2020 Audi A3

The Audi A3, no doubt has a charming exterior design but it is showing its age. Things will get steamy when a new generation of A3 will roll out but for now this second generation 2020 Audi A3 displays an impressive performance with the help of a 2.0-liter turbo engine which comes in two different tunings. The Audi A3 majorly competes with the BMW 2 Series, Mercedes-Benz A-class, and the Acura ILX. 

For the 2020 Audi A3, Prestige and Titanium trim has been discontinued and Premium and Premium Plus trim is on the list. For this year, the front-wheel-drive sedan variant of A3 is called A3 Sport and the Quattro all-wheel-drive model is named as S Line. The base Premium trim starts with a price tag of $33,000 and adds 18-inch aluminum wheels, Xenon headlights, keyless entry, and ignition, manual tilt, and telescoping steering wheel, HD radio, SiriusXM, 7-inch touchscreen, backup camera, and heated side mirrors. 

Upgrade to the Premium Plus trim and you will get a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system, wireless charging, front and rear parking sensors, and more. The Final Edition Package ($800) is available on both trims and adds shift paddles, Sport Seats, contrast stitching, and S embossing, 3 spoke flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel, lower door trim LED light displaying Audi logo (4 rings), and Audi Beam-Rings. Driver Assistance Package on the Premium Plus gives adaptive cruise control, active lane assist, park assist, and Pre Sense front. 

Which trim should you buy?

We would recommend the base Premium trim as it is the best value for money. Although the pricing of the Premium and Plus trim does not have a huge difference, the base trim has still got a good list of standard features. You can also opt for the Side and rear cross-traffic assist Package ($600) on the base trim which adds rear cross-traffic assist, front and rear parking sensors, Audi parking system Plus, and Audi side assist. 

The A3 Sport trims with front-wheel drive come with a standard 2.0L turbocharged in-line 4-cylinder engine that produces well over 180 hp of power and 221 lb-ft of torque. The All-wheel-drive S line trim group gets the same engine but different tuning which generates a zesty 228 hp of power and 258 lb-ft of torque. These engines are paired to a smooth and reliable 7-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission. 

Having the same engine but two different outputs can be puzzling, so Audi came up with the 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI badging to solve the problem. Talking about performance, the base engine can accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in just about six and a half seconds while the 45 TFSI could do the same in 5.4 seconds. With that acceleration, the latter has more potential but the top speed is limited to 130 MPH. 

The BMW 228i has the same engine output as the figures as the A3 45 TFSI. However, it takes 6.0 seconds for a rival from the BMW to do the 0-60 mph. Next in line is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class which has a decent output and crosses 60 mph from a standstill 0.2 seconds later than the BMW 2 Series. Lastly, the slowest among the bunch is the Acura ILX which crosses the 0-60 mph mark in 6.6 seconds. 

How well does the 2020 Audi A3 Sedan handle?

In the 2020 Audi A3 Sedan, the front wheels have an independent MacPherson strut suspension while the rear has an independent multi-link suspension. The ride is balanced and composed. The steering wheel is precise but also requires a little more effort which is good in a way as it feels more sporty while driving. The engine and gearbox are in great sync which offers smooth shifts and engaging drive. 

Acceleration is quick but there is a bit of turbo lag present. Even at high speed, Audi A3 handles pretty well around the corners and remains calm. Though the engine is powerful and there is a lot of road noise, the cabin is quiet. The 2020 Audi A3 has a score of 86 out of 100 in the driving experience section from the J.D. Power. This score is better than the other rivals which shows that the 2020 Audi A3 is a fun place to be in. 

2020 Audi A3 Braking Performance

This Sedan from Audi weighs over 3000 lbs and is equipped with a 4-wheel disc braking along with brake assist, ABS, EBD, and many more features and equipment for braking systems. The front wheels of the upcoming A3 have a brake rotor size that measures 12.3-inch while the rear wheels get 10.7 inches solid discs on each wheel. This makes the car stop from 60 MPH in about 120 feet which is decent enough. 

Though the BMW is substantially the heaviest of all and stops from 60 mph to 0 over the distance of 121 feet. However, the Mercedes-Benz is the one with the least stopping distance of 108 feet. It also has the largest size of the front and rear brake rotors. The Acura is the lightest car with a stopping distance of 119 feet. 

The front-wheel-drive with a 2.0-liter turbo engine setup offers 27 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on Highway, and 25 MPG combined. The Quattro-badged AWD A3 gets fuel economy reduced by 5/6/5 MPG in the city, on the highway, and combined respectively. That said Sport A3 gives a combined range of 396 miles while the S line A3 provides a combined range of 330 miles.

Audi, BMW, and Acura have the same fuel tank capacity. However, the A3 has the class-leading MPG figures in the segment. The ILX has an edge over the 2-series as it gives one MPG extra than the Gran Coupe. On the other hand, the A-class of the Mercedes has a bit more fuel capacity than the rest and it possesses the same EPA figures as the rival from the Acura. 

Audi A3 has a simple but opulent cabin. The dashboard in the 2020 Audi A3 Sedan has soft-touch plastics along with leather trim. There is a bit of low-grade plastic in the lower parts of the cabin but since all is colored black and so well woven, it appears to be made out of just one single material. A monotonous cabin is not a very welcoming one, that’s why Audi has inserted some brushed aluminum pieces to decorate the cabin. That said, the front row is quite spacious but the same can’t be said about the rear row as A3 has a sloping roofline. 

The Audi A3 offers standard bucket seats with three-way heating and 8-way power adjustment with 4-way power lumbar support for the driver while the front passenger gets only a 6-way power seat. The rear occupants sit on a 40/20/40 bench seat. Though the seats are wrapped in pure leather, many complain about having less cushioning. In the list of standard comfort creatures, dual-zone climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, manual tilt and telescopic steering wheel, one 12V power outlet, keyless entry, and keyless ignition are included. 

Looking at the room provided, the Acura ILX has the roomiest front row. That aside, the Mercedes-Benz A-class has the best cabin in terms of space but it is quite stingy when it comes to the rear legroom. Furthermore, the A-Class has the smallest trunk while the BMW 2 Series has the biggest one of all. The BMW has more room in the front row than the Audi and also has the best rear legroom but the worst rear headroom. Highlights of the interior features are:

• Dual-zone climate control
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• 40/20/40 bench rear seat
• Heated front seats 
• Shift paddles 
• Leather upholstery

What's there to keep you entertained?

The 2020 Audi A3 comes with an MMI infotainment system which has a 7-inch display that pops up out of the dashboard. It is a clear display with some easy-going graphics and is controlled by a rotary knob. The infotainment unit on the Premium trim features a 10-speaker audio system that can be upgraded to a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system with a on the Premium Plus trim. 

The base trim also comes with standard features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, HD radio, and two USB ports. Upgrade to the Premium Plus and you can get rear-seat USB ports and wireless charging. The Navigation Package ($2000) on the upper trim adds Audi's Virtual Cockpit 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, handwriting recognition, and navigation system. Highlights of the infotainment features are:

• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 7-inch screen 
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Navigation system
• 10-speaker audio system 

Though the Audi A3 is likely going to get a complete redesign soon, the 2020 Audi A3 Sedan still looks snappy and modern no matter where you cut it. The hood has two creases that are extended from the front grille and bring out an aggressive look. The base trim has Xenon projector headlights with LED DRLs and taillights whereas the higher trim gets full LED lighting. Looking from the side, the Sedan has a sleek body design with a one-off character line running from the front door to the rear and getting denser as it grows. 

The rear of this compact Sedan is also pretty neat and sleek. The LED taillights look aggressive along with the dual exhaust tips and a trunk lid integrated rear spoiler makes it appear sporty. The design slightly changes for the S Line variant. It gets 18-inch five-arm-trapezoid design wheels, color-keyed side sills, and unique front and rear bumpers. That said, 17-inch wheels on the Premium trim have been replaced by the 18-inch wheels. On the top of your head, a panoramic sunroof is given and heated power color-keyed side mirrors are standard on both trims. 

The A3 has the most compact dimensions and has a curb weight which is also shared by the rival from Mercedes-Benz. The A-Class has the least ground clearance but a longer wheelbase and is the tallest Sedan in the segment. The 2 Series and ILX have really close dimensions except for the length, where the former is 3.7-inches smaller than the latter. Some of the key exterior features include:

• Black Optic exterior trim
• 18-inch machined aluminum wheels
• Power sunroof
• LED headlights
• LED daytime running lights

The 2020 Audi A3 Sedan secured a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS has assigned its ‘Good’ ratings in all crashworthiness tests but the A3 could not secure the ‘top safety’ pick’ award like last year’s model. However, it does get a ‘Super’ rating in the crash prevention test conducted by the IIHS. The base 2020 Audi A3 comes with standard safety features such as forward collision warning, cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and brake assist. On the Premium Plus trim, you also get blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors. With optional packages, more advanced safety and driver assistance features can be added. Highlights of the safety features are:

• Cruise control
• Active lane assist
• Forward collision warning 
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Blind-spot monitoring 
• Front and rear parking sensors

2020 Audi A3 vs. 2020 BMW 2 Series 228i xDrive

The 228i xDrive is faster than the base model of the A3, however, the S Line specification would be a perfect match to the BMW’s performance. Furthermore, the BMW 2 Series is more fuel-efficient than the A3 with the AWD but if the FWD is selected then the coin flips. Moreover, as per J.D. Power, the A3 provides a better driving experience but the 2 Series Gran Coupe 4-door sedan has slightly better IIHS safety ratings. To top the cherry on the cake, the 2 Series has a bigger trunk in comparison. 

2020 Audi A3 vs. 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 220 4MATIC

While Audi’s layout is pretty simple, Mercedes-Benz seems to try hard and find a premium-looking design inside. Having said that, the A-Class and the A3, both offer a pleasant ride quality but in terms of performance, the A3 has the edge. On one hand, the A-Class has a more spacious cabin than the A3 but the latter one has a bigger trunk to counter that. Lastly, on the fuel economy front, the Audi A3 gets the short stick. 

2020 Audi A3 Sedan vs. 2020 Acura ILX Technology and A-SPEC Packages

Unlike the Audi A3, the Acura has not given an AWD drivetrain option in the ILX. That being said, both the cars have great comfort and spacious cabin. But the A3 consumes less fuel compared to the ILX when both sedans have FWD. The Audi A3 displays enthusiastic acceleration with the higher output engine but when the lower output engine is the topic of discussion then the ILX and the A3 have the nearly same throttle response. 

The new Audi A3 Sedan is an unpretentious, modest, and classic family sedan. With a sporty engine and comfortable seats, the A3 also feels like a rally-cross car for the urban roads or a premium street racer. There might be a new generation coming out in the future but for now, this model reeks of all premium vibes. Rivals have given a tough competition to the A3 but it is still the best deal you can go home with.