2019 Audi A3

The 2019 A3 sedan is offered in four trim levels namely ‘Premium’, ‘Titanium Premium’, ‘Premium Plus’, and ‘Prestige’. Among which the ‘Titanium Premium’ is offered only in the FWD variant while the remaining trims come with Audi’s legendary Quattro AWD as well. The engine onboard is provided in two different states of tune- 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI. And some of the remarkable features offered from the base trim are leather upholstery, heated front seats, Audi pre sense front, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Which trim should you buy?

Audi offers very enticing packages with all the trim levels of the 2019 A3 considering the price point. But if you want some more high-end features like fully LED headlamps and tail lamps, Audi side assist system with rear cross-traffic assist, then the ‘Premium Plus’ would be the better choice. We recommend you to go for its Quattro AWD version for a more engaging driving experience.

The 2019 Audi A3 engine a 2.0L inline-4 turbo unit as standard across the trims. The engine is offered in two different states of tune- 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI. The 40 TFSI variant produces 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft. of torque and comes with a standard FWD configuration. The power and torque figures jump to 228 hp and 258 lb-ft in the 45 TFSI variant and it comes with a standard Quattro AWD drivetrain. Irrespective of the drivetrain and trim levels, a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is there on duty to channel all the power to the wheels efficiently.

The base engine is quite punchy and helps the sedan in touching the 0-60 mph mark in just 7.1 seconds, while the quarter-mile timing is set at 15.8 seconds. These are the performance figures churned out by its FWD variant, and you can expect even better results for the 45 TFSI. Apart from increased power and torque figures, you also get the brilliant Quattro system which makes sure you have all the traction you need.

The 2019 A3 sedan looks quite underpowered in its base avatar. But if you go for its AWD variant, it matches up with the rivals. The Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 is its only true competitor while others come with significantly more power and torque ratings. That being said, the Volvo S60 is the most powerful of the lot churning out 250 horsepower while the Lexus IS 300 comes a close second at 241hp. While other cars in standard FWD config, the Lexus IS 300 is the only one to offer RWD drivetrain.

How well does the 2019 Audi A3 sedan handle?

The 2019 Audi A3 can provide you a truly fun-to-drive experience, especially with its legendary Quattro AWD tech. It has exceptional handling capabilities around the corners, and along with that, it offers a smooth ride as well. 

The steering is well-weighted and precise. The suspension is tuned to be slightly on the stiffer side in the higher trim levels equipped with the 45 TFSI engine, which further enhances the sporty driving experience. The sedan’s compact dimensions also make it an ideal urban luxury sedan.

Braking Performance

The braking performance of the 2019 A3 is quite decent considering its curb weight of over 3100 lbs. The front disc is sized 12.3-inches while the rear discs are quite small at 10.7-inches. When the brakes are slammed at 60mph, the A3 took just 123 feet to come to a standstill. This is impressive for an entry-level sedan. Also, remember it has the smallest rotor at the rear end.

As compared to the rivals, the A3 sedan houses the smallest rear brakes but has a decent overall braking performance. The Lexus IS 300 has the biggest brakes and weighs almost 400 lbs more than the Audi A3 so we can expect it to stop a little farther than the rest. The Volvo S60 has the maximum curb weight hence it covers the maximum distance before coming to a halt.

With the refined powertrain, 2019 A3 managed to deliver decent fuel economy. The 2019 A3 fuel economy numbers are rated at 26MPG in the city and 35MPG on the highways, when equipped with a 40 TFSI engine and FWD configuration. However, the fuel economy dropped significantly when equipped with the 45 TFSI engine. It returns 22MPG in the city and 30MPG on the highway.

The fuel tank capacity is a bit on the smaller side at 13.2 gallons for the 40 TFSI variant and 14.5 gallons for the 45 TFSI variant. Nonetheless, the vehicle manages to deliver an excellent driving range of over 400 miles on the highways and over 300 miles in the city.

The 2019 A3 has a better fuel economy in the city than any other rivals, but on the highways, the CLA 250 delivers the best in the class economy of 37MPG. The Volvo S60 and Lexus IS 300 come equipped with bigger gas tanks and their driving range of 500 plus miles is out of reach of the Audi A3 and the Merc CLA 250.

The 2019 A3 interior feels sporty yet plush. The dual-tone combination of black and tan looks absolutely plush and the leather all around the cabin gives a premium feel inside. The dashboard has a good fit and finish, but it doesn’t look much appealing compared to others in the segment. The circular vents and lots of curvy design elements give a bit old-school looks, but the pop-up infotainment screen gives it a futuristic appeal. Moreover, the door panels are covered in soft-touch materials. Besides these, you also get dual-zone automatic climate control as standard.

The seats are covered in tanned leather material and have well-cushioned and adequate bolstering. The driver seat comes with a 12-way power adjustment while the passenger seat comes with a 6-way power adjustment. Both the seats offer a heating function as well. In the rear, 3 persons can seat adequately, however, it is best suited for 2. At the rear, you feel a little cramped, which is added to its cons. The cargo capacity on offer is 10 cu-ft. which is not great in the segment but it is adequate for some medium-sized bags. Moreover, the seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split-up when you need to store more luggage.

The interior space on offer in the A3 is decent but due to the lower roofline, you feel a little cramped inside it. On the other hand, the Volvo S60 offers the best-in-class cabin room as well as trunk space while the Lexus IS 300 comes in a close second. The CLA 250 offers a very cramped rear row which makes it pretty much unusable. However, it offers the best cargo space in the competition at 13 cu ft. The cargo-carrying capacity in the A3 is poor in the segment, which degrades its utility.

Standout interior features:

• Ambient lighting
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• 6-way power-adjustable front seats
• Panoramic sunroof

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2019 Audi A3 comes equipped with a 7-inch infotainment panel coupled with a 10-speaker premium audio system. That’s for the base and mid-level trims, while the ‘Prestige’ trim gets upgraded MMI touch infotainment along with 705-watts 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen surround sound system, which truly gives an immersive sound experience inside.

The display has vibrant graphics and is easy to use. Moreover, it can hide cleverly inside the dash when you don’t need it. The vehicle also comes with a touchpad along with a handwriting recognition feature, which makes the infotainment much easier to use. Other standard features include AM/FM, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, 9-speaker stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, radio data system, and steering mounted controls.

Standout infotainment features:

• 7-inch infotainment panel
• Audi MMI Navigation (in top-end trim).
• Android Auto, Apple Carplay
• Handwriting recognition technology.
• SiriusXM radio.
• 705 watts Bang and Olufsen surround sound system.

The 2019 A3 sedan looks quite elegant on the outside too. It comes with lots of sharp design cues which adds to its appeal. At the front, Audi’s hexagonal grille makes it look bolder. The headlamps are of typical Audi styling which was redesigned for the newer generation of the A3. It consists of projector lamps along with the DRLs for better visibility. From the side, it looks like a perfect sedan with no overdone elements. The ‘Titanium Premium’ and the ‘Prestige’ trims come equipped with 18-inch 5 double spoke silver alloys, while the remaining trims get 17-inch wheels as standard. The alloys don’t look very eye-catchy but are decent.

At the rear, the LED tail lamps have become sleeker than before for the new generation of the A3. You also get twin exhaust tips which make the rear end aggressive too. Overall, the looks of the car are kept minimalistic and elegant with no overdesigned elements.

The 2019 A3 has the lowest curb weight in the competition and also the most compact one when compared to the rivals. Its length is only 175.5 inches which eat up a lot of cabin and boot space. On the other hand, the S60 is the heaviest and the longest in the group, which offers plenty of room inside. The ground clearance figures are not available for the A3 and the CLA 250, but you can expect almost the same clearance as other cars in the segment.

Standout exterior features:

• Power heated side mirrors
• Light tinted glass
• Black grille
• Full LED headlights and LED taillights
• 18-inch aluminum alloys (Optional)

The 2019 A3 is based on the VW group’s favorite MQB Evo platform which is also being shared with VW Golf. The NHTSA gave the 2019 Audi A3 5 out of 5 stars overall rating and 4-stars for rollover risk. It received ‘Good’ remarks in the IIHS crash test and was awarded ‘Top Safety Pick’.

Apart from that, it comes equipped with Rear parking sensors, Audi Pre Sense Front (forward collision warning with brake assist), and Audi Pre Sense Basic as standard. When you opt for higher trims, you get more advanced driver assistance tech in the feature list. 

Stand out safety features:

• Rear parking sensors
• Audi Pre Sense Front
• Audi Pre Sense Basic 
• Adaptive cruise control
• Parallel park assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Audi side assist

2019 Audi A3 sedan vs 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

The power figures of the CLA-250 are significantly higher than the A3 in its base avatar. Put on the 45 TFSI mask and things escalate quickly. On the flip side, the braking performance and the fuel economy of the CLA-250 are somewhat better than A3. When it comes to interior space, CLA has a very cramped rear row due to its lower roofline, while that of A3 has decent room inside. However, Merc offers better cargo space. Between the two, CLA Class seems to be a better value proposition.

2019 Audi A3 sedan vs 2019 Volvo S60

Both the sedans come equipped with a similar 2.0L Turbo 4 pot motor, but the power figures of the S60 are far better than the A3. But still, the A3 competes well in the sprint of 0-60 mph or in the quarter-mile run. Coming to braking performance and fuel economy, the A3 performs better in both domains. However, it fails to offer practicality as good as the S60. And safety-wise, there is nothing better than the Volvo, but still, the A3 had won the ‘Top Safety Pick’ award too.

2019 Audi A3 sedan vs 2019 Lexus IS 300

The A3 45 TFSI is much quicker than the Lexus IS 300 and delivers better fuel economy as well. The IS300 comes in the RWD option only which makes it a more fun-to-drive car in the segment. Coming to the cabin, Lexus has a roomier cabin in the segment with plenty of cargo capacity as well. But the Lexus comes a bit more expensive than the Audi.

The 2019 Audi A3 is really appealing from the outside, but the interior doesn’t catch one's attention as such. However, the fit and finish of the cabin are absolutely supreme. It offers some really enticing features even in the base trim, but as you go higher in trims, you can find the features like MMI Navigation plus with the voice control system, Bang & Olufsen Sound System, Audi’s virtual cockpit, and many more. The performance of the A3 in its 45 TFSI avatar is quite good and moreover, it is quicker than the rivals. If you are searching for an elegant-looking car having a luxurious experience, great fuel economy, and excellent maneuverability as well, then the A3 sedan would the perfect option.