Overview
The A3 is Audi's premium compact sedan contender. Its upscale looks give the car a premium feel, and we like its peppy little engine and refined ride quality. The A3 also comes with plenty of standard features and an excellent optional audio system for those who love in-car listening. It might have a cramped back seat and a small trunk, but the A3's pros very much outweigh the cons.
Edmunds spotlight: A refreshed A3 is coming soon
Audi has already released the refresh details for the A3 in Europe, and while it's not confirmed exactly what will show up stateside, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect. The front and rear fascias get a little resculpting and the headlights are new LEDs that are customizable. The interior looks largely the same, but the infotainment will offer more features and there's a slight change to the interior ambient lighting to switch up the aesthetic. What we don't know is what Audi has done, if anything, to the engine options. We'll likely know more when the A3's full information for the U.S. market is released.
Competitors to consider
The A3 has to fend off a few other luxury brands. The Mercedes-Benz CLA recently got a small face-lift of its own, but its ride comfort isn't as refined and its powertrain isn't as efficient. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is the other German sedan in this space, but it hasn't received any major updates in years and feels far older. The BMW also isn't as good to drive or as refined as the A3.