Powering the Audi A3 is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder available in several states of tune. 40 TFSI S tronic models come with 184 horsepower, while 45 TFSI S tronic models have a more powerful version of the same engine making 228 horsepower. Power is sent to the front or to all-four wheels via a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. An even higher performance version of the same engine powers the all-wheel drive Audi S3, where it makes 288 horsepower--enough to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The RS3 also comes only in all-wheel drive form and is powered by a 2.5L turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that makes an almost-unbelievable 394 horsepower.
The Audi A3 is available in two trim levels: Premium and S line Premium while the S3 comes in the S line Premium trim only. The Premium trim includes leather seating with heated front seats, a panoramic glass sunroof, Xenon plus automatic headlights, 18-inch wheels, power adjustable side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 12-way power adjustable driver's seat, rearview camera, heated mirrors and washer nozzles, twin USB power/data ports, Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a 10-speaker sound system with a 3-month subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio.
The Premium Plus trim adds full LED headlights with high beam assist, rear cross traffic assist and side assist systems, parking sensors, a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 14 speakers and 705 watts, wireless phone charging and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with an integrated compass.
Option packages on the Premium Plus include a Driver Assistance package with adaptive cruise control, park assist and active lane assist. Also optional is the Navigation Package which gets Audi's virtual cockpit: a 12.3-inch LCD screen replaces the instrument cluster and is able to display navigation data and maps right in front of the driver.
A final edition Package is new for this year and is available on both trim levels. It features a flat-bottom steering wheel with shifter paddles, red leather seats with contrasting stitching and puddle lights.
The RS3 is a special beast of its own. Besides the tremendous engine, the RS3 comes with a unique red-stitched Nappa leather interior as well as 19" 5-arm wheels, full LED headlamps, RS-specific fascias and diffuser and magnetic ride suspension.
Safety features on all the A3 models include anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control and a tire pressure monitoring system. Airbags include advanced driver and passenger front airbags, knee airbags, thorax side airbags as well as side curtain airbags. An anti-theft alarm system comes standard, while Active Lane Assist, Audi Pre-Sense automatic braking and adaptive cruise control are all optional on the A3 Prestige.
Compact Size
Upscale Feel
Clean Styling
Available All-wheel Drive
High-performance S3
Super-performance RS3
The Audi A3 continues into 2020 largely unchanged. Unfortunately, the convertible model has been dropped for this year, but Audi have also introduced a Final Edition option package. It features goodies such as red leather seating surfaces and LED lights that project the Audi logo on to the ground when the front doors are opened.
The Audi A3 competes against other compact premium cars such as the BMW 2-Series, the Mercedes CLA and, to some would say, the MINI Cooper. In past decades, owning a small car meant dealing with little more than bare bones transportation. These days, though, owners of small cars need not be deprived of anything and the A3 looks to continue that trend by offering a vehicle with a small footprint but with luxury-car performance and amenities.
