Audi this week took the wraps off a redesigned A3 sedan, and its high-performance S3 counterpart, for the 2022 model year. The cars have been available in Europe for a year but are just now reaching the States.
The A3 starts at $33,900, while the sportier S3 begins at $44,900. Both require an additional $1,045 for shipping and handling. Those prices keep both versions of the car slightly less expensive than their BMW 2 Series and Mercedes-Benz CLA rivals. They represent solid value in the luxury compact sedan class, but Audi seems to have done little to address complaints about the tiny trunk proportions.
A Lot of Character in a Small Body
The new A3 is wider than the model it replaces, with sharp fender bulges (Audi calls them “Quattro blisters”) for a more athletic look. Angular headlights in a claw shape frame a honeycomb grille. Two deep lines in the hood form the opposite of a hood bulge (a hood depression?). If you like the general shape of Audi sedans, you’ll probably love this one. It’s the most aggressive take on the form.
You can tell the S3 apart thanks to its frameless grille, wider air intakes that frame the front bumper, and the option of a black roof. New quad exhaust tips are larger than before and, Audi says, “provide a symphonic exhaust note.”
Driver-Focused Cabin With … Handwriting Recognition?
Inside, standard leather seating with contrast-color stitching looks sporty. A panoramic sunroof and tri-zone climate control are standard. A 10.1-inch central infotainment screen is angled slightly toward the driver. It is powered by Audi’s new MMI touch-screen interface with handwriting recognition. If you can think of a way handwriting recognition is useful while driving, we’d like you to get in touch.
The S3 gets its own seats — a new design shaped to provide “impressive lateral support, and an upscale look and feel.”
A Pair of Turbocharged Engines
Under the hood, The A3 carries a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower. A mild hybrid system shuts the engine off at low speeds and restarts it when the driver presses on the accelerator. It also “provides a boost during drive-off, and torque-fill during low engine speeds.” A 7-speed automatic transmission is the only one available.
The sportier S3 uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder tuned to make 306 horsepower. Audi says it is good for a 0-60 mph sprint of 4.5 seconds. Its suspension sits 0.6 inches lower than that of the A3 and uses damper control to provide adjustability through several driving modes.
Full Suite of Safety Enhancements
A full suite of driver-assistance technologies enhances safety. They include adaptive high beams, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and a full set of accident-mitigating technologies that warn the driver of potential dangers and prepare the car for a collision if one becomes inevitable. Parking assistance is also standard.
European buyers continue to enjoy the option of a Sportback version of the A3. Audi did not bring that car to America for the 2022 model year.
