Used 2016 Audi A3 Premium for sale 

The 2016 Audi A3 comes either as a four-door compact sedan with seating for five or a two-door convertible (Cabriolet) with seating for four and a power-folding fabric roof. There are three main trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Trim levels for the sedan and convertible have essentially the same equipment. The price range of the compact sedan falls between $30,900 for the base Premium trim and $34,200 for the top of the line Prestige trim.

The base Premium trim level comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors, heated mirrors and windshield-washer nozzles, a rearview camera, automatic wipers, cruise control, and a panoramic sunroof (sedan).

An eight-way power driver seat with four-way power lumbar (sedan only), leather upholstery, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, the MMI electronics interface (with a console-mounted controller and a power-retractable display), dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, HD radio, and an SD card slot ar also part of the sedan.

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Just because it has a premium badge doesn't mean it's out of your reach. Attractive, upscale, and fun to drive, the 2016 Audi A3 sets the standard for the new, smaller crop of entry-level luxury cars. The entry-level Premium trim offers you an array of standard features, thus the recommended trim would be the Premium.

The 2016 Audi A3 sports three different powertrains, ranging from frugal fuel-sipping hybrid to throaty inline-4 with a punchy turbocharger. The A3 comes in front-drive form, with a 170-hp turbo-4, or in an all-wheel-drive form with a 220-hp turbo-4. The e-tron plug-in hybrid has a 150-hp 1.4-liter turbo and a 102-hp electric motor.

The gas engines pair with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. In this generation, the transmission seems to shift more smoothly at low speeds. Flick it to Sport mode, and the shifts get firmer and quicker, whereas the downshifts are rev-matched.

The Volvo is clearly the quickest of them all with the biggest engine among its rivals. Although there is a slight difference or a drop in numbers when it comes to the quarter-mile time, where the BMW has the best time of 13.6, leaving behind both Volvo and the Audi by a fair margin. The Audi A3, despite its engine shortcomings, almost matches the performance of the BMW 3 Series.

The 2016 Audi A3 lineup offers several fuel-efficient powertrains, with an e-tron plug-in hybrid available this year. Front-wheel-drive A3 sedans have the turbocharged 1.8-liter inline-4 and get ratings of 23 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, 27 mpg combined. Those with Quattro and the 2.0-liter inline-4 earn a slightly better 24/33/27 mpg. 

The increase in an economy with the switch to all-wheel drive, a rarity in the industry, can be credited in part to the A3's Haldex clutch-pack-based system, which sends power to the rear wheels only when it's needed-typically, not when cruising at a steady speed. It's also a matter of gearing; models with the 2.0T engine have somewhat taller gearing that helps the engine work less, especially when cruising.

The Audi fell short of its competitors by a small margin; the Volvo recorded a class-leading figure of 30 mpg combined with 26 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway. The BMW is right behind the Volvo with 23 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, collectively giving a combined mpg of 28. The Audi however is not the most efficient among its rivals, nor does it have a huge fuel capacity, the Volvo takes all the points there too.

The A3 is a compact car, and one with a relatively low price. The lack of space and comfort still has us thinking twice about the need for its luxury-car badge. Backseat space in the A3 is another potential drawback.

It's true that average-sized adults actually fit OK, so in that regard, the A3 might be roomier than you expect. But the reality is that the A3 is still pretty mediocre back there; there's more room to stretch out in a Volvo S60 or other slightly larger sedans, such as the A4. The A3 convertible is even tighter, so unless your rear riders are kids, they likely won't be happy on longer trips.

Trunk space is likewise limited. The sedan has a tiny 10-cubic-foot cargo hold (with all-wheel drive; the front-drive A3 is a bit roomier at 12.3) that isn't much good for holding more than a golf bag or a couple of pieces of luggage. The rear seats do fold down flat to help with the loading of longer items, though. The convertible's trunk is essentially the same at 9.9 cubic feet. Some interior features are listed below:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated Front Seats
• Adjustable steering wheel column
• Heated steering wheel
• Ambient interior lighting
• Steering Wheel Controls

2016 Audi A3 Sedan Basic Infotainment System

Audi has set a high bar with its infotainment system, with a high-style design and immaculate fit and finish. Yet while the 2016 A3 scores well on materials and assembly, it’s a little on the bland side compared with other Audi vehicles.

That said, it’s cleanly designed and suitably sporty, with simple audio and climate controls. We wish the MMI infotainment interface wasn’t placed quite so low on the dash though, as it makes it hard to see which button does what until you’ve learned it by touch. Few key features include-

• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD Player
• HD Radio
• MP3 Player
• Satellite Radio
• WiFi Hotspot (Optional)
• Navigation System (Optional)
• Wireless Cell Phone Hookup

The four-door shape looks familiar to Audi drivers. It's sized and even styled very closely to the original A4, and the 80/90 sedans before it. It's somewhat sporty, without any major miscues or excitement.

The A3 has subtle and attractive surfaces and a sharp crease stamped into the lower part of the doors. A distinctive angle in its rear roof pillars does a good job of hiding the very short rear end. The A3 does look a bit bulbous at the rear, though.

With its various powertrains, the Audi A3 is available in sedan and convertible form, and as a five-door hatchback. The most popular will be the sedan body style that houses both the gas A3 powertrains and the sporty S3 model. Being the heaviest, the BMW also has the longest wheelbase among its rivals. When comparing the curb weight, BMW 3 Series comes out to be the heaviest at 3,450 lbs. The lightest of the division is Audi A3. Some exterior features are listed below for your reference:

• Aluminum wheels
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Fog Lamps 
• Auto-Off Headlights
• Reverse camera
• Dual Moonroof

The 2016 A3 manages five-star ratings from federal authorities, including four stars for frontal and rollover crash protection, and five stars for side-impact protection. It has also earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. The Sportback and Cabriolet have not been tested by either the NHTSA or the IIHS, and they may not undergo future testing due to limited sales.

Audi also adds forward-collision warnings to the A3 and offers blind-spot monitors along with the standard rearview camera. Its optional adaptive cruise control can maintain a crawl speed in traffic and follow the car ahead, with a tap of the cruise's resume button. The Advanced Technology add-on package adds active lane control as well as adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go. Few standout safety features available with the sedan are- 

• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
• Traction Control
• Auto-Leveling Headlights
• Fully Equipped Airbags

As for the A3 sedan, it faces stiff competition from the BMW 3 Series, which is even more engaging from behind the wheel. But if your lifestyle calls for a genuine luxury car in a tidy little wrapper, the 2016 Audi A3 is the best of the breed. We also recommend the A3 over the underwhelming 2016 Volvo S60. If you're looking for more room or versatility, you'll probably want to check out the base versions.