The 2017 Audi A3 Premium is a sleek and sophisticated compact luxury sedan that offers a delightful driving experience. Here's a detailed review covering various aspects of the car: Exterior Design: The Audi A3 Premium boasts a timeless and elegant design language that is quintessentially Audi. With its clean lines, sculpted bodywork, and signature LED lighting, the A3 exudes a sense of under... Read more

2017 Audi A3 Review

Pros

Accurately weighted steering
Roomy and uncluttered cabin
Sharp and edgy looks
Precise handling
Smooth ride quality

Cons

Pricing is high
Tight spacing in the rear
No manual-transmission option

The 2017 Audi A3 sedan receives a complete design and technical overhaul for the current model year and draws its power from a 2.0L turbocharged engine, which is mated with a 7-speed automatic transmission for hassle-free gear shifts.

Overview

Belonging to the 3rd generation of the A3 family, the 2017 version of the A3 sedan has been remodeled. The most prominent changes in the 2017 A3 Sedan include exterior enhancements and upgraded driver assistance features. The Audi A3 has always been the favorite choice for those who are looking for a compact luxury sedan and the new upgrades on the A3 only sweeten the deal.

Pricing and Features
7.0/10

Looking at the trim section; the Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige are the three distinct trims of the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan. Each of the trim is available with a drivetrain option of either FWD or AWD. The Premium is the base trim of the Audi A3 and it comes with a price tag of $31,200 for the FWD variant. Similarly, the FWD variants of the mid-end Premium Plus and top-end Prestige costs $34,450 and $40,150 respectively. However, for an AWD drivetrain variant, an additional $3,000 gets added to the MSRP of each trim.

Trim	Premium	Premium Plus	Prestige
MSRP (FWD)	$31,200	$34,450	$40,150
MSRP (AWD)	$34,200	$37,450	$43,150
Key Features	Cruise control with coast, resume and accelerate features	Audi smartphone interface including Apple CarPlay™ and Google™ Android Auto1	Audi adaptive cruise control with stop & go
	Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights	Audi music interface with two USB ports for data and charging	Power-adjustable, power-folding, heated exterior side mirrors
	Dual-zone automatic climate control	Audi advanced key—keyless start, stop, and entry	Driver's side auto-dimming mirror
	Audi concert radio with ten speakers	Twelve-way power front seats, including four-way power lumbar adjustment	LED lighting package
	Driver information system		Ambient LED interior lighting
	HD Radio Technology		Bang & Olufsen Sound System
	BLUETOOTH wireless technology		SiriusXM Satellite Radio with a 90-day trial subscription

Observing the Premium trim of A3 Sedan, it offers various useful standard features such as Xenon headlights, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED daytime running lights, 17-inch spoke wheels, a driver information system, and a 10-speaker sound system. While upgrading to the better Premium Plus trim, one can enjoy many features that are not available in the base Premium trim.

Some of those features include keyless entry and ignition, 12-way power front seats, electro-chromatic rearview mirror, remote keyless door locks, and a compass. Moving further up to the fully-loaded Prestige trim, it offers numerous advanced features like adaptive cruise control, optional LED headlamps, blind-spot system, lane departure warning system, 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, satellite radio, and front and rear parking sensors.

We Recommend

From our point of view, the Premium Plus trim is the best choice as its price and features are perfect for an entry-level Audi Sedan. The low-end Premium trim misses out on some really amazing convenience features such as keyless entry and keyless ignition system, which are present in the Premium Plus trim. Additionally, the price difference between the Premium Plus and Premium trim is only $3250. Whereas, the Prestige trim costs almost $5,700 more than the Premium Plus trim.

Engine and Performance
8.1/10

Powering the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan is a 2.0-Liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, which has a maximum power output of 186 hp and torque output of 221 lb-ft. Comparing these figures with the other three sedans, the power delivery of both the Acura ILX and Mercedes Benz CLA 250 is greater. Whereas, the torque figure of the Audi A3 is only less than the 258 lb-ft. of torque offered by the Mercedes' CLA 250.

Models	Audi A3 Premium	Acura ILX	Mercedes Benz CLA 250 sedan	BMW 320i sedan
MSRP	$31,200	$27,990	$32,400	$33,450
Engine	2.0 L Inline - 4 turbocharged	2.4 L Inline - 4	2.0L I-4 Turbo	2.0L TwinPower Turbo 4-Cylinder 16V DOHC
Transmission	7-Speed Automatic	8-speed Automatic	7-speed automatic	8-speed automatic
Horsepower	186 hp	201 hp	208 hp	180 hp
Torque	221 lb-ft	180 lb-ft	258 lb-ft	200 lb-ft

For shifting gears, Mercedes Benz CLA 250 along with Audi A3 utilizes a 7-speed automatic transmission. While the other two remaining sedans incorporate an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Acceleration

The acceleration of the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan is quick but its rivals have even more responsive throttle responses. Comparing the 7.2 seconds of 0-60 mph time of Audi A3, all the three other sedans have better acceleration figures with Acura ILX being the quickest.

Models	Audi A3 Premium	Acura ILX	Mercedes Benz CLA 250 sedan	BMW 320i sedan
0-60 MPH	7.2 sec	6.6 sec	6.9 sec	7.1 sec
Quarter mile	14.2 sec	15.2 sec	14.7 sec	15.7 sec
Engine	2.0L	2.4L	2.0L	2.0L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	6.1	6.1	6.0	6.3

The annual emission of the Audi A3 is 6.1 tons/year, which is equivalent to that of the Acura ILX. However, the lowest emission of 6.0 tons/year is offered by the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250. The low emission rating should satisfy the environmentally conscious side of your personality. Drive with pride that you are doing your share for helping the environment.

Ride and Handling

While driving the Audi A3, one can experience the luxury for which it has been designed to deliver. The power steering incorporated in the A3 delivers accuracy while maneuvering the vehicle. Moreover, the punchiness of the engine becomes evident as soon as the throttle is pressed. The suspension is good and the chassis is well-built that allows the Sedan to cruise at higher speeds without having much to worry about.

The only thing in which the A3 lags a little is its cornering ability. Overall, the A3 performs better than most of the entry-level sedans out there but it's certainly not the best.

Braking

When it comes to braking, the Audi A3 has an upper hand over its competitors with its best 60-0 mph stopping distance of 111 feet. The Audi A3 sedan comes fitted with 12.3-inch brakes at the front and 10.7-inch brakes at the rear.

Model	Audi A3 Premium	Acura ILX	Mercedes Benz CLA 250 sedan	BMW 320i sedan
Brake Front (in.)	12.3	12.3	12.6	12.3
Brake Rear (in.)	10.7	11.1	11.6	11.8
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3197	3093	3274	3295
60-0 MPH (ft.)	111	120	121	123

Amidst the rivalry, the biggest front brakes of 12.6 inches are present in the CLA 250 while the BMW 320i has the biggest rear brakes. These bigger brakes do not translate to the shortest stopping distance. The A3 takes the crown in this segment with the closest rival going forward whilst braking by 9 feet.

Fuel Economy
7.9/10

Another parameter in which the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan excels, is its fuel economy. In fact, the combined fuel economy of each Audi A3, Acura ILX, and the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 is equal at 29 MPG.

Model	Audi A3 Premium	Acura ILX	Mercedes Benz CLA 250 sedan	BMW 320i sedan
MPG (city)	26	25	24	23
MPG (highway)	35	35	36	35
MPG (combined)	29	29	29	28

Only the BMW 320i offers the lowest 28 MPG of combined fuel economy among all the four competing sedans. While driving in the city conditions, the highest fuel economy of 26 MPG is delivered by the Audi A3 while on highways, the GLA 250 Sedan's 36 MPG is the best.

Interior
7.4/10

Corresponding to a typical 4-door sedan, the passenger capacity of the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan is restricted to 5 people including the driver.

After comparing the interior space offered at the front row by each competing sedan, it can be established that the highest headroom is available in BMW 320i. Whereas the Mercedes Benz CLA 250 has the largest shoulder room and the Acura ILX has the largest legroom.

Model	Audi A3 Premium	Acura ILX	Mercedes Benz CLA 250 sedan	BMW 320i sedan
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.6/54.8/41.2	38/55.6/42.3	38.2/56.0/40.2	40.3/55.1/42.0
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.4/53.0/35.1	35.9/53.5/34.0	35.4/53.2/27.1	37.7/55.1/35.1

In the second row, the Audi A3 offers the most legroom of 35.1 inches but feels quite compact while the shoulder room and headroom are maximum in the BMW 320i Sedan.

Interior Features

To be frank, the interiors of the A3 are not that attractive considering it's an Audi, still, when it comes to functionality, no compromise has been done. Various features that are present inside the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan are listed as ahead:

Audi cargo box
All-weather floor mats
4 one-touch power windows
Heated mirrors
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Climate control
Interior air filtration system
Dual illuminating vanity mirrors
Leather upholstery

Infotainment System

The 2017 Audi A3 Sedan offers a standard 7-inch infotainment system with Audi MMI operating system. A CD player, an auxiliary input port, and a USB port also come as a part of the infotainment system.

Moreover, Audi's MMI interface supports navigation and voice commands, which is really impressive. The Android Auto and Apple CarPlay feature come as standard in the upper Premium Plus and Prestige trims while it becomes optional in the base Premium trim.

Standard infotainment features include:

Android Auto and Apple,CarPlay integration
CD player
Satellite radio
180-watt 10 speaker audio system
4g LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot

Cargo Capacity

Observing the space available for hauling cargo, the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan has a strict capacity of 12.3 cubic feet. However, apart from the Acura ILX, both the CLA 250 and BMW 320i have greater cargo capacities of 13.1 and 13.0 cubic feet respectively.

Model	Audi A3 Premium	Acura ILX	Mercedes Benz CLA 250 sedan	BMW 320i sedan
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	12.3	12.3	13.1	13.0

Exterior
8.6/10

With a curb weight of 3197 lbs., the Audi A3 is the second lightest vehicle after Acura ILX. Furthermore, the A3 measures about 175.5 inches in length, 70.7 inches in width, and 55.7 in height. When compared to the other three rival sedans, the Audi A3's length is the least while its width is the maximum.

Model	Audi A3 Premium	Acura ILX	Mercedes Benz CLA 250 sedan	BMW 320i sedan
Curb weight (lbs.)	3197	3093	3274	3295
Length(in)	175.5	181.9	182.3	182.5
Width(in)	70.7	70.6	70.0	71.3
Height(in)	55.7	55.6	56.6	56.3
Ground clearance (in)	6.2	5.3	6.2	5.5
Wheelbase (in)	103.8	105.1	106.3	110.6
Track width (in) F/R	61.2/60.1	63.9/64.1	60.9/60.8	60.3/61.9

Just like its length, the wheelbase of the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan is also the shortest. However, its 6.2 inches of ground clearance is equal to that of Mercedes Benz CLA 250 and at the same higher than the other two sedans.

Exterior Features

At the exterior, the Audi A3's aggressive and sporty look gets combined with some very useful features to raise the bar for the entry-level sedans. The cool exterior features of the Audi A3 include

Audi guard wheel lock kit
standard spoke-turbine design wheels
high-gloss Singleframe grille and LED taillights with dynamic turn signals.

Additionally, to enhance the visual appearance, a Carbon Fiber package is available for the Audi A3, which adds a Carbon fiber trunk spoiler and mirror caps to the Sedan.

Safety
8.1/10

The name Audi has always been synonymous with safety and reliability. To keep up this relation, Audi has implemented its best safety features in the A3 Sedan. Among the highlighted safety features stands the electromechanical parking brake, engine immobilizer, multiple airbags, traction control, emergency braking preparation, child seat anchors, ventilated front disc, and solid rear brakes.

In the IIHS safety test, the Audi A3 has been awarded a 'good' rating in 5 individual parameters. Moreover, the sedan's front crash prevention is rated as 'superior' while its headlights and LATCH system are titled as 'acceptable'.

The crash tests conducted by the NHTSA gives the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan an overall rating of 5 stars. Such a high rating makes the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan one of the safest rides to buy in the USA.

Safety Features

Driver and front passenger advanced airbags, knee airbags, front thorax side airbags, and Sideguard® head curtain airbags
Front passenger occupant detection for airbags
Safety belt reminder for driver and front passenger
Power central locking system with safety unlock feature if airbags deploy
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with secondary collision brake assist and traction control (ASR)
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD) and brake assist
Electromechanical parking brake
Tire-pressure monitoring system

Competition
8.0/10

Audi A3 vs Acura ILX

The Acura ILX hits a price tag of $27,990, which is nearly $3,200 less than the Audi A3 Sedan. With a 2.4 L V4 engine, the Acura ILX produces 201 hp of power and 180 lbs.-ft. of torque.

In comparison with the Audi A3 Sedan, the power and acceleration figures of the Acura ILX are better. On the contrary, it lags behind the A3 in terms of torque, 60-0 mph distance, city mileage, and ground clearance.

Audi A3 vs Mercedes Benz CLA 250 Sedan

The next major rival of the Audi A3 is the Mercedes Benz CLA 250 Sedan. The CLA 250 comes at $32,400 and this is a little more expensive than the A3. However, it easily outshines the A3 Sedan with its greater engine power and torque, lower 0-60 mph time, less annual emissions, and better highway mileage.

Audi A3 vs BMW 320i Sedan

Choosing the BMW 320i over the 2017 Audi A3 Sedan means paying almost $2,200 more due to its higher MSRP of $33,450. For the extra price, the BMW 320i offers faster acceleration, larger interior space, and bigger cargo volume capacity.

Whereas, the Audi A3 has superior stats when it comes to engine power, torque, quarter-mile time, emissions, braking, and ground clearance.

Final Verdict

The 2017 Audi A3 Sedan comes up well to the expectations of an entry-level sedan considering its price to be highly competitive. Additionally, the contemporary looks of the A3 along with its high-tech features add to its worthiness. The 2017 Audi A3 Sedan is a perfect choice for people who want to enjoy the superlative performance offered by Audi at a relatively low price.

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The 2017 Audi A3 Premium sedan review

Pros[object Object]

Cons 1 While the Audi A3 Premium is spacious enough for most passengers in the front seats, rear legroom can be somewhat limited, especially for taller passengers. This could be a drawback for those who frRead more

2017 Audi A3 Review

Pros

Cons

Overview

Pricing and Features7.0/10

Engine and Performance8.1/10

Acceleration

Ride and Handling

Braking

Fuel Economy7.9/10

Interior7.4/10

Infotainment System

Cargo Capacity

Exterior8.6/10

Safety8.1/10

Competition8.0/10

Audi A3 vs Acura ILX

Audi A3 vs Mercedes Benz CLA 250 Sedan

Audi A3 vs BMW 320i Sedan

Final Verdict

Pros
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Cons
1 While the Audi A3 Premium is spacious enough for most passengers in the front seats, rear legroom can be somewhat limited, especially for taller passengers. This could be a drawback for those who frRead more

Pricing and Features
7.0/10

Engine and Performance
8.1/10

Fuel Economy
7.9/10

Interior
7.4/10

Exterior
8.6/10

Safety
8.1/10

Competition
8.0/10