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2019 Audi A3 review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
6 photos

Audi A3 highlights

Customer rating

Pros

  • Good balance of comfortable ride and sporty handling
  • Strong acceleration from turbocharged engine
  • Refined and stylish cabin

Cons

  • Small back seat
  • Tiny trunk

Mileage (EPA estimate)

22 city, 30 highway, 25 combined

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The 2019 Audi A3 stays a step ahead with tech and performance updates

Strong performance and quiet comfort make the 2019 Audi A3 a smart pick for an entry-level luxury sedan. Not convinced? Then consider its responsive handling, high-quality interior, intuitive infotainment, and available convertible model. All add up to make the A3 one of the best in a small group of sporty compact four-doors with style and cachet, with rivals including the Mercedes-Benz CLA and another Mercedes, a new-for-2019 challenger called the A-Class.

The 2019 Audi A3 received several updates, including a seven-speed transmission and more power for all-wheel-drive models, and standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. A sedan-only base model trim, Titanium, debuted. Next up the ladder, the Premium trim offered similar features in both sedan or convertible styles. Regardless of trim, the A3’s just-right blend of performance, comfort, and refinement carried over. So, too, did its tight back seat and tiny trunk. But if you have modest cargo needs and don’t regularly shuttle four adults, the A3 could be a great fit.

All Audi A3 years

What is new for the 2019 Audi A3?

  • The A3 is available in a new trim called the Titanium Premium.
  • A3 trims have been upgraded with Blind Spot Monitor, Automated Parking, and Rear Spoiler as standard equipment this year.
  • The Prestige trim now comes with Cruise Control and CD Audio as standard equipment.
  • The Premium Plus trim now comes with CD Audio as standard equipment.
  • The Premium trim now comes with Parking Sensors as standard equipment.

2019 Audi A3 trims

Curious how Audi A3 trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

Titanium Premium:

Premium:

Premium Plus:

Prestige:

  • Includes all features available on the Premium Plus
  • Automated Parking
  • Bang & Olufsen Audio
  • Navigation System
  • Automated Cruise Control
  • Lane Departure Warning

Audi A3 photos

5 reasons to buy the 2019 Audi A3

What We Like

Performance: The A3 strikes a sublime balance between performance and comfort. It’s quick, handles well, and brakes smoothly. Front-wheel-drive models pack adequate punch with 184 horsepower, while all-wheel drive models get 228 hp — 8 more hp than in 2018 — and a new transmission. Audi says the A3 can cover 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. A firm suspension makes the A3 agile in twists and turns, even more so with all-wheel drive, yet doesn’t sacrifice a comfortable ride for responsive handling.

Interior: The A3 is Audi’s entry-level sedan, but the leather upholstery, contrast stitching, textured panels, and aluminum accents make it feel like a pricier model. Even the knobs and switches operate with the heft of a sturdy and well-built car. Clear views out of the front and sides boost confidence when hustling through quick turns or threading hectic traffic. User-friendly infotainment controls minimize distraction, and a map display that rises from the dash makes it easy to see where you're heading. The convertible version, with its fabric top and narrow rear window, doesn’t offer quite the same unbroken panorama, though.

Comfort: You’d expect to find the A3’s roomy and comfortable front seats in a larger, more expensive sedan, such is their supportive shape and long-distance comfort. A well-sorted suspension absorbs most of what a highway can throw at it, helping keep the cabin relatively immune to road noise and the driver free of fatigue. Space is at a premium in the back seat, but no more so than in its rivals.

What Needs Improvement

Cargo space: The A3’s tidy dimensions and all-wheel-drive system don’t leave much room for gear. Front to back, it’s the shortest car in its class and its meager 10 cubic feet of trunk space betters only the Mercedes A-Class and its 8.6 cubic feet. While shoppers considering compact luxury cars aren’t always focused on cargo, if you need more trunk space, consider the larger A4.

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

3
Above Average

RepairPal gave the Audi A3 an overall reliability rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Audi A3 15th out of 25 among Luxury Compact Cars.

View RepairPal's full rating of the Audi A3

Audi A3 features and specs

Premium 2WD 2D Convertible

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • Alloy Wheels
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • CD Audio
  • Cruise Control
  • Front Seat Heaters
  • Leather Seats
  • Parking Sensors
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Seat(s)
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear View Camera
  • Satellite Radio Ready
  • Side Airbags
  • Soft Top
  • Traction Control
  • Turbo Charged Engine
  • Rear Spoiler
  • Smart Key

Drive Wheels

Front Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

2.0L

Horsepower

184

Torque (ft-lbs)

221

Engine type

Turbo Gas

Fuel capacity

13.2

Wheelbase

102.2"

Overall length

174.1"

Width

70.6"

Height

55.5"

Leg room

F 41.2"/R 31.9"

Head room

F 37.4"/R 36.1"

Front tires

P225/45HR17

Rear tires

P225/45HR17

Seating capacity

4

Transmission

Automatic

2019 Audi A3 FAQ

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