2023 Audi A3

The 2023 Audi A3 packs a lot of premium content into its compact four-door body, and it also features spry handling and strong performance. As the entry point to the Audi brand, the A3 distills much of the lineup’s tech-focused ethos into a smaller, less expensive package. It’s a desirable choice among its entry-luxury rivals that include the Acura Integra and the BMW 2-series Gran Coupe. The A3’s cabin is snug but is outfitted with a large infotainment display and a digital gauge cluster, among other luxury and convenience features. A 201-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is standard, and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system is optional. For those seeking even more thrills in their small luxury car, the more powerful S3 is worth a look; we review that model separately.

Fuel

The EPA estimates that the 2023 A3 should deliver 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway when equipped with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive models are rated for 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. When we get the chance to put the new A3 through our 75-mph highway fuel economy test route we'll update this story with results.

Engine

Even though European models offer a variety of powertrains, the A3 that's earmarked for North America offers a single engine choice: a 201-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a 48-volt hybrid system. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. A seven-speed automatic transmission is standard. On a brief test drive of the new model, we were happy to find that the playful handling that made the previous-generation model so entertaining was preserved in the makeover. The turbocharged four-cylinder feels perky and eager, even if its horsepower rating isn't as high as the outgoing car's optional 228-hp powerplant. Those who want more power should consider the S3, which gets boosted to 306 horsepower.

Infotainment

The A3 features a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen on all models. Mercifully, the A3 forgoes the brand's new dual-screen setup that makes climate controls and vehicle driving-mode switches a digital affair. Instead, those secondary controls are handled here by good old-fashioned buttons. A 10.3-inch digital gauge display is also standard but can be upgraded to a larger 12.3-inch unit as part of the Technology package on the Premium Plus trim. This reconfigurable screen is a popular feature across the rest of the Audi lineup and can display a large map in the center of the instrument cluster as well as other vehicle information, along with standard gauges for speed and rpm.