Anthony’s Analytics: 2022 Audi A3 40 TFSI Quattro

by Anthony Fongaro  - Photos via Audi- 11/10/2022 

In the world of German vehicles, subcompact sedans are the entry point. They may not be the most luxurious cars, but they have the most important thing: the German badge. Mercedes-Benz has the A-class, BMW has the 2-series Gran Coupe, and Audi has the A3. All of these have decent tech and performance, but can be seen as “bargains”. This week, I drove the redesigned A3. I had a few questions about this A3. is it worth $42,000, does it feel like an Audi, and is it worth it? At the end of my test, most of those questions were yes. Why? Keep reading for more.

Similar to the previous A3, this generation A3 is quite handsome. This particular A3 has Glacier White Metallic Paint and the Black Optics Package which includes high gloss black exterior elements and sport suspension. It’s also riding on 18-inch five-spoke wheels. The front end has the traditional large Audi grill with some angular headlights along with some fake exhaust. Looking at the side, you can see the optional large panoramic glass roof and I do like the white and black side mirrors. At the rear, there is the Audi logo in the middle with badging for A3 and Quattro, since it does have Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system.  There are some more fake vents, but they don't hurt the design. In fact, I think that the Audi A3 is a very handsome vehicle and it stands out quite well, especially with the white paint. 

When you enter the car, you will see that it has some very interesting door handles that slope downwards. In front of the driver are buttons for the audio and a little center display. This vehicle does not have Audi's Virtual Cockpit, but the standard dials look just fine. There is optional adaptive cruise control, but it is on a separate stalk and sometimes I hit it when I was trying to use turn indicators. What you'll notice is that there is a lot of piano black and there are a lot of scuff mark opportunities. To the left of the driver are touch-sensitive buttons for the lights, which I don't believe have to be touch sensitive. To the right of the driver is Audi's infotainment system and what is funny is that, although this does not have navigation, there is still a little button for navigation. When you press it, it says “the navigation license was not purchased.’ This shows that once again, you didn't get the Technology Package. Thankfully, there is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Another good thing is that the climate controls are physical buttons. Below are the buttons for the drive select, auto stop-start, parking assist features, and traction control. My biggest complaint is probably where the shifter is. It’s a little nub in a sea of piano black.  And a little out of place with this central location. Another oddity is that the operation for the volume is this little circle that you press instead of a physical knob which, the driver can get used to, but it's still very odd. The seats are comfortable, and they are decently bolstered. You also find 2 USB-c along with a little center console. This is not a big car, so you won't be surprised that the back seats are a little snug and the trunk is also quite small. in terms of the design of the cabin, I do like it, but the buttons do feel a little cheap in a car that is worth $42,000. That said, I do like this contrasting gray accent piece that runs along the front of the cabin. 

Now, something that is just weird is that the engine is less powerful in this A3 than in the previous A3. The previous A3 had over 220 horsepower, while this A3 has 201 horsepower/150 kW and 221 lb-ft/286 Nm from its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. It also has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. When you combine all of those, the 2022 Audi A3 gets from 0 to 60 in 6 seconds. It doesn't sound slow, but it is 0.5 seconds slower than the previous generation. While I was driving, I did notice that the transmission shift is a little jerky and slow off the line, but is a good transmission after you’ve started accelerating. Four drive modes include Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and individual. I drove mostly in comfort and would switch to Auto. Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system helps to shift the power around, so there isn’t any wheelspin.

Even though this is a front-wheel-drive-biased system, the A3 did feel a little playful. Audi’s adaptive cruise control doesn’t increase or decrease in 1 MPH increments. It increases or decreases in 2.5 MPH increments. Why? My only answer is: because Audi? That said, the stop-start system really likes to cut the engine. One example is when you are cruising. Stop start engine will cut the engine when you're cruising. That's great for fuel economy, but it's not good when you're trying to use climate control. The engine will cut out, and the climate control also drastically decreases which doesn't help on a particularly hot or cold day. You can turn off the stop-start feature but I usually kept it on to maximize the fuel economy. 

Speaking of fuel economy, I averaged around 33 MPG  which is quite good for this type of engine. I actually got over 40 MPG  when I was on the highway driving at reasonable highway speeds. In any situation, the A3 is very easy to drive. It may a less powerful than before, but there’s enough power for overtaking. In terms of pricing, Audi’s 2.0T 40 TFSI  with Quattro all-wheel drive starts at around $36,000. Glacier white metallic paint is $595. This has the Premium Plus Package which is an extra $3,300. It includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, LED headlights, a parking system with park assist, and a few more features. For $850, you can get the Black Optic Sport Package with the high gloss black exterior elements and sources function. This package is a must to make the A3 look more sporty. Finally, the 18-inch wheel package has the lovely 18-inch Color Finish Wheels, along with all-season tires. All in, you're looking at around $42,000 for this vehicle. This is an Audi, so I'm not surprised at the price. 

The one option that this did not have is the Technology Package which I thought was interesting since this is the high-end A3. It does cost over $2,000, but it does have Audi's Virtual Cockpit along with traffic sign recognition, navigation, and Band & Olufsen sound system. That said, you don't really need the Technology Package because the standard sound system is good and you can still use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for navigation. In terms of the overall package, I like the Audi A3. I think that it is a very handsome car with a good interior. There are some issues when it comes to the piano black trim and some of the buttons feel a little cheap on the steering wheel but they aren't terrible. A less powerful engine in a newer car may not make sense but I understand that an increase in fuel economy is more important.

If you want to have more power, you have to pay between $5,000 to $10,000 for the S3 with a much more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. How does it stack up against the competition? Well, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe looks a little blobby while Mercedes has the slightly dull-looking A Class. Mercedes does have the very stylish CLA, but when you add those app options to this, it is thousands of dollars more. Should you take a look at the Audi A3? Yes, take a look at it. At $42,000, this is a good entry point into the world of German luxury and the Audi brand. It has almost all of the technology that you would want, especially if you do get that Technology Package. If you want to get into German vehicles and you're okay with a dual-clutch transmission and a 30+ MPG engine, check out the 2022 Audi A3 40 TFSI Quattro.