2026 Audi A3: Impressive Entry-Level Luxury

The Audi A3 is a compact luxury sedan slotting beneath the A5 sedan in the lineup. Like its larger sibling, the A3 boasts an attractive, well-made interior and a host of useful standard features. A small back seat and trunk are its biggest drawbacks, but that comes with the territory when shopping in this class. If its diminutive size isn't a deal-breaker for you, the A3's playful driving dynamics and high-quality cabin make it a worthy entry point to the Audi brand.

The 2026 Audi A3 only has two competitors in the compact luxury sedan class: the Mercedes-Benz CLA and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. Despite a recent refresh, the CLA's interior isn't as impressive as the A3's, and its ride isn't as supple. The 2 Series Gran Coupe was fully redesigned for 2025 and gives the A3 a run for its money in the areas of performance, comfort and interior quality.

With the A4 now discontinued and replaced by the A5 sedan, the A3 is one of only three Audis you can buy with a traditional trunk. But unfortunately, it's not much of a trunk. At 10.9 cubic feet in volume, the A3's trunk is big enough to fit a couple of golf bags or small suitcases. The rear seats fold down for more space, though not in a 40/20/40 split configuration as they do in the sportier RS 3 (reviewed separately). The A3 is likely big enough for most drivers' needs, but if you're planning on using it as a family car, you may want to step up to the A5 for the sake of passenger comfort and cargo capacity.