2023 Audi A3

The 2023 Audi A3 packs a lot of premium content into its compact four-door body, and it also features spry handling and strong performance. As the entry point to the Audi brand, the A3 distills much of the lineup’s tech-focused ethos into a smaller, less expensive package. It’s a desirable choice among its entry-luxury rivals which include the Acura Integra and the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe.

The A3’s cabin is snug but is outfitted with a large infotainment display and a digital gauge cluster, among other luxury and convenience features. A 201-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is standard, and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system is optional. For those seeking even more thrills in their small luxury car, the more powerful S3 is worth a look; we review that model separately.

ENGINE AND IMPLEMENTATION

Even though European models offer a variety of powertrains, the 2023 Audi A3 that’s earmarked for North America offers a single engine choice: a 201-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 48-volt hybrid system. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. A seven-speed automatic transmission is standard.

On a brief test drive of the new model, we were happy to find that the playful handling that made the previous-generation model so entertaining was preserved in the makeover. The turbocharged four-cylinder feels perky and eager, even if its horsepower rating isn’t as high as the outgoing car’s optional 228-hp powerplant. Those who want more power should consider the S3, which gets boosted to 306 horsepower. When we get a chance to take the A3 to our test track, we’ll update this story with test results.

ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG

The EPA estimates that the 2023 Audi A3 should deliver 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway when equipped with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive models are rated for 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. When we get the chance to put the new A3 through our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route we’ll update this story with the results. For more information about the A3’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH

Inside the 2023 A3, Audi’s designers have taken the more staid styling of the larger A4 sedan and dialed in more personality. Two large air vents flank the car’s gauge display, and a stitched panel lines the top of the dashboard.

The available sports seats feature faux-suede upholstery and quilted seating surfaces. Small-car cargo space isn’t usually particularly generous, but we’re expecting the A3’s trunk to provide enough space for an average grocery-store haul or a weekend’s worth of luggage.

IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS

The 2023 Audi A3 features a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen on all models. Mercifully, the A3 forgoes the brand’s new dual-screen setup that makes climate controls and vehicle driving-mode switches a digital affair. Instead, those secondary controls are handled here by good old-fashioned buttons. A 10.3-inch digital gauge display is also standard but can be upgraded to a larger 12.3-inch unit as part of the Technology package on the Premium Plus trim. This reconfigurable screen is a popular feature across the rest of the Audi lineup and can display a large map in the center of the instrument cluster as well as other vehicle information, along with standard gauges for speed and rpm.

PROTECTION AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS

Driver-assistance technology is featured heavily on the new 2023 Audi A3, with basics such as automated emergency braking is standard and more advanced tech coming with option packages. For more information about the A3’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

PHOTOS

FULL SPECIFICATIONS

2023 Audi A3

Vehicle Type: front-engine, front- or all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE
$34,945

ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 201 hp, 221 lb-ft

TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 103.5–103.6 in
Length: 176.9–177.3 in
Width: 71.5 in
Height: 55.7–56.2 in
Passenger Volume: 88 ft³
Trunk Volume: 8–11 ft³
Curb Weight (C/D est): 3350–3550 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 6.2 sec
100 mph: 15.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.7 sec
Top Speed: 130 mph

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 32/29/38 mpg