Used 2019 Audi A3 Premium for sale 

The Audi A3 is available in three well-appointed trim levels. From the entry level Premium variant to the top-spec Prestige variant, Audi has something for every buyer. The base trim comes with a host of excellent luxury features standard leather upholstery, dual zone climate control and safety features like rearview camera, front collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

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We would recommend for most buyers the base Premium trim with Quattro AWD, by investing an extra $3,100 on the base trim you will have more power and added advantage of all-weather driving with the Quattro AWD system. The base trim offers good value for money and keeps the price from reaching towards another segment.

Powered by a 2.0L inline-4, the Audi A3 drives with its front wheels and pumps out 186 horsepower and 221 pound feet of torque. Propelling away to highway speeds in this sedan would not be an issue at all. Mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission that does its duty well, trust the transmission to its logic and it will guarantee seamless gearshifts. However dial to the manual mode and you'd notice a slight hesitation while shifting through gears.

Amongst the competition, the Audi A3 is quite underpowered. The Volvo S60 churns out the most output amongst the field while the likes of Volvo S60 and the BMW 2 series hang around alongside each other.

Acceleration

The 4-cylinders spurting 221 pulling forces in the Audi A3 zips the 0-60 mph mark in 6.1s while completing the quarter mile in 14.8s. These timings bring it a tad closer to the otherwise distanced leaders of the likes of powerful Volvo S60, BMW and the Giulia. Its German rival sticks behind by a negligible 0.2s. 

With 7-speed DCT transmission, the Audi is putting the right kind of power in the right places at the right time. The slowest amongst the pack is the Lexus IS 300 while the Volvo keeps company with the Silver Arrow.

Ride and Handling

The 2019 Audi A3 shares its underpinnings with the VW group's MQB platform. A laudable handling machine, the sedan comprises a comfortable ride quality and spirited driving dynamics. Its steering is direct, and a stiff suspension that works stably along corners, tight or otherwise. An easy car to drive, the A3 however lacks steering feedback and to really churn out the feeling of fun from the sedan.

Braking

The sedan offers 12.3-inch brake rotors at the front and 10.7-inch brake rotors at the rear. The data for the 2019 model is not available yet. With a curb weight of over 3000 lbs. and an all 4-disc brake setup, the A3 is expected to offer good stopping power.

The A3 can stop from 60-0 mph in just 123 feet with its potent braking systemMarrying performance in terms of brakes and safety, Audi A3 puts priority in its braking criteria and makes sure you get a linear braking performance in almost all scenarios. 

With a frugal powertrain underneath the hood, the Audi A3 can cover serious distances. Add turbocharging and direct injection to this mix and the engine delivers even better fuel efficiency. It delivers a combined mpg of 28. 

VW group's TFSI technology increases the power output of the engine and makes sure to maintain the efficiency of the same. The rest of the field performs similarly in terms of fuel economy figures.

Inside the A3's cabin, you are greeted by a host of high quality fittings that seem unreal for this segment. Solidly built and put together, it would be an arduous task to point out panel gaps or inconsistent material. Touch the dashboard, poke the glove box, its interior would put a smile on your face with its posh and soft touch materials.

In the front row, the A3 houses comfortable spacing and with good driving position alongside adjustments on offer, it will not be difficult to find your favorite driving position. However, unlike the front, the rear seating takes a hit in comfort space as it feels cramped and small. The switchgear has been laid out under the aegis of clinical German precision. Everything falls to your hand naturally and you would be amazed how less time you need to get accustomed to the interiors.

Interior Features

Some interior features in the A3 include -

• Dual zone automatic climate control
• Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights
• Ambient LED interior lighting
• Leather-wrapped gear selector
• Dual adjustable front visors with lighted vanity mirrors
• Leather seating surfaces

Infotainment System

The entry level Premium trim comes with a 7.0-inch display and 10 speaker audio system. To take the in-cabin experience the optional Audi MMI infotainment system and touchpad with handwriting recognition. This system also comes with support for Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The audio experience is taken up to echelon with the 705 watts 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system.

Cargo Capacity

With a paltry 12.3 cubic feet, one can say the Audi A3 is a mixed bag with it resting right in the middle of the competition. The most commodious BMW brings home 13.8 cubic feet followed by the rest of the field with the likes of Lexus and Mercedes. While these are coupes, we can only wish the body of the A3's sedan should have been more spacious.

One glance at the A3 and it wouldn't be much difficult to dismiss the styling aesthetic of this sedan. The design heavily draws from the Audi A6 and that is a good thing. It looks great, unlike The A3 was never a utility-driven design, but even with the sloping roofline, the storage doesn't really get affected as much. Dimensionally, the A3 sedan finds the middle ground between the larger sedans like the Volvo S60 and with the likes of Mercedes CLA 250.

When we talk about the competition, the Chevy Camaro has an enormous wheelbase of 110.7-inches. Camaro is one of those convertibles which are high on utility and offer generous interior space for the passengers. Then there are convertibles like Fiat 124 and Mazda Miata which have sacrificed rear seating in favor of offering an unrivaled top down driving dynamics.

Audi A3 packs impressive safety technology. Some of these include the following:

• Active rollover protection system
• Electromechanical parking brake
• Safety belt reminder for driver and passenger
• Tire-pressure monitoring system
• Electronic Stability Control with secondary collision brake assist and traction control
• Anti-theft alarm
• Rearview Camera

Audi A3 vs BMW 230i

The Bavarian is actually a better driver's car. Even with an identical displacement (2.0-liter), the BMW is tuned for more power. When we talk of the 0-60 time, the 2 series is faster than the Audi A3 by a margin of more than one second. The Beemer benefits from excellent driving dynamics. It also offers a more practical boot and more usable space in the cabin. But all these niceties carry a further $3000.

The 230i presents itself as a strong choice for an entry level sport car. It brings together a lot of elements from its brethren. It effortlessly combines dynamic handling without the expense of comfort and so completes its job as a daily driver and occasional performer.

Audi A3 vs Mercedes Benz CLA 250

Compared to the Mercedes, the Audi A3 is a complete package with an overall better driving dynamics alongside luxury and opulence. Facing the common problem of cramped back seats and storage capacity, the 4-ring still bears a little more comfortable rear seats. With comfort and a host of niceties, the Audi A3 is a bang for the buck.

Priced at $32,500, the Audi A3 is your ticket to luxury. With this car, Audi hasn't made any compromises. The interior is savvy and in league of its own. The engine produces 184 horsepower and although it might feel low but behind the wheel, the sedan doesn't feel a slowpoke. The throttle response is crisp and low end torque helps to make the A3 a driver friendly car.

The Audi A3 is not a proper four seater, it is more like a 2+2 seater and rear seats are suitable for children. If you are in the market for an entry-level sedan which can occasionally seat four and spoil you with best in segment fit and finish, then the Audi A3 should be high on your list.