2022 Audi A3 First Test: Is the Cheapest Audi "Audi" Enough? (2023)

FAQs

Is A Audi A3 A Good First car? ›

All in all, the Audi A3 is a safe and steadfast first vehicle for young drivers—but if you're looking for a good first car that you won't have to be afraid about making mistakes in, a non-luxury vehicle may be a better fit.

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2022 Audi A3 starts at $35,895 for the Premium base-level trim with destination fee and popular options.

The Audi A3 Sportback is a great all-rounder. It's comfortable, yet handles safely and securely on fast country roads, but some other family cars are more fun to drive, if that's your thing – check out the BMW 1 Series, for a sportier example.

It sits as the entry point into the range, below the 40 TFSI quattro S line, S3 and RS3. All variants are available in both Sportback and Sedan guise, with the latter commanding a premium. 2022 Audi A3 pricing: Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI: $46,900.

A3 / S3 / RS 3

The A3 is the subcompact, entry-level Audi. Audi also offers two sportier sedan variants. The S3 uses the same 2.0-liter turbo-four as the Golf R; the RS 3 employs a 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo producing 394 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. It accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

Audi A1. The A1 is the entry point to the vast Audi model range. The base derivative or rather A1 Sportback 30TFSI offers seating for five and 335-litres of luggage space which makes it a practical choice for individuals and small families.

Putting 93 Octane fuel in your Audi will allow it to perform just as well as if you put in premium fuel. 93 Octane fuel is more expensive than premium fuel, so you only need to put in your Audi if you have a high-performance model.

Cost. The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Audi A3 is $741, compared to an average of $801 for luxury compact cars and $652 for all vehicle models.

An Audi A3 is expected to last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles before any major work needs to be done such as a transmission or an engine being replaced.

Which Audi A3 model is the best? ›

The best Audi A3 Sportback for value

Audi A3 30 TFSI Technik – even the entry-level Technik trim has a luxury edge with the luxe Audi styling and kitted-out interior. The engine set-up is reliable and easy to drive, making it suitable for most motorists.

The timeframes mentioned so far by participants on this site indicate that for ordering a Audi A3 Sportback, it seems to take an average delivery time of about 10 months.

With their extra touch of class and styling, Audi A3s tend to be more expensive than other small cars – and they cost more to insure too. The priciest models are way up in insurance group 46 (out of a possible 50). That puts them in the same league, insurance-wise, as some Range Rover Sport models.

The A3 is the cheapest Audi you can buy. With an MSRP starting at $35,400 for the 2023 model, the A3 is the cheapest model of Audi available. . In 2021, Audi sold 2,390 A3s in the US and 60,301 Q5s.

The 2022 Audi A3 with FWD is priced at $34,800 is the cheapest Audi car on sale. The base trim of the entry level Audi comes with quattro all-wheel drive starts at $36,800. The entry-level A3 sedan can be financed from Audi starting for 3.49% APR for 60 months with zero down payment.

Audi A1. A popular choice with new drivers who can afford to spend a little more on their first wheels, the Audi A1 is aimed at the young, urban audience. Audi oozes quality and reliability, so this stylish car is a perfect option for new drivers. It's smart inside, and roomy too.

When looking at the vehicles, the Audi is more up to date with the interior. Fans of a classy interior will love the sleek, subtle luxury the BMW offers to drivers. However, it's not as modern as the Audi is inside. If you want to keep up with infotainment, Audi is the luxury brand for you.

Should you buy a second hand Audi? ›

A used Audi will naturally have more miles and more wear and tear than a new vehicle. This means that it will likely need more expensive repairs sooner than a new vehicle of another make. However, you can mitigate these costs by choosing a Certified Pre-Owned Audi with its extended warranties.

Your Oil Change Interval

If you drive an Audi luxury vehicle, you should have your filter and oil changed every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. However, many vehicles need oil changes every 5,000 miles or 6 months.

Generally, most modern vehicles can safely run on regular gasoline. Unless your specific model recommends premium, many older Audi models will perform just as well on regular fuel as they will on premium.

Officially it'll cover up to 282.5mpg, although this varies greatly depending on how it's used. CO2 emissions are rated at 31g/km. If you regularly charge the A3 and drive it mostly short distances, expect to achieve north of 100mpg.

Why are Audi oil changes so expensive? Like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Audi has the reputation of being a luxury car. So, the car requires high-quality synthetic oil and specialized filters. So if you want to drive your Audi car for a long period, you need to provide proper maintenance, which will cost high.

However, Audi tends to be more costly for repairs to your gearbox. In general, Audi and BMW cars are somewhat more expensive cars to maintain. There may be a slight difference in costs overall, but it won't be so much that it should make or break your decision between the both of them.

Although Audi cars are more expensive than the average cars, they are worth buying for various reasons like reliability, technology, innovation and more.

Overall the Audi A3 reliability is 51.75 and that makes it not very reliable. The chart below illustrates exactly how this ranks compared to some other cars, but the average overall rating is 57 as some comparison.

Audis are expected to last an average of 150,000 to 200,000 miles as long as you keep up with regular maintenance. You can expect a properly driven and maintained Audi to last 150,000 to 200,000 miles, or 10 to 13 years.

Is Audi A3 engine good? ›

The engines in the 2023 Audi A3 vary from satisfactory to superb, and you'll get plenty of power no matter which model you choose. The ride is comfortable, handling is athletic, and fuel economy is good.

Petrol engines

The least powerful A3 on offer is the 30 TFSI, which is powered by a 1.0-litre 116hp engine with a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds. Next up is the 35 TFSI, which gets a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with 150hp and 250Nm of torque. This one feels more than fast enough for most situations.

Best Audi A3 Sportback engine

Despite the availability of fuel-sipping diesels and high-tech plug-in hybrids, the best engine in the Audi A3 range is the straightforward 1.5-litre petrol one found in the 35 TFSI models, as even this is pretty good at the fuel pumps, offering claimed fuel consumption of nearly 50mpg.

In comparing the Audi A3 to the BMW 2 Series, the Audi A3 has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency. The BMW 2 Series has the advantage in the areas of interior volume and base engine power.

The A4 is sportier inside, with a dash that's driver-facing, takes cues from the Audi TT, and is sleek and angular. It's also bigger than the A3, so it's more spacious for passengers. For driving colleagues in a car that feels like an opulent office on wheels, then the A4 is likely the right car.

The most efficient Audi A3 Sportback is the 35 TDI diesel which returns 62.8mpg and emits 119g/km CO2. An even more efficient diesel engine, the 30 TDI, is on its way. The 35 TFSI petrol, meanwhile, returns 48.7mpg and emits 132g/km CO2 under official tests.

Even though Audis are regarded as luxury cars, they do tend to have good mileage over long distances. For example, the 2022 Audi A3 sedan can get you up to 29 mpg for city driving and a good 32 mpg for highway driving. The A3 is one of the most fuel-efficient models that run on gas.

The A4 is the next step up in the Audi lineup in terms of size, cost and features. Its larger back seat makes it a far more practical sedan. You also get a few more available luxury and technology features. You will pay for it, however, since an A4 costs thousands more than an A3.

The Audi A3's future

This fourth-generation Audi A3 is expected to stick around until 2027 but from then on the automotive climate may have dictated the direction in which it goes. We already know that the last ICE model introduction will happen in 2025.

How long are Audi orders taking? ›

How long does a special order usually take? Special ordering takes longer than buying a vehicle off the lot—typically around 6 to 10 weeks for the majority of Audi SUVs (which are built in the US) and 8 to 12 weeks for vehicles built in Germany.

Neckarsulm, Germany AUDI AG, Audi Sport GmbH

Automobiles have been built for over 100 years at the Audi site in Neckarsulm.

All in all, the Audi A3 is a safe and steadfast first vehicle for young drivers—but if you're looking for a good first car that you won't have to be afraid about making mistakes in, a non-luxury vehicle may be a better fit.

The average cost to insure a 2022 Audi is $3,413 per year for a full-coverage policy, based on ValuePenguin research. But the price varies depending on which Audi model you're considering and the insurer you choose. The most affordable Audi to insure is the Q3 crossover SUV, which costs $2,768 per year.

According to RepairPal, the average annual Audi repair cost is $987. This is much higher than the average across all brands, which is $652. Audi's regular maintenance costs are also likely to be a bit higher than most brands because Audis are luxury vehicles that use expensive specialty parts.

The Audi is a little more expensive and performs better, but the Lexus has a classy look and holds excellent safety features. You can feel safe selecting either of these vehicles as an ideal choice for your next luxury car.

Both models set a benchmark for compact luxury sedans. Let's take a look and see exactly how the 2022 Audi A4 45 TFSI Premium quattro compares with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz C 300 Sedan. Beginning with MSRPs, Audi's 2022 A4 is priced an impressive $3,700 less than the 2021 Mercedes-Benz.

The Mini Cooper S 3-door hatchback is the most affordable luxury car one can buy in India in 2023, with prices starting from Rs 41.20 lakh (ex-showroom).

Although the A3 costs more to buy than some of its rivals, it's an efficient, high-quality car with lots of tech and it's really easy to drive. There are plenty of models available on the second-hand market and the engines are all good, so you can't go wrong with any version.

If properly maintained, Audis can last for 10-13 years or as high as 20 years and can run about 1500,000-200,000 miles.

Which is better Audi A3 or BMW 1 Series? ›

Engines and performance

The current A3 is better to drive than its predecessors, so the gap between these two cars has never been closer. However, the BMW still provides a slightly more fun driving experience, while the Audi is a little better when it comes to comfort.

The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Audi A3 is $741, compared to an average of $801 for luxury compact cars and $652 for all vehicle models.

Even among people who have never driven an Audi, the cars are known for their style. On the outside, Audis are elegant. Driving down the street, they make high performance look easy. Most of all, Audi has managed to craft a conservative design that has broad appeal yet doesn't look old-fashioned.

The most efficient engine in the Audi A3 Saloon range is the 1.6-litre TDI diesel, which in its most basic trim has a six-speed manual gearbox and returns 72.4mpg as well as CO2 emissions of 104g/km. When fitted with Audi's quattro drivetrain, emissions increase markedly to 127g/km while economy drops to 60.1mpg.

The Audi A3's future

This fourth-generation Audi A3 is expected to stick around until 2027 but from then on the automotive climate may have dictated the direction in which it goes. We already know that the last ICE model introduction will happen in 2025.

Generally, the A3 is quiet and comfortable to drive, although S Line cars have a lower suspension set-up than the rest of the range – to make them feel more sporty – so these will feel firmer over potholes and rough roads.

The A3 produces less suspension and wind noise than the A-Class, but road noise can be more intrusive at higher speeds, especially with bigger wheels fitted.

The Audi A3 has always provided premium levels of comfort, even if you opt for the stiffer sports suspension that comes with S line-spec models. The seats are comfortable and the cabin is well insulated from road noise, making the A3 a particularly pleasant place to be.