The A3 is the smallest vehicle Audi makes and is considered an entry level luxury vehicle. But don’t let that dissuade you – the A3 delivers handsome looks, sporty performance and an upscale cabin and has a relatively low price for a luxury small car.
Base Price: $38,200
As Tested: $46,040
Horsepower: 201
Mileage: 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway/28 mpg combined
The A3 got a makeover for the 2022 model year, and no major changes for 2023 and 2024. For 2025, the A3 gets some exterior and interior styling tweaks and now comes standard with all-wheel drive.
The 2025 Audi A3 comes in two trims: Premium and Premium Plus. Starting prices are $38,200 and $40,800, respectively. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating, although the second row is tight.
Both trims get the same engine: a mild-hybrid turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
The A3 has energetic handling. It’s quick off the line – Audi says it can go from zero to 60 mpg in 6 seconds – and also hustles at higher speeds for merging and passing on the highway. The transmission shifts smoothly, quickly finding the right gear. The ride is fairly firm and mostly smooth – you will notice some big bumps but the ride isn’t jarring. Steering is responsive and the A3 feels planted when cornering. Its small size makes it easy to maneuver in tight parking lots. All in all, the A3 is a lot of fun to drive on curvy back roads and is also enthusiastic as a daily driver.
Fuel economy is about average for a small luxury car, probably due to the standard AWD. EPA ratings are 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with a combined rating of 28. I got 28 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
The cabin is upscale, as you’d expect in an Audi. While some entry level vehicles skimp on features, the A3 comes relatively well equipped. Yes, there are some hard plastics but also niceties such as standard leather upholstery, 10.1-inch touchscreen, and lots of standard tech. Front seats are comfortable and spacious, even for taller passengers. While the second row can technically fit three, it’s tight and best suited for kids or two smaller adults.
Standard features include push-button start, rearview camera, three-zone climate control, leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, leather steering wheel, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, infotainment system with 10.1-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, two USB-C charging ports in the front center console and two additional USB-C ports in the rear, ambient interior lighting, automatic high-beam headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a panoramic sunroof.
Available features include a head-up display, 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, driver’s seat memory settings, 15-speaker Sonos audio system, navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and Audi Pre-Sense Basic which tightens seat belts and rolls up windows if a crash is imminent.
Available driver assistance technologies include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert and park assist.
The infotainment system looks great with its 10.1-inch touchscreen and is user-friendly. Graphics are sharp, menus are logically arranged, and the system responds quickly to inputs. There are physical controls for climate settings.
The trunk is petite, as this is a small car, with 10.9 cubic feet of space. It’s big enough to handle several grocery bags but may not be spacious enough for a family road trip.
The good:
Attractive looks
Nimble handling
Standard all-wheel drive
Upscale cabin
Roomy front seats
Many standard and available features and tech
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Tight backseat
Small trunk
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $38,200. The Premium Plus Package is $2,600 and includes adaptive cruise assist with lane guidance, Audi advanced key, auto-dimming interior mirror with compass, auto-dimming and power-folding exterior mirrors, HomeLink universal garage door opener, hands-on detection steering wheel, LED interior lighting pro package, memory for driver’s seat, satellite radio, and Sonos premium sound system with 3D sound. The Black Optic Package is $1,750 and includes 18-inch 5-double-spoke design wheels with bicolor finish, all-season tires, anthracite Audi rings, black exterior trim and sport suspension. The Technology Package is $1,600 and includes Audi connect navigation, and navigation plus, Audi virtual cockpit plus with 12.3-inch screen, and traffic sign recognition. The destination charge is $1,295 bringing the grand total to $46,040.
Bottom line:
The 2025 Audi A3 stands out among small luxury cars for its dynamic handling, upscale interior, and its standard and available features and tech. While it’s the smallest Audi, it doesn’t feel like the brand skimped on the A3. The A3 does have a tight backseat and smallish trunk, but overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives on this petite luxury sedan.
