2025 Audi A3

The A3 brings a sense of occasion to the daily commute, provides luxury and comfort for longer trips, and delivers suppleness on canyon roads. With all-wheel drive (AWD), it’s reassuring in bad weather yet keeps the fuel bills reasonable. Although the A3 is subcompact in size, that doesn’t mean it pulls up short in typical Audi attributes like cool design, good tech, and smart safety features.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of subcompact luxury cars, including the Audi A3.

Having debuted for the 2022 model year, the A3 receives minor styling revisions to its exterior and interior, plus new paint hues and wheel designs. The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster becomes standard. The free Audi Connect Nav trial subscription increases from six months to three years. All-wheel drive is now standard. Oh, and the engine gets another 15 lb-ft of torque — which doesn’t make much difference, but it’s better than a decrease.

Of the German rivals, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is priced similarly to the A3, with the Mercedes-Benz CLA a few thousand above. The Acura Integra undercuts all three. If a roomier cabin would be preferable, the Audi A4 starts in the low- to mid-$40,000 region.

Before buying a new A3 subcompact luxury sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are not as strong as the 2 Series, CLA, and Integra. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

We think A3’s 201-hp drivetrain is absolutely fine for workaday stuff. And accelerating from a standstill to 60 mph in six seconds (a couple of tenths quicker than last year) is kind of fun. The 228-hp BMW 228i xDrive Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4Matic (with 221 horses) are in that same ballpark.

All-wheel drive is now standard in the A3, providing reassurance in the wet and optimum traction in the dry. The ride quality is comfortable, and there’s also that special poise that so many European cars have. As a general note, we’ve preferred the A3’s outward vision over its German rivals. We’ve done a multi-state drive in the A3 and relished every mile.

The higher-performance S3 and even more muscular RS 3 are each reviewed separately.

Fuel Economy

The A3 is rated at 28 mpg in combined city/highway driving. This efficiency compares well with the BMW 228i xDrive Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 4Matic. Audi recommends premium gasoline for the A3.

The A3’s already pleasant cabin is slightly upgraded for 2025. The air vents are changed, and the multicolor ambient lighting system is updated. Otherwise, the interior comes with typical Audi characteristics of elegant and innovative design, high-quality materials, and cool technology. Scale up the dimensions to fit into something bigger, and we think it would still work. Even the most affordable new A3 comes with a 10.25-inch driver information display, leather seating surfaces, 3-zone automatic climate control, and a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen.

At 35.2 inches, we’ve found the rear legroom acceptable for a subcompact sedan, beating its German rivals. Conversely, trunk space is on the smaller side, at just 10.9 cubic feet.

The 2025 A3 comes with a freshened look. A revised grille and new headlight technology lead the changes. Overall, though, the differences are fairly subtle. In our opinion, the A3 luxury compact sedan speaks the usual highly stylish Audi design language, only in shorter sentences. We think the shapes and proportions all work exceptionally well.

New exterior paint choices this year are Arkona White, Arrow Gray Pearl, Progressive Red Metallic, and District Green Metallic. A couple of new wheel designs also become available.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Standard in every new A3, this feature allows users to integrate their phones without having to plug in a cable. Wireless phone charging is also available.

3-zone automatic climate control
One zone better than the typical two, this is standard across the 2025 A3 lineup and something we’d usually expect to see in pricier luxury cars.

Convenience package
We recommend this options bundle offered with Premium trim, as it includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, self-dimming mirrors, and various other desirable features. Many of these items are standard in Premium Plus trim.

Sonos audio
It’s not an especially well-known name in automotive audio, but the 15-speaker system that comes standard in Premium Plus trim sounds pretty good to us.

Virtual Cockpit
This 12.3-inch digital driver information display can be configured to show different types of information, including the navigation system’s maps. It’s easy to use, in our experience, and a great piece of equipment. It’s part of the MMI Experience Plus package available with Premium Plus trim.

MMI Experience Plus package
Yes, let’s look at what else this bundle contains. Audi’s MMI Navigation Plus includes satellite map images and the ability to obey voice commands. The package also includes Wi-Fi and road sign recognition.

The A3’s drivetrain consists of a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 201 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. This engine connects to a 7-speed automated transmission, and all-wheel drive is standard. A mild hybrid system augments this engine, helping it achieve peak output faster, smoothing out the fuel-saving stop/restart function, and allowing the car to “coast” on long downhill sections.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Audi’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. Roadside assistance is included. This coverage is typical among European luxury car manufacturers.

Safety Ratings

Past Audi A3 sedans have been named either a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ model by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.