Used 2020 Audi A3

The 2020 Audi A3 fills an important role for the luxury automaker, one requiring it to lure new buyers with smaller budgets while still retaining all the luxury, performance and style for which the brand is renowned. The compact A3 meets all these goals with a powerful engine set, a high-quality interior and an options list filled with plenty of Audi technological genius.

Audi has cancelled the A3 convertible for 2020, leaving a sedan body style in the car’s final year before a complete redesign. Up against cars like the Acura ILX A-Spec, Cadillac CT4 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the A3 remains compelling, especially considering its age.

For those willing to pay a bit more, the performance-oriented S3 sedan thrills with 288 horsepower and the ability to sprint to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.

Like every car in the Audi lineup, the 2020 A3 runs the range from mild to spicy hot. The entry-level A3 models deliver varying degrees of luxury with a hint of performance, while the more potent S3 pushes the performance envelope to its extreme. An even more powerful RS 3 is available, and it is reviewed separately.

For 2020, the A3 is offered in Sport (front-wheel drive/FWD) and S line (quattro all-wheel drive/AWD) model series. With S line specification, the A3 makes a competent year-round driver, and even when nicely equipped with Premium Plus trim it doesn’t cost much more than a loaded Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, although both these traditional family sedans dwarf the A3 when it comes to rear-seat legroom.

The A3 Sport’s 2.0-liter turbocharged engine produces 184 horsepower, not terribly impressive but enough to get the car across a busy intersection without much worry. Opt for the A3 S line and that figure jumps to a more performance-friendly 228 horsepower capable of carrying the A3 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds. The S3 comes standard with quattro and a 288-horsepower version of the A3’s engine. Every A3 and S3 model includes a 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic automatic. This is an outstanding transmission, every bit as fun to play with as a manual without having to learn to operate a clutch pedal.

On the road, the A3 rides smoothly, the steering is quick and precise, and the cornering is fairly level. Among its direct competitors, the A3 is more enjoyable to drive than the Acura ILX. However, both the Cadillac CT4 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class can give the aging Audi a run for the money in terms of driving dynamics.

Audi has set a high bar with its interiors, modern design, high-quality materials and immaculate fit and finish. Yet while the 2020 A3/S3 scores well in these areas, it’s a little bland compared with other Audi models.

That said, it is cleanly designed and suitably sporty, with simple audio and climate controls. We wish the Multi-media Interface (MMI) infotainment controls weren’t placed quite so low on the console though, as it makes it hard to know which button does what until you’ve learned to use them by touch.

Not surprisingly, rear-seat accommodations are pretty tight, especially for three passengers. But this is a small car, and the A3’s direct competitors offer about the same amount of room.

If you like the Audi styling aesthetic, you’ll love the 2020 A3’s defining look. This car looks tailored, refined and upscale, and is wrapped in bodywork that will age well.

This year, Audi makes the Black Optic appearance trim and a set of 18-inch wheels standard equipment. Every 2020 A3 Sport also includes bi-xenon headlights, a panoramic sunroof and Sport-line design elements, making even the least expensive version of the car look great. Choose the A3 S line and the car features restyled front and rear bumpers, body-color exterior trim, and different wheels. Bigger 19-inch wheels are available to jazz up the exterior, and S3 models offer even more styling modifications to emphasize their added sportiness.

Under the short rear deck is a 12.3-cubic-foot trunk, which shrinks to 10 cubic feet in all-wheel-drive models.

BANG & OLUFSEN AUDIO
Great road trips require great road tunes, and your playlist will never sound better than when blaring full blast through the A3’s available Bang & Olufsen sound system. Standard with Premium Plus trim, this 14-speaker/705-watt setup used to be an option that would set you back $3,200.

AUDI VIRTUAL COCKPIT
Perhaps one of Audi’s coolest inventions, the Virtual Cockpit replaces traditional analog gauges with digital reproductions, flanking a massive adaptive TFT (thin-film transistor) center screen that can project the navigation map, infotainment settings or mimic a standard instrument-cluster display.

The 2020 Audi A3 Sport Premium includes 18-inch double-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels, Sport line design, heated exterior mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers with heated washer jets, and a rearview camera. Inside, leather upholstery is standard, along with dual-zone automatic climate control, a 12-way-power driver’s seat, heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and keyless passive entry with push-button engine starting. The infotainment system includes a 7-inch display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, dual USB ports, and 10 stereo speakers.

Opt for the sporty S3 Premium and you’ll get more power and performance, along with quattro AWD, full LED headlights, unique 18-inch wheels wrapped in summer performance tires, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and a sport-tuned suspension. The S3 also includes ambient interior lighting, front sport seats with a thigh support extension, and simulated aluminum pedal covers.

If you’d like to make Audi’s inexpensive A3 as pricey as possible, Audi is perfectly happy to help.

You can start by choosing Premium Plus trim, which adds full LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist, a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, a wireless smartphone charger, and an excellent Bang & Olufsen audio system. The S3 Premium Plus also includes a 12-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat.

Next, you can start digging into the available options. For the A3, they include S line specification (more powerful engine, quattro AWD, styling changes), metallic paint, 19-inch wheels, a sport suspension, and front sport seats. The Navigation package adds Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrumentation, a navigation system with Google Earth map technology, a clever touch pad atop the MMI knob that recognizes handwritten text entry, and Audi connect subscription services.

A Driver Assistance package equips the A3 with adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, active lane-keeping assist, and a park steering-assist system that can help you squeeze the car into a space. To celebrate the A3’s final year before a redesign, a Final Edition package installs S sport seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and illuminated Audi rings for exterior puddle lighting.

Upgrade to the Audi S3, and you get access to unique paint colors and a sweet set of 19-inch wheels with a 5-arm rotor design. S-embroidered sport seats with Nappa premium leather and diamond stitching are also available, along with Audi Sport carbon dashboard trim. An S Sport package adds red brake calipers and a magnetic-ride-control suspension with three driving modes: Dynamic, Comfort and Individual.

Each 2020 Audi A3 has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The A3 Sport models are front-wheel drive, while the A3 S line and S3 models include quattro all-wheel drive. Power output varies depending on the driveline configuration.

Audi A3 Sport models produce 184 horsepower and accelerate to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, while the Audi A3 S line variants produce 228 horsepower and scoot to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The Audi S3 whips up 288 horsepower, good for runs to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Note that both the A3 and S3 require premium fuel.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (A3 FWD)
184 horsepower @ 4,300 rpm
222 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/36 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (A3 AWD)
228 horsepower @ 4,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/30 mpg

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (S3)
288 horsepower @ 5,400 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 1,900 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/29 mpg