For the latest Audi A3 pricing and information:
https://www.kbb.com/audi/a3/

This is the 4th-generation A3…and I think we’re going to be friends.


Your opinion is the one that matters but personally I am charmed by the A3’s chiseled face, muscley fenders, and fit middle. It looks like the A3 has been hitting the Ingolstadt Crossfit.


Unsurprisingly, the small Audi is small. The trunk is also cozy but it offers large-load flexibility via a super wide passthrough. Stylistically, the cabin reflects the same taut athleticism expressed by the exterior.

There’s a strong driver-centric theme here, what with the center screen angled leftward. Sorry front seat passenger!

Before I forget, let me bemoan this dust and fingerprint collecting black plastic trim. Moving to screen space, we’ve got a standard 10.1” center display plus this standard 10.25” driver information display that can be upgraded to a 12.3” display.

For smartphone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.

The A3’s premium premise is supported by a quiet cabin.

Bump tolerance is similarly refined.
I also like the precision of the steering.

By disposition, the A3 has a balanced fun/comfort ratio.

For power, the A3 utilizes a standard 2-liter turbocharged engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system (Text: 201hp, 221 lb-ft).

Full throttle acceleration yields a zero to sixty time around 6-and-a-half seconds. That’s good but the passionate side of me wants more.


Here are the 4th gen’s fuel economy figures. (29city/38hwy FWD, 28city/36hwy AWD).


If the ‘more’ you seek specifically relates to horsepower, there is a solution. It’s called the S3, which also features a 2-liter turbocharged engine…minus the base engine’s mild hybrid abilities and tuned to produce a more vivacious 306 horsepower (306hp, 295 lb-ft).

While less efficient (23city/32hwy) and pricier (Text: $44,900 Base), the S3 benefits from a sportingly lowered ride height, larger 14.1” front brake rotors, standard all-wheel drive, and a standard adaptive suspension.

For fun-sized thrills with an Audi badge, this is the play.

Helping minimize the A3’s crash potential are standard lane departure warning and forward collision warning. If you do get in a crash, there are 10 airbags ready to cushion the impact including rear side airbags. You can also upgrade the A3’s active assist technology with options like blind spot monitoring, automatic parking assist, and full-speed adaptive cruise control…a feature that I’ve often noted comes standard on a $20,000 Toyota Corolla.


In cheapest guise, a front-wheel drive Premium A3 costs right about $34,000 not including destination charges. At that price the A3 comes nicely equipped with a panoramic roof, four USB-C ports, 3-zone automatic climate control, and leather seating surfaces plus heated front seats offering 4-way power lumbar support.


If you want to drive an Audi, an A3 sedan is the absolute cheapest way to do so. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bummer to own. Quite the opposite.

The latest A3 looks, feels, and drives like an Audi…just on a smaller scale. As a guy who’d rather not wrap up all my funds in a car payment, that’s a formula I love.

00:00 2022 Audi A3
0:11 Competitors
0:27 Exterior
0:57 Interior
4:15 Driving Impressions
4:56 Engine