Used 2018 Audi A3 Premium for sale 

The A3 sedan comes in three trims - all trims get optional Quattro AWD system with a tuned variant of the same motor. The base A3 Premium starts at $31,950. The A3 premium gets two optional packages - Convenience package ($950) and Sport package ($650).

The A3 Premium Plus gets three optional packages - Technology Package ($3,200), LED lighting package ($850) and Sport Package ($650). The top end A3 Prestige gets one optional package - Sport package ($650). Sports suspension is optional on all trims for $250.

We Recommend

Although the A3 Cabriolet brings the romance of open-top motoring, the sedan is more practical and less costly. We recommend the base Premium trim as the higher trims creep closer to the much larger Audi A4. We will also recommend adding the well engineering Audi Quattro AWD, which also has the more powerful engine.

The affordable Audi A3 Sedan FWD is powered by an inline-4 turbocharged 2.0L engine that makes 186 horsepower and 221 foot-pounds of torque It is mated to a 7-speed automatic gearbox, with a focus on improved efficiency and linear acceleration. The FWD A3 accelerates to 60 MPH in around 7.1 seconds, though it can most definitely go faster. The throttle is highly responsive in either orientation, although the Audi A3 Sedan feels a bit clumsy on testing roads.

The AWD Quattro A3 is powered by a tuned-up variant of the same engine, which makes 220 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque. The AWD is much quicker off the mark, being able to touch 60 MPH a whole second quicker at about 6.0 seconds. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission which is better at drawing out the performance than the 7-speed one. Either gearbox, being a DSG takes a tad bit longer to get going, which can be inconvenient in stop-and-go traffic.

The BMW comes standard with AWD, and also offers a manual transmission, it is much more dynamic and pleasurable to drive than either the Audi A3 Sedan or the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 at this price range. The Mercedes-Benz CLA comes with the most well-powered motor, and is also the fastest vehicle on the lineup, though it comes standard with an FWD setup, which is a bit boring. The CLA 250 also has the highest price tag of the lot.

The Audi A3 Sedan has a well-made and refined inline-4 turbocharged engine that is quite capable of offering exceptional range. The FWD with its more refined gearbox has a combined efficiency of around 29 MPG combined, while the AWD with the heightened power offers 27 MPG combined. The A3 Sedan with its 14.5-gallon fuel tank gives a range of around 400 miles on a full tank. The Audi A3 Sedan Sportback E-Tron is just around the corner and offers much more in terms of range and efficiency.

The A3 is the most efficient car in the lineup, particularly in cities, which makes it a great daily driver. The BMW 3 Series has an equally powered engine, though the rear-wheel-drive takes a bit out of efficiency around town. The CLA has the most performance of the lot and thus has a tad bit lower combined mileage as compared to the competitors. All the cars in the lineup offer around 400 miles of range on a full tank.

The interiors in the Audi A3 Sedan are well designed and ergonomic characteristics of a German car. The car has well-made seats and interior upholstery that makes it a comfortable space to be in. The wheelbase is just at 175-inches which turns to meager seating space at the rear. However, the car offers great space in the front with a highly well-designed layout, particularly for the driver. The cabin does not come as luxuriously outfitted as some of the other Audi cars, though the considerable effort has been put into coating each surface with fine materials, particularly soft-touch injected plastic on most surfaces. 

The Sport Package has upgraded seats with better bolstering and side support along with paddle shifters and a flat-bottom steering wheel. Standard equipment in the Premium sedan offers dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, and 12-way power front seats.

There are even optional heated front seats available paid for directly or with the Premium Plus and Prestige trims. The Audi A3 Sedan Prestige also has Ambient LED lighting.

The rear row legroom on the Audi A3 Sedan is a bit on the shorter side, although it is competitive with most other cars in the segment. The BMW 320i offers the same legroom, though the rear seats seem to have a lower supported feel. The Mercedes-Benz has plush and well-bolstered rear seats, though it has low legroom. The trunk space on all cars in the segment is consistent and well outfitted for families. Standout features in the interior of the 2018 Audi A3 Sedan are:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Optional Sports steering wheel
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated Seats
• Leather upholstery
• Ambient LED lighting
• Power Sunroof
• Ambient interior lighting
• 12-way power-adjustable front seats

How intuitive is the 2018 Audi A3’s infotainment unit?

The 2018 Audi A3 has a pop up central infotainment, which can be lowered down when not in use. The display is a touchscreen, though it’s placed quite far and can be accessed with the steering wheel or a knob in the center console. The system includes SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a rearview camera as standard. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G LTE WiFi Hotspot can be purchased in the Convenience Package. The $3,000 Technology Package adds the Audi Connect telematics system and the Audi Virtual Cockpit. 

The Virtual Cockpit is a large 12.3 inch LCD in the driver’s gauge cluster that is highly well designed and allows full customization. Normal audio is delivered using a well powered and capable 8-speaker setup. There is a premium 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen system in the higher trims which have a 705-watt output. There is even 5.1 Surround Sound, which makes it one of the most distinct audio setups in the segment.

• Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System with 14 speakers, with subwoofer
• Virtual Cockpit 12.3-inch gauge cluster
• Pop-up infotainment display
• Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 4G LTE WiFi Hotspot
• Bluetooth compatible
• Audi Connected telematics

Audis are known to have a clean and conservative design language. The car has straight lines all over the cabin, and minutely over the hood. The front to the rear line on the sides gives the car an elegant feel. The general look on the Audi is the same as most other cars on the automaker’s lineup, with a blacked-out front grille and tasteful chrome accents. 

There are 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, with optional 18-inch or 19-inch wheels. There are LED accents and running lights in the front as well as the rear. A full LED exterior light trim can be purchased as an added option. Overall the car cuts a sleek profile, which although not aggressive, does stand out due to its proportions.

The Audi A3 Sedan is lighter than either the BMW or the Mercedes, which speaks volumes for its refinement and contributes to its efficiency. The A3 is also the smallest car on the lineup which makes it extremely maneuverable. The lower height particularly with the larger wheel options gives the A3 a distinctly attractive exterior vibe. The BMW 320i looks much more aggressive, while the stylishly made CLA class Mercedes has a rather misfit and simplistic design.

• Full LED headlights with DRLs
• High-gloss titanium black exterior finish
• 18” 5-spoke alloys
• 19” diamond cut alloys
• LED Tail Lights
• Black grille with chrome surround
• Chrome tip exhaust

The build is adopted from the Volkswagen Golf, which is a well-designed frame made from high-strength steel and Aluminium additions. The car received a 5-star safety score from the NHTSA and also has been given the “Top Safety Pick” award by the IIHS. The Audi A3 Sedan includes Automatic Emergency Braking as standard, that is the Audi Pre-Sense system. On the higher trims, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, active lane control, and full-LED headlights with automatic high-beams are available. The new Audi A3 Sedan though offers rear-side airbags only optionally, which is a bit disappointing. Safety features in the car are:

• An active rollover protection system
• Tire-pressure monitoring system
• Electronic Stability Control
• Audi Pre Sense forward-collision warning
• Traction control
• 8 airbags

Audi A3 Sedan vs Mercedes Benz CLA

The CLA is priced similarly to the A3 and approaches the low-cost luxury mantra similarly – by offering build quality, performance and bucket loads of standard features expected from a luxury brand in a smaller package. However, the CLA is far more flamboyant with plenty of curves – Mercedes calls it a 4-door coupe.

Audi A3 Sedan vs BMW 3-series

The BMW 3-series sits slightly above the A3 and CLA and is a quintessential sports sedan with responsive steering and rear wheel drive. It’s also roomier than the A3 and the CLA. However, the A3 is more suitable for inclement weather with its Quattro AWD and its priced lower than the 3-series.

The Audi A3 is the cheapest car in the automaker’s lineup. It offers german technology and refinement, with standout fuel economy and well-designed safety for a low price point. The sedan is a bit underpowered as compared to the BMW 320i and the Mercedes Benz CLA 250, although it does offer brilliant efficiency. The AWD system is intuitive and well made, and much more sporty, while the FWD car is outfitted for efficiency and riding comfort. The car offers well-designed dynamics and zippy character which also make it thoroughly appealing to drive. Overall it’s a complete and well-designed luxurious package, that you expect from the compact luxury sedan segment, and is priced convincingly, making it a thoroughly recommended car.