8.5/10

Is the A3 a good value? The A3 is one of the most affordable luxury sedans, but that doesn't mean it feels cheap or cut-rate. Quite the opposite — the A3 looks and feels nearly as luxurious as its larger Audi siblings. The A3 looks and feels plush both inside and out, with standard features such as leather upholstery, a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, heated front seats and more. It's available with loads of options, too, including an array of driver aids and even more in-car tech. There are a few spots where hard plastic betrays the price, though it doesn't detract much from the whole.

Audi offers a four-year/50,000-mile basic and drivetrain warranty, average for this class of cars. The A3 also gets four years of roadside assistance. That's a nice perk, but some rivals also include a few years of regular maintenance too.

Wildcard

8.5/10

The A3's latest exterior design isn't all that far removed from the last one, though that's hardly a bad thing. It's understated but classy. Conversely, the interior is a departure from the one in the outgoing A3, but it's no less charming and makes the car feel distinctly more modern. The A3 is relatively fun to drive, too, thanks to a smooth turbocharged engine and nimble handling. It's far from the sportiest sedan on the road, but it's unlikely to leave you bored.

Which A3 does Edmunds recommend?

While the base model comes well equipped, we suggest stepping up to the midlevel Premium Plus trim for the best value. It includes all of the base model's features, and it's available with even more options.

2022 Audi A3 models

The 2022 Audi A3 is available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige. All A3s are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that's paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, though Audi offers a version of its Quattro all-wheel drive on all A3 models. Regardless of whether you select FWD or AWD, the 2022 A3's engine produces 201 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The sporty Audi S3 and high-performance RS 3 are reviewed separately.

Premium
The base A3 trim comes fairly well equipped, with standard features that include:

LED headlights
17-inch wheels
Keyless ignition
Leather upholstery
Power-adjustable and heated front seats
Three-zone automatic climate control
Digital instrument cluster
10.1-inch touchscreen display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (includes wireless connectivity)
Panoramic sunroof

The A3 also comes standard with:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)

The Premium trim is available with the Convenience package that adds:

Keyless entry
Auto-dimming mirrors (with power-folding side mirrors)
Driver's seat memory settings
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)

Premium Plus
The midtier Premium Plus trim includes all of the base A3's features. Other standard equipment includes:

Wireless charging pad
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
Lane keeping assist (steers the A3 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Features from the Premium's Convenience package

Optional on the Premium Plus is the Technology package with:

Integrated navigation system
Bigger digital instrument cluster
Premium Bang & Olufsen audio system

Prestige
The A3 Prestige offers all the bells and whistles, including those from the Premium Plus model with the Technology package. Other standard features include:

Upgraded headlights
LED interior lighting
Upgraded interior trim
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)

Optional for all A3 models is the Black Optic Sport package that comes with blacked-out exterior trim and a sport suspension.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3/5Above Average

#16 out of 26 among Luxury Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Audi A3 from 2008-2022.}

$582/yr

vs. $554/yr
for Average Luxury Compact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

2.01x/yr

vs. 1.57x/yr
for Average Luxury Compact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

12.3%

vs. 11.1%
for Average Luxury Compact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Audi A3.

5 (56%)

4 (0%)

3 (0%)

2 (33%)

1 (11%)

3.6

9 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Excellent commuter car

Nick Pachnos, 01/06/2023

2022 Audi A3 Premium Plus 4dr Sedan AWD w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM)

This car is outstanding. I’m 6’2” and the front seats and headroom are spacious and comfortable, especially for such a small car. I get about 35 MPG in a car with plenty of power. It handles very well and the AWD system really grips the road. Only downside are the small backseats but otherwise perfect car.

Nice car let down by poor quality

Ian, 08/30/2023

2022 Audi A3 Premium Plus 4dr Sedan AWD w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM)

First the good things.... I bought this car primarily because I needed an all wheel drive car in a relative hurry and this was in stock at the dealership. I was instantly taken by the very pretty appearance as well as the really good handling and acceleration. The contrasting brown leather seats were attractive and comfortable. The adaptive cruise control system was very good and was … able to maintain the set speed on downhills - unlike a lot of other cars. The bad.... After approximately 8000 miles and six months, the rear camera stopped working and this in turn seemed to prevent the automatic parallel parking from functioning. The dealership ordered the parts to repair this under warranty but it took approximately four months for the car to be repaired. Meantime none of these features were able to be used on a practically brand new car. As a backup camera has been mandatory equipment on new cars since, I believe, 2018 in the USA, I consider this a safety feature. To not have this functioning for such a long period seems worrying. The car suffered from a variety of squeaks and rattles from the outset - particularly from the rear passenger door. The dealership checked this out by driving around their paved parking lot and couldn't hear anything. Hardly surprising at such a low speed in a smooth area. Despite a reset from the dealership, the radio could not memorize my favorite radio channels for more than ten days or so and would have to be constantly reprogrammed. No explanation was given as to why this was continually happening. Also I would receive notifications on my phone (once when I was about 300 miles away from the car) that the trunk was open or the lights were on. When I would get someone to go to my house to check, of course there was nothing visibly untoward. By far the worst aspect of owning this car was the terrible service and attitude displayed by the Audi dealer. I have been fortunate enough to own many brand new cars. This however was by far the worst experience I have ever had. They were completely indifferent to my issues as well as downright incompetent in dealing with them. On two occasions I was told that the A3 was the "entry level" car into the Audi range, so what did I expect? If this attitude by the dealer is the norm that Audi thinks will encourage brand loyalty and repeat sales, then I am dismayed and disappointed. I'd guess that a quarter of the mileage on the car was from having to take it to the dealership. I live rurally and the nearest dealership is a six hour drive and an overnight hotel stay. Obviously this is not their fault, but if the car had been prone to less dealer visits (including recalls for the seatbelts and airbags), I would have saved myself a tidy sum. I paid cash for the car and kept it for about 18 months. I wanted to like the car but the faults on a brand new car were unforgiveable and didn't inspire confidence. The depreciation in the time I owned the car was disappointing. By far the worst aspect of ownership was the dealership. Their incompetence became pitifully laughable. Their lack of responsibility, humility and initial inability to offer even the most basic apology for their screw ups was irksome. In summary, I wanted to like this car. It is zippy and good looking but the build quality of my example was severely lacking and this tied with the arrogance and lack of customer service at the dealership means that it is extremely unlikely I will ever buy another Audi product. Instead I went back to their main all wheel drive sporty rival where the customer experience from my dealer is second to none. So far my new car has been perfect.

Excellent All Around Car

Anthony , 02/06/2022

2022 Audi A3 Premium 4dr Sedan w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM)

I am so impressed with the new A3, it’s quick, it handles great, and it has great luxury. You get a car that has all wheel drive and gets amazing gas mileage on regular fuel with the hybrid system. To me it’s the perfect car. UPDATE: Luxury, great gas mileage, with a sporty feel makes this a excellent choice.

Broke my heart

Dorothy, 12/27/2023

2022 Audi A3 Premium 4dr Sedan w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 7AM)

Buyer Beware: I love everything about my 2022 Audi A3--except the fact that the engine stopped working two different times, leaving me stranded on a fast-moving highway. I've been told the problem is with the electrical system. Hate to abandon this brand, but have no choice. Not sure if they've fixed this problem for 2023, 2024 models. But I'm not taking the chance.

See all 9 reviews of the Audi A3

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2022 A3 Highlights

Trim:

Premium

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$34,800
Engine Type	Mild hybrid
Combined MPG	32 MPG
Cost to Drive	$132/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the A3 models:

Audi Side Assist with Rear Cross-Traffic Assist: Alerts the driver of objects in the A3's blind spots, including traffic or people behind the car when backing up.
Audi Active Lane Assist: Uses a camera to watch the lane lines and can help steer the car back toward the center of the road.
Audi Pre Sense Front: Warns if a front collision is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time.

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2022 Audi A3 Review

2022 Audi A3 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which A3 does Edmunds recommend?

2022 Audi A3 models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Excellent commuter car

Nice car let down by poor quality

Excellent All Around Car

Broke my heart

2022 A3 Highlights

Safety

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