With the population aging, the entry-level luxury segment is growing quickly. Owners of traditional, large luxury cars no longer need a car so big and are now seeking something compact, efficient, and maybe even trendy.
Audi's answer for these customers is the A3. In the past, the A3 was a five-door hatchback, which was never fully loved by the North American luxury-car buyer. New for 2015, the A3 is a sedan, though we know that Audi is also preparing to bring other variants of this model shortly.
The A3 is more adequately equipped to compete with the likes of the Cadillac ATS, BMW 2 Series, and the new Mercedes-Benz CLA. Offering a fuel-efficient diesel engine makes the Audi unique in this group.
Design
The Audi A3's styling is classy and charming, but also cool and smart looking. Standard features like bi-xenon headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels give it a premium look.
All of Audi's contemporary styling elements are present on the A3. The resemblance to its A4 sibling is clear, especially looking at the large single frame grille and soft, smooth shoulders.
Built on Volkswagen's MQB architecture, the 2015 sedan A3 is larger in every dimension than the previous hatchback model. Wheelbase has increased more than 2 inches, which in turn increases length and width. The interior offers everything you expect from an Audi. The cabin design is clean, but it is sportier and less posh than its A6 and A8 stablemates.
The A3 is available in three trim levels with three different engines. Currently, it is only available as a four-door sedan or a two-door convertible. In the near future a gasoline electric hybrid and a diesel hatchback will be joining the lineup.
Performance
Fans of small, sporty cars will enjoy driving the A3. Its light weight gives it a playful nature but the ride is supple and the cabin is quiet, making daily commutes and long drives easy. It's one of the best handling small sedans around in this marketplace. The fancier S3 models are certainly more performance-focused with stiffer suspension, more features, and sportier elements all around to give it an agile character. However, the ride is not so harsh that daily driving becomes unpleasant. The base engine is a 1.8-litre turbo inline-4 producing 170 horsepower and 199 foot-pounds of torque. Despite this being an entry engine, it is still capable of a top speed of 209 kilometres per hour and can accelerate to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds.
The economical choice is a 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder clean diesel. Output is rated at 150 h.p. and 236 foot-pounds of torque and can return 6.6 litres/100 kilometres of combined driving - it has great torque and acceleration.
Both are only available as a front-wheel drive model as well. The Audi's six-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission is the only offering, but that's fine as shifts are impressively quick and smooth.
Those wanting Audi's legendary quattro all-wheel drive need to opt for the 2.0-litre turbo inline-4. In A3 trim, output is rated at 220 h.p. and 258 foot-pounds of torque. The S3 boosts power to 290 h.p. and 280 foot-pounds of torque, enabling it to rocket to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
Environment
The cabin of the A3 is business-like, but the premium feel is evident. The dash is low and smooth, punctuated by simple, circular air vents that almost have a retro vibe to them. However, once the display screen rises out of the centre, you quickly remember this is a modern, high-tech-filled vehicle.
From the driver seat, all the controls are within easy reach and easy to manipulate. The three-spoke steering wheel feels nice in hand, the gauges are easy to read, and the front seats are roomy and comfortable.
Audi's MMI command centre has been updated to improve its ease of use — it features new toggle switches and handwriting recognition to help you find your destination.
While the added wheelbase allows for some more rear seat legroom, it is still quite tight and the cabin is "cozy" for three people in the back.
The cargo space benefits the most from the stretched wheelbase. Front-wheel drive models offer 12.3 cubic feet, but the all-wheel drive system cuts that down to an even 10.0 cubic feet.
Features
The Audi A3 Sedan ranges in price from $31,600 to $43,300. The A3 Cabriolet starts at $43,400 and goes up to $49,700, whereas the Sport S3 Sedan ranges from $46,200 to $49,700.
Standard equipment includes heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, dual zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, keyless entry, and Bluetooth. Additional features, available as options or on higher trims, include automatic high beams, automatic dimming interior mirror, satellite navigation, blind spot monitoring, and a rearview camera.
Fuel efficiency numbers (litres/100 kilometres) for the 1.8-litre engine are 10.0 city, 7.1 highway and 8.7 combined. The diesel returns 7.5 city, 5.5 highway for 6.6 combined. The 2.0-litre A3 sees 9.8 city, 7.2 highway for 8.6 combined, while the 2.0-litre in the S3 returns 10.1 city, 7.7 highway for 9.0 combined.
Thumbs up
The new A3 sedan better fits North American luxury buyers' expectations. The engine choices all offer solid performance, and the clean diesel has great fuel economy.
Thumbs down
While the A3 has its charms, it is far from the most dramatic in this class. This segment has seen a lot of new and refreshed entries lately, and the A3 may not stand out as much as it needs too.
The bottom line
If you are looking for a compact luxury car, the 2015 Audi A3 checks all the mandatory boxes and provides great ride and handling.
Competitors
BMW 2 Series: Until the 1 Series arrives, the 2 Series is the smallest, most economical BMW available. As a two-door, it is suitably sporty, but accessing the tiny rear seat is not a fun task. The 2 Series Coupe starts at $36,000 and the Cabriolet is priced at $45,200.
Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class: Mercedes-Benz has built its reputation on highly luxurious sedans like its flagship, the S-Class. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford that, so they introduced the CLA-Class for the entry level buyers. Prices for the CLA-Class start at $34,600.
Cadillac ATS: The ATS offers the same luxury features that Cadillac's are known for, but also boasts performance that rivals the best from abroad. The ATS has great powertrains, outstanding handling and possibly the best interior in this segment, likely making it the car Audi is most wary of. ATS sedan models start at $38,010, while the new coupe prices begin at $43,140.
