2020 Audi A3

The 2020 Audi A3 comes powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine coupled to a 7-speed automatic transmission. All the trims are available in both FWD and AWD. When equipped with AWD, the engine’s power output is cranked up to 228 hp as opposed to 184 hp. The Audi A3 competes with its German arch-nemesis, the BMW 230i, and Stuttgart’s Silver Arrow, the Mercedes Benz CLA 250. Let's move ahead and find out which of these Germans emerge to be on the top.

The Audi A3 is available in three well-appointed trim levels. From the entry-level Premium variant to the top-spec Prestige variant, Audi has something for every buyer. The base trim comes with a host of excellent luxury features including standard leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control and safety features like rearview camera, front collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

We Recommend

The base Premium trim coupled with Audi's Quattro AWD for an extra $3,100 on top of the MSRP strikes the perfect note. The Quattro will provide you with more power and the added advantage of all-weather driving as well. Hence, the base trim is the perfect bang-for-buck.

“The 2.0-litre engine arrived with the 2016 facelift and boasts an excellent spread of refined torque. It’s only noisy right at the top end in that realm around 5000rpm where normal drivers never stray, or if you stand outside the car. For almost all occupants almost all of the time, it is more than sufficiently refined.”-Autocar

Powered by a 2.0L inline-4 mill under the hood, the 2020 Audi A3 pumps out 186 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of power and torque respectively. Propelling away to highway speeds in this sedan would not be an issue at all.

All that power is translated to the wheels via a 7-speed DSG gearbox. You can get it to drive either the front wheels or throw in some more money to drive all four wheels, courtesy of the Quattro AWD. However, the addition of Quattro will bump the figures to 228 HP. That said, dial automatic to the manual mode and you’d notice some delays when shifting aggressively, but that won't really bother you much.

Amongst the competition, the Audi A3 is quite underpowered. The Alfa Romeo Giulia churns out the most output amongst the field while the likes of Volvo S60, BMW 2 series and the Jaguar XE hang around alongside each other.

Acceleration

The 4-cylinders spurting 221 pulling forces in the Audi A3 zips the 0-60 mph mark in 6.1s while completing the quarter-mile in 14.8s. These timings bring it a tad closer to the otherwise distanced leaders of the likes of powerful Volvo S60, BMW, and the Giulia. Its German rival sticks behind the by a negligible 0.2s. The slowest amongst the pack is the Lexus IS 300 while the Jaguar keeps company with the Silver Arrow.

Ride and Handling

The 2020 Audi A3 shares its underpinnings with the VW group’s MQB platform. A laudable handling machine, the sedan comprises a comfortable ride quality and spirited driving dynamics. Its steering is direct, and a stiff suspension that works stably along corners, tight or otherwise. An easy car to drive, the A3, however, lacks steering feedback and to really churn out the feeling of fun from the sedan.

While that was the story from a driver's perspective, the occupants of the car might feel slightly unsettled on the undulations of the road, courtesy of the stiff suspension setup. All the external noises are pretty much subdued. The motor does get vocal under spirited driving but it won't hinder your conversations. Also, the presence of sunroof does eat up the headroom a bit, but it also adds to the airy feel of the cabin.

Braking

The A3 sedan offers 12.3-inch brake rotors at the front and 10.7-inch brake rotors at the rear. though we do not have the numbers for the 2020 model, we have high hopes from the baby Audi in this department. With a curb weight of over 3000 lbs. and all 4-disc brake setup, the A3 is expected to offer good stopping power.

In terms of the feel, the brakes offer a good bite and also inspire a lot of confidence. It might feel jerky to some, but you will get used to it once you get the hang of it. There is barely any front-end dive even under hard braking applications, especially when tackling corners, which is pretty impressive for a car from this segment.

*70-0 figures used for reference purpose only

When pitted against the competition, the 2020 Audi remains out of this comparison since we do not have the data backing it up. That said, it's the BMW 230i that takes the spotlight. It sits ahead of the competition by a wide margin.

With a frugal powertrain underneath the hood, the Audi A3 can cover serious distances. Add turbocharging and direct injection to this mix and the engine delivers even better fuel efficiency. It delivers a combined mpg of 28. VW group’s TFSI technology increases the power output of the engine and makes sure to maintain the efficiency of the same. The rest of the field perform similarly in the

“Innovative technology is featured inside the high-quality cabin, including a trick digital gauge cluster and a motorized pop-up infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE–powered Wi-Fi hotspot are also available.” - CarandDriver

Inside the A3’s cabin, you are greeted by a host of premium fittings that seem unreal for this segment. Solidly built and put together, it would be an arduous task to point out panel gaps or inconsistent material. Touch the dashboard or poke the glove box, its interior would always put a smile on your face with its posh and soft-touch materials. 

The Audi A3's interiors have the least resemblance to its siblings and stand out from the crowd. Audi commemorates its entry-level sedan by giving it an "outdated" look to the inside. Why outdated? Well, the theme inside the cabin would surely remind you of the older-gen Audi(s). However, do not take it to be any less than its siblings. It is minimalistic in nature but there is more to it than what meets the eye. 

In the front row, the A3 houses comfortable spacing and with a good driving position alongside wide-adjustability traits on offer. It will not be difficult to find your suited driving position. However, unlike the front, the rear seating takes a hit with the comfort factor as it feels cramped and small. The switchgear has been laid out under the aegis of clinical German precision. Everything falls to your hand naturally and you would be amazed how less time you need to get accustomed to the interiors.

The Lexus IS 300 takes the lead here with the most spacious cabin of the lot. It is then followed by the Bimmer by a very close margin. The Audi A3 barely manages to surpass Mercedes with respect to the overall passenger volume.

Cargo Capacity

For a sedan, the A3 is not very promising in terms of volume in the trunk. It can haul luggage up to 12.3 cu.ft only. Though the volume is just fine for weekend getaways, the competition offers much more in this aspect. However, if your Audi is equipped with the Quattro AWD system, then the trunk shrinks to a volume of 10.1 cu.ft. As depressing as it might be, the fact that you can fold the rear seats down certainly cushions the blow.

But for the volume, the high-lift lid and wide opening of the trunk combine to create a comfortable loading/unloading experience. The bottom lip of the trunk is quite low too which further encourages it. Also, the creamier trims of the A3 lineup feature powered tailgates that can shut down automatically at the push of a button.

With a paltry 12.3 cubic feet, one can say the Audi A3 is a mixed bag of ups and downs. The most commodious Jaguar XE brings home 16 cubic feet followed by the rest of the field with the likes of BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes.

Infotainment System

The A3 keeps up with the latest trends of the world by offering a motorized pop-up 7.0-inch infotainment display that is further mated to a 9-speaker Audio system. This unit is offered as standard across all trims, however, the feature-list varies slightly as you move up the trim-ladder. Unlike its elder siblings, the A3 uses a touch-knob on the center console (just behind the gear shifter) which is the sole medium of interaction with the infotainment. It also features handwriting recognition and various other gestures. There is also a more premium 14-speaker, 440-watt, Bang & Olufsen unit that further decorates the ambiance of the cabin, for extra money though.

The top-trims are set apart from the crowd with the help of Audi's famous Virtual Cockpit Unit that replaces the analog meter console. This unit sums up all the features of a car and brings them all at your disposal. It is also available as an option for the lower trims too, in case you want to add more oomph to your A3.

Some of the outstanding features of the infotainment system in the Audi A3 are:

• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Sirius XM Satellite Radio with 90-day subscription
• SD Card slot with 32-GB operating capacity
• Bluetooth Audio streaming
• Parking system plus with rearview camera
• 9-speaker audio system with single CD player

Interior Features

Minimalistic yet loaded, the A3 doesn't feel like an entry-level vehicle as it is stuffed with some best-in-class features that are absent on most of its rivals. Some of these features are:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Ambient LED interior lighting
• Leather-wrapped gear selector and steering wheel
• Dual adjustable front visors with lighted vanity mirrors
• Leather seating surfaces
• Tilt and telescopic manually adjustable steering column
• Four cup-holders

“The 2020 Audi A3 is hard to tell apart from the rest of the Audi lineup, but that’s a good thing for first-time luxury buyers.”-thecarconnection

One glance at the A3 and it wouldn’t be much difficult to dismiss the styling aesthetic of this sedan. Its design heavily draws cues from the Audi A6, thus, escalating the premium touch to it. The A3 was never a utility-driven design, but even with the sloping roofline, the storage doesn’t really get affected as much. Dimensionally, the A3 sedan finds the middle ground between the larger sedans and coupes like the Jaguar XE and the Mercedes CLA 250.

The front of the car is dominated by Audi's signature grill that extends all the way to the end of the front bumper. It is then surrounded by the Audi-specific LED headlamps that, combined with the grill, ensure you don't get mistaken for any other car. The side of the car follows a typical "Sedan" silhouette accentuated by chrome inserts around the windows. The rear of the A3 concludes the design with the LED taillamps which taper towards the bold crease on top of the registration-plate area. All in all, its a baby Audi and it certainly looks like one.

The A3 is the lightest and the smallest vehicle in this comparison here. While it enables the A3 to be navigated around the city comfortably, this factor certainly takes away the airy feel of the cabin. Talking about the airy feel, it's the Volvo S60 that takes the crown for itself in this regard. It is narrowly closed in by the Alfa Romeo Guilia which almost is as big and airy inside as the former.

Based on VW's trusted MQB platform, there is no questioning the A3's structural rigidity. It is the same platform that also discharges duties in the massive Volkswagen Atlas, which has already garnered impressive ratings in the crash tests conducted by NHTSA. Keeping Audi's reputation intact, the A3 has won "5 stars" in the crash tests conducted by the NHTSA, which is the maximum possible rating.

In terms of technology, the A3 boasts. Some of these include the following:

• Active rollover protection system
• Electromechanical parking brake
• Safety belt reminder for driver and passenger
• Tire-pressure monitoring system
• Electronic Stability Control with secondary collision brake assist and traction control
• Anti-theft alarm
• Rearview Camera

Audi A3 vs BMW 230i

The Bavarian actually is a better driver’s car, hands down. Even with an identical displacement (2.0-liter), the BMW 230i is tuned for more power. When we talk of the 0-60 time, the 2 series is faster than the Audi A3 by a margin of more than one second, thanks to its excellent driving dynamics. It also offers a more practical boot and more usable space in the cabin. But all these niceties come at a premium $3000 on top of the A3's.

The 230i presents itself as a strong choice for an entry-level sports car. It brings together a lot of elements from its brethren and its impeccable dynamic handling abilities are unmatched. Furthermore, you get all of that without the expense of comfort thus finding the exact balance between practicality and performance.

Audi A3 vs Mercedes Benz CLA 250

Compared to the Mercedes CLA 250, the Audi A3 is a complete package with an overall better driving dynamics alongside luxury and opulence. Facing a common problem of cramped rear, and storage capacity, the 4-ring still bears a little more comfortable set of rear seats. The sloping roofline of the CLA 250, as pleasing as it looks, takes the comfort factor of the cabin away. The Audi offers more space and let's not forget, it is the more economical one as well. With comfort and a host of niceties, the Audi A3 is a bang for the buck.

Priced at $32,500, the Audi A3 is your ticket to luxury. Though an entry-level car, the Audi A3 lives up to all the expectations. The interior is savvy and in a league of its own. You get Quattro that propels the car with the help of 228 horses under the hood. The crisp throttle response and low-end torque enables the A3 to be fit for a driver-friendly car. That said, it does come with a few compromises though. There is less space at the rear and the cargo area isn't very welcoming either. 

If you prefer practicality over mild-performance and technology, we think you need to check out the Volvo S60 in that aspect. However, if you need both of them balanced at good proportions, then go no further than the Audi A3.

FAQs

Does the Audi A3 come with a turbocharger?

Yes, the 2020 Audi A3 features a 2.0L, turbocharged unit that produces 184 HP when equipped with FWD and 228 HP when coupled with Audi's Quattro 
AWD. For more information, please check out the complete list of specifications in the Audi A3.

What are the 0-60 timings for the Audi A3?

The A3 clears the 60 MPH in 6.1 seconds and further clears the quarter-mile mark in 14.8 seconds.

Is the Audi A3 also offered as a hatchback?

Unlike many other manufacturers, Audi offers the A3 is as a sedan only. The hatchback variant is exclusive to the European continent.

Is the 2020 Audi A3 reliable? 

In terms of safety, the A3 is loaded with a ton of features and its chassis received a "5-star" rating from the NHTSA. Furthermore, the 2.0L unit under its hood is a tried and tested one which can munch thousands of miles without a freckle, provided you get its maintenance done regularly.

Does the Audi A3 come with a warranty?

The Audi A3 is backed by a 4 year/50,000-mile warranty. For more information on this front, please refer to the features tab on the top of this page.