Audi unveiled a redesigned A3 last year, but we won’t see the new compact in the United States until later this year. The new A3 arrives here as a 2022 model and only as a sedan. A hatchback is available in other markets.
Audi announced a starting price of $ 34,945 on Thursday, including the destination. For that, you get a 2.0-liter turbo in-line 4 coupled with a mild hybrid system and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, with peak power at 201 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available for $ 2,000.
Buyers looking for more power can opt for an S3, which arrives alongside the A3. The S3 also comes with a 2.0-liter turbo in-line 4, but with a much healthier 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The S3 is also equipped with all-wheel drive as standard.
2022 Audi S3
Further out, we’ll see a new RS 3 with a 2.5-liter turbo in-line 5. This model should have 400 or more horsepower.
The new A3 is based on an updated version of the Volkswagen Group’s MQB construction kit, the earlier version of which is included in the previous model of the A3 and in numerous other VW Group models. The updated platform introduces new systems for all-wheel drive, suspension damping and speed-sensitive steering of the A3.
In terms of styling, the new A3 follows a similar formula to the previous model, but looks much more polished overall. The grille has been enlarged slightly and the headlights have a more pronounced teardrop element. The body also seems to model more, which, by the way, has grown slightly. At 14.8 feet in length, the new A3 is 1.6 inches longer than its predecessor, although the wheelbase is unchanged.
2022 Audi A3
Inside there is a digital instrument cluster (10.25-inch standard and 12.3-inch available), a 10.1-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system that recognizes letters entered by hand and reacts to natural-speaking instructions, and a colored head- up display.
The passengers in the front seats will find heated, electrically adjustable front seats with four-way adjustable lumbar support and an available memory for the driver’s seat and the mirrors as standard. Leather upholstery and a panoramic sliding roof are also standard.
The electronic driver assistance functions include adaptive cruise control, collision warning, a surround view camera and an efficiency assistant that uses navigation data to show the driver the ideal time to accelerate.
2022 Audi A3
Before that, the only real competitors to the A3 were the Acura ILX and the Mercedes-Benz CLA, but in recent years we’ve seen the arrival of new alternatives like the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, Cadillac CT4, and the Mercedes A-Class.
You can find more information about the Audi A3 in the detailed test reports at The Car Connection.
