Audi A3

Name: 2026 Audi A3
Brand: Audi

CR MPG:

Road Test

Predicted Reliability Details

Predicted Owner Satisfaction Details

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Road Test

Although you won’t mistake the A3 for Audi’s quieter and more comfortable-riding higher-priced cars, it handily outscores other entry-level competitors, such as the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLA. This is due to its well-built cabin, sharp handling, and remarkable fuel economy. We found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable car to drive in most ways, beyond some minor clunkiness and hesitation at low speeds caused by its dual-clutch automatic transmission.

New Models Predicted Reliability

This Car

100

0 - 100

Audi A3

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Acura Integra

Acura TLX

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Safety

CR Safety Verdict: Better

4 / 5

Meets Federal Safety Requirements.
Meets all CR Core Safety Requirements.
Doesn't meet all CR Advanced Safety Requirements.
Not tested in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Not tested in IIHS side crash test

Not tested in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Not tested in IIHS side crash test

Critical Active Safety Features

AEB-P

Standard

AEB-H

Standard

BSW

Standard

RCTW

Standard

Learn More in CR Safety Guide

Owner Reports

Owner Satisfaction

This car is new and detailed owner satisfaction will be available at a later date.

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Driving Experience

Comfort

Value

Audi vs. Other New Car Brands

See How All Brands Stack up

Safety

CR Safety Verdict: Better

4 / 5

Meets Federal Safety Requirements.
Meets all CR Core Safety Requirements.
Doesn't meet all CR Advanced Safety Requirements.
Not tested in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Not tested in IIHS side crash test

Not tested in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Not tested in IIHS side crash test

Critical Active Safety Features

AEB-P

Standard

AEB-H

Standard

BSW

Standard

RCTW

Standard

Learn More in CR Safety Guide

Audi vs. Other New Car Brands

See How All Brands Stack up

Safety

CR Safety Verdict: Better

4 / 5

Meets Federal Safety Requirements.
Meets all CR Core Safety Requirements.
Doesn't meet all CR Advanced Safety Requirements.
Not tested in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Not tested in IIHS side crash test

Not tested in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Not tested in IIHS side crash test

Critical Active Safety Features

AEB-P

Standard

AEB-H

Standard

BSW

Standard

RCTW

Standard

Learn More in CR Safety Guide

Audi vs. Other New Car Brands

See How All Brands Stack up

Luxury small cars Ratings

2026 Audi A3

$40,100 - $52,000

CR MPG

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2026 Acura Integra

$33,400 - $53,400

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Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2025 Acura TLX

$45,400 - $58,050

CR MPG

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2026 Alfa Romeo Giulia

$43,995 - $51,995

CR MPG

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2025 Audi A4

$42,000 - $44,100

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Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2026 Audi A5

$50,200 - $63,300

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Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2026 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

$39,600 - $49,500

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Road test

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Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2026 BMW 3 Series

$47,500 - $87,700

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Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2026 Cadillac CT4

$36,000 - $63,600

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2026 Cadillac CT5

$49,200 - $98,900

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Road test

Predicted Reliability

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2026 Genesis G70

$43,450 - $58,900

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Road test

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2026 Lexus IS

$45,500 - $49,950

CR MPG

Road test

Predicted Reliability

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2026 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

$49,650 - $88,000

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Predicted Reliability

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2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA

$42,750 - $67,550

CR MPG

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2025 Volvo S60

$42,600 - $51,000

CR MPG

Road test

Predicted Reliability

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CR's
Take

2026 Volvo V60

$52,300 - $57,600

EPA MPG 27 mpg

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

See All Luxury small cars Ratings

Features & Specs

sedan

2 front, 3 rear

AWD

2-liter 4 turbo (328 hp)
2-liter 4 turbo (201 hp)
2.5-liter 5 turbo (394 hp)

7-speed sequential

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Basic 4 years/50,000 miles
Drivetrain 4 years/50,000 miles
Corrosion 12 years/unlimited miles
Roadside Aid 4 years/unlimited miles
Maintenance 3 years/30,000 miles

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Model History

2022-Present

Current Generation

Audi improves upon its capable entry-level sedan with an all-new 2022 model featuring sleek exterior styling; a more refined, driver-focused interior; and technology upgrades that are already standard on larger and more expensive Audis. Among them are an optional configurable 12.3-inch instrument cluster and active driver assistance features. The car has larger interior and exterior dimensions than the previous iteration. The S3 augments its more staid A3 sibling with a lower stance, a more powerful engine, bigger, vented front brakes and vented rear brakes, and Audi's adaptive sport suspension system. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission are standard. Front-wheel drive was available through 2024. The A3 is only available in the U.S. as a four-door sedan. The high-performance RS 3 version gets a turbocharged five-cylinder engine. Both the A3 and S3 come standard with lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and Pre-sense, a system that does things like pretension occupants’ seat belts, close the side windows and sunroof, and activate the hazard flashers if the driver brakes hard or the electronic stability control is activated, indicating an impending crash. Adaptive cruise control, parking assist, blind spot warning, rear Pre-sense, and rear cross traffic warning are optional until 2024. For 2025, blind spot warning, blind spot assistance, rear cross traffic warning and reverse automatic emergency braking are standard.

2015-2021

2015 Redesign Year

This wholly redesigned Audi A3 is part of a wave of compact luxury-branded models for buyers who have one eye on their budget and the other on gas prices. While it's tempting to get the basic Premium model, with the 1.8-liter engine for its relatively low price, you might be happier with the Premium Plus trim, which includes more of the features you expect in a luxury car and lets you get the Driver Assistance package, which includes blind-spot monitoring. For 2016, Audi added a standard backup camera, heated mirrors, and a USB port—replacing the optional media interface and its unique Audi proprietary cable. Also, a front-wheel drive hatchback with a plug-in hybrid powertrain joined the line.

2006-2014

2006 Redesign Year

The A3 is an upscale little hatchback with a tasteful interior and, in most versions, a gutsy turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. Closely related to the VW Golf and Jetta, the A3 hatchback resembles a small wagon. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available as an option. We found the A3 quite nimble and quick in our tests, but the steering feels a little too light at low speeds. The automated manual S-tronic transmission works very well. A more powerful 3.2-liter V6 was optional on front-drive and standard with AWD models until 2009. Starting with 2010, the V6 went away and a 140-hp four-cylinder diesel joined the lineup. The 2013 models were the last year for this version of the little hatchback, as a new sedan replaced it for the 2015 model year.