In the affordable subcompact luxury sedan market, the Germans strive for supremacy over one another with luxury, performance, and practicality. The Audi A3 sedan is one such option among the other popular offerings in the compact luxury sedan segment. The great levels of performance, comfort and technology being offered by these entry-level sedans has fuelled the need for more products and after skipping the 2021 model year, Audi has completely redesigned its A3 sedan for the 2022 model year with larger dimensions, improved interior space and enhanced technology on offer.
2022 Audi A3 Latest Updates
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The 2022 Audi A3 is expected to be a completely revamped version of the popular Sedan. The sedan is expected to arrive with some significant changes. The 2022 model year is set to have a new platform underneath the body which will make it a bit more longer and wider to keep up with the competition and gets sharper styling to bring the design of the A3 in line with Audi's latest look. Also, there should be a performance bump over the current model year with a new powertrain, as confirmed by Audi. The new A3 Sedan is set to compete with the likes of Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, Lexus ES 250, and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.
2022 Audi A3 basic Sedan Front Angle View
2022 Audi A3 basic Sedan Rear Angle View
Features
Not much details in this regard have been shared by Audi, but expect the basic trim lineup to remain more or less the same. The A3 is expected to be offered in 4 basic trims with an option for the Quattro all-wheel drive system for an additional $2,000 roughly. Add to that the options packages that add more technology and safety features and makes the A3 an even more exciting prospect.
Trims
Sport Premium
Sport Premium Plus
S Line Premium
S Line Premium Plus
MSRP
$35,000
$38,000
$38,000
$41,000
Key Features
Xenon High Intensity Discharge Headlamp
Sport Premium trim plus;
Sport Premium trim plus;
Sport Premium Plus trim plus;
Tire Pressure Monitoring
Blind Spot Warning Accident Avoidance System
2.0L, turbocharged 228 hp engine
2.0L, turbocharged 228 hp engine
10-speaker audio system
Front Fog/Driving Lights
Dual Zone Front Climate Control
14-speaker audio system
Heated Front Seats
Front And Rear Parking Sensors
18-inch Painted Alloy Wheels
We Recommend
The base engine too is expected to get a bump in the numbers, we would recommend opting for the S Line Premium trim which gets the higher powered engine as the difference in terms of efficiency between the two isn’t that much and hence is worth the initial investment.
Engine and Performance
7.0/10
The 2022 Audi A3 sedan will be equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4 engine under the hood. The base trim is expected to get a power bump over the outgoing model that produced 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of max torque. The highly praised 7-speed automatic transmission will be updated and retuned for 2022.
2022 Audi A3 basic Sedan Engine Bay
The new transmission is also expected to improve the efficiency as well as aid in improving performance as compared to the 2021 model. Moreover, all the trims will have options for an AWD setup, with FWD being the standard drivetrain setup. The higher powered 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder engine generating 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque will also be carried forward with an even higher state of tune.
Model
2022 Audi A3 Sedan (Expected)
2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250
2022 Lexus ES 250
2022 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe
MSRP
$35,000
$37,850
$39,900
$37,500 (est)
Engine
2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline 4
2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline 4
2.5-liter Turbocharged Inline 4
2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline 4
Transmission
7-speed DCT Automatic
7-speed Automatic
8-speed Automatic
8-speed Automatic
Horsepower
184 hp @ 5,000 RPM
221 hp @ 5,800 RPM
203 hp @ 6,500 RPM
248 hp @ 5,000
Torque
221 lb-ft @ 1,450 RPM
258 lb-ft @ 1,800 RPM
184 lb-ft @ 5,000 RPM
258 lb-ft @ 1,450
0-60 (Sec)
Less than 6.6
6.3
8.1
6.0
Quarter Mile (Sec)
Less than 14.8
14.9
16.2
14.5
The outgoing Audi A3 definitely falls behind in the competition in terms of power, however, that is expected to change for 2022 as the A3 is expected to offer a significant performance boost. Surprisingly though, the outgoing A3 still performs better than the 2021 Lexus ES 250 in the 0-60 sprint. The 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is considered by most as the new king of its segment and with the 2022 model year getting a significant update, it is set to make the competition run for their money.
Fuel Economy
7.5/10
The A3 has always been a fun-to-drive car and it has evolved over time. It provides excellent driving dynamics with minimal body rolls along with top-notch high-speed stability. Furthermore, the steering feels quite composed and offers perfect feedback for daily usability. With the updated 2022 model, the A3 sedan is set to deliver better on-road stability and crisp driving dynamics, thus, making it more competent to rival its counterparts.
How many miles to the gallon will the 2022 Audi A3 Sedan deliver?
The A3 has always been impressing us with the fuel economy for quite some time now and it is evident from the outgoing A3. With the 2022 model year, we can expect similar fuel economy as before but considering the increased power output, the upcoming A3 might just lead the segment with the best fuel efficiency. Audi is expected to deliver a combined mileage figure of around 30 miles per gallon but the smaller fuel tank would limit the driving range.
Model
2022 Audi A3 Sedan (Expected)
2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250
2022 Lexus ES 250
2022 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe
MPG (city)
27*
25
25
23
MPG (highway)
36*
35
34
33
MPG (combined)
30*
28
28
27
Fuel tank capacity (gallons)
13.2*
13.5
15.9
13.2
Range (city/highway) (miles)
356/475/396*
338/472/378
397/541/445
304/436/356*
* 2021 model year figures are taken for reference.
In terms of efficiency the A3 is followed by the 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 which has been carried forward as it for the 2022 model year and hence should not see any difference in this regard. The 2021 Lexus ES 250 too had a similar fuel efficiency rating which too is expected to stay the same. Unsurprisingly, the 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe offers the least efficiency when compared to the rivals due to its high-performance nature.
Interior
7.0/10
The upcoming 2022 model year of the Audi A3 is all set to offer a newly designed cabin along with a lot of added features. This could possibly be a game-changer for Audi. The interiors will pack decent luxury with the use of premium materials like leather and wood accents as before with additional modern touches expected.
2022 Audi A3 basic Sedan Dashboard
With the expected enlarged chassis and increased length of the car, it is likely possible that the already spacious cabin will only get roomier, thus, adding another advantage in the A3’s arsenal to challenge the rivals.
Model
2022 Audi A3 Sedan (Expected)
2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250
2022 Lexus ES 250
2022 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe
Passenger Capacity
5
5
5
5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.)
36.5/54.8/41.2*
38.5/55.1/41.8
37.5/55.9/42.4
39.8/55.5/41.4
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.)
36.1/53.0/35.1*
35.7/54.0/33.9
37.8/54.3/39.2
35.7/53.1/34.4
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)
12.3*
11.6
16.7
15.1
*2021 model year figures are taken for reference.
In terms of cabin spaciousness, the outgoing Audi A3 is behind the competition with a bit of cramped seating posture due to the fairly low head and legroom. Rivals like the BMW 2 Series and the ES 250 offer a fair amount of front row space and the latter even provides more space at the rear. Talking about the cargo capacity, the 2021 Lexus ES 250 offers the best-in-class cargo capacity which gets only a facelift for 2022 and hence offers similar space, followed by the BMW and the Audi. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 offers the least amount of cargo capacity in the segment.
A few of the salient cabin features of the 2022 Audi A3 are:
Ambient LED lighting for the interior
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Leather seats with heating systems
Leather steering wheel
12-way power-adjustable front seats with 4-way power lumbar adjustment for the driver
Panoramic sunroof
2022 Audi A3 Sedan: Infotainment and Connectivity
The already impressive infotainment system is going to get a makeover for the 2022 model year of the Audi A3. With the latest MMI navigation plus, Audi will allow the vehicle to connect to any mobile phone through the WiFi hotspot. The MMI system offers a lot of information about the traffic, news, etc.
2022 Audi A3 basic Sedan Infotainment System
The Virtual Cockpit digital gauge is expected to come standard with a 10.3-inch screen. There will also be a 12.3-inch optional screen with a heads-up display. An all-new 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display will be replacing the center pop-up display. Features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will come as standard across the models.
A few of the standout features of the 2022 Audi A3’s infotainment system includes:
The 2022 A3 will get more aggressive looks and designs that were missing on the outgoing model year. The front will get the honeycomb-inspired intake grille with striking-looking LED headlamps. The body will resemble a more angular coupe-like design.
2022 Audi A3 basic Sedan Side View
The rear will feature a twin exhaust cutout along with sharp LED taillamps. The Sedan will also come equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels. Moreover, the 2022 model year of the Audi A3 will be more aerodynamic to enhance the overall performance.
Model
2022 Audi A3 Sedan (Expected)
2022 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250
2021 Lexus ES 250
2022 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe
Curb Weight (lbs.)
3,197*
3,362
3,780
3,534
Length (in.)
175.5*
184.6
195.9
178.5
Width (in.)
70.7*
72.0
73.4
70.9
Height (in.)
55.7*
56.7
57.9
55.9
Ground Clearance (in.)
6.3*
3.9
5.0
5.5
Wheelbase (in.)
103.8*
107.4
113.0
105.1
Track Width (in.) F/R
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
*2021 model year figures are taken for reference.
The outgoing A3 offers a more compact offering than the competition with smaller overall dimensions. However, with the 2022 model year, the Audi A3 will have bigger dimensions that will put it right on-par with leading rivals. The BMW 2-series too is expected to get a substantial update but the exterior dimensions are expected to be the same as before and none of these cars are close to the dimension of the Lexus.
Considering its a new generation altogether, Audi is expected to offer state of the art cutting edge safety features like the driver assistance technology. Some of which would be offered as standard across the trims while some should be available with the options package. The 2020 Audi A3 had a pretty good safety record, scoring a perfect 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA while also bagging the “Top Safety Pick” accolade from the IIHS. A list of the most notable safety features expected to be available on the 2022 model year are listed below.
Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
Available adaptive cruise control
Available lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
Audi Pre Sense front
Low Tire Pressure Warning
Final Verdict
The 2022 Audi A3 is set to offer extensive practicality, luxury with a fair bit of performance improvements. With all these changes expected, the upcoming A3 will be a great balance between performance and practicality. Audi is set to unleash the new A3 to take over the segment. The fans who were saddened by Audi’s decision to skip over the 2021 model, now have something to look forward to and from the likes of it, the upcoming A3 is bound to impress even the harshest of critics.
