2015 Audi A3 Preview and Review 

Jacob Palmer That's easily the best comment I've ever gotten. Kudos.

Dan, thanks a lot! It was bittersweet that that A3 came to us with explicit instructions to not drive it... maybe we should have broken that rule ;)

OfficialAudiMV Am considering an A3. Which one is it that sells for around 30K?

+Richard Holmes A3 1.8T FWD would be best bet, at $36,100 (canada)

+OfficialAudiMV i have a thought, in India th audi A3 sedan comes ina 2.0 TDI but it makes around 150 BHp only. Why so?

+OfficialAudiMV i mean i have a question not thought. i was an error but pls answer my question

+Vicariously Thru-Kay Thanks. I like the part about ''FWD'', east central Utah to northern Utah can get some pretty bad snow storms, FWD would work well.

How many HP? How does the interior materials feel? Some are saying they are cheaper compared to a4, a5.

Thanks! Is there anything we missed that you would want to know?

does it have daytime running lights

Yes, LED daytime running lights

resident, I really appreciate your comment - We had the car for one night and it was something of a surprise; next time I hope to have more time to plan out some interior shots, especially with the S3.

Thanks! I have been with Audi since oh, about a decade ago. I have seen the product (and the company) take a complete 180-degree turnaround. What was once a mid-level economy car has now become the hottest product on the road. While that's all fine and well for the marketing department, the reality is that sweeping changes have been made in the product quality department. A lot of the little issues (like buttons peeling off) are now non-existent and the big issues (like my turbo exploded) have been crushed. I can't say what an A3 is going to look like 8 years from now, but I can tell you what a 2005 / 2006 looks like, which is when Audi really jumped up a rung. We still sell those as used cars (when we can get our hands on them) and they're still running great. That being said, the magic ingredient in making your car last is proper maintenance. Follow the Audi service guide to the letter, and don't be afraid to show your A3 a little extra love (everyone loves being pampered). Use premium fuel and keep it clean and topped up with fluids - should be no problem. Hope that helps!

Thanks ieon!

Thanks Michael! Can't wait for us to get our hands on a 2.0T quattro so we can test drive it :)

Likewise :)

Ariful, thanks for the compliment. Yes, the A3 is available with a backup camera and front & rear audible sensors on the Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels. If you get a Premium Plus you must add the "Driver Assistance Package", which also includes the Audi Side Assist system (warns you if you're changing lanes into another vehicle in your blind spot). On the Prestige trim the rearview camera is standard.

Thanks Pawel, let us know if we can help you when you're ready to trade up your Passat! www.AudiMV.com

Nope, Audi Mission Viejo!

augenblick, Yes, the A3 is launching April 3rd (A3 - get it?). You can join us for our launch party and to test drive it here: goo.gl/xctplv

Jerry, I don't think the temperature of Southern California could match the Middle East, but I did let the car sit in the sun for quite some time in about 80 degree temperature and the AC cooled the cabin down to my preferred temperature in adequate time. If you get the chance, try it out and let us know what you think!

Thanks Charles! I'm glad you like the A3; have you signed up for your local dealership's launch party yet? Ours is April 3rd (A3 - get it?): @NdnCc3

Just caught this comment. Was this the section you were having trouble with? www.audimv.com/showroom/2015/Audi/S3/Sedan.htm Granted, the website has changed since you posted this comment, but we're still interested in making sure we didn't miss anything. Hope you've been happy with your S3 the past few months! It's a good looking car inside and out.

Laurent, thanks for the comment! Yes, the A4 has a bit more space, but I believe in Belgium they offer the new A3 as a sportback already? Another option is the Audi A4 Allroad, which might also be a good fit for you. :)

thank you for your reply, i have some time to decide (until June). I love the sporty looks of the A3 Sedan, they already do sell them over here :-)

Joseph, it will definitely be a choice to make! I will say that the A4 is more appropriate if you plan on having passengers constantly. Not that the A3 is too small, but the A4 is really a grand sedan. In fact, the A4 is as big now as the old A6 used to be!

It's definitely going to be a toss up - but I think that the two models will actually complement each other nicely. Consider two scenarios for a moment: two different buyers have $40k to spend on a luxury car. One is a new family with a toddler, the other is an empty-nester that just wants something to scoot around town. Either model fits the bill.

Did I...? I did. Well, that's what happens when you shoot late at night I suppose. Good catch, and thanks for the compliment!

OfficialAudiMV I understand. The bottom line is that your reviews provide detailed information for the Audi lovers/owners. I am in the first group now and hope to join the second group in 2016. Please keep on the wonderful work.

That's what I said! Smh!

Wazza, I'm guessing by your use of the term 'petrol' that you're not in the United States like we are? I can't speak to what will be offered globally, but you can see the US variants that will be offered here: goo.gl/xctplv. As for the chrome and LEDs taillights (and daytime running lights), they are standard on the A3 for us (included in the "Premium" trim). The car we used was slightly upgraded with "Premium Plus", but it did not include the S-Line package. The only way to get S-Line is to get the "Prestige" trim, which is an $8,800 add to the base price. Hope that helps!

OfficialAudiMV Yes I'm not in USA, but in the UK. Here in the UK the main trim levels are SE, Sport and Sline. The difference between Sline and the rest is most notably, Xenon plus headlights with LED front and rear, Daytime running lights, chrome trims and tailpipe and sline embossed leather interior with sline flat bottom steering wheel. Also the exterior body styling is changed with a much sportier look with sportier front and rear bumpers and side skirts. So the differences are quite notable. I'm curious to know, if this comes as standard in the Premium trim in USA, what extra do you get for SLine? I actually have the new A3 Sportback Sline and love it. Thanks! :)

I hear that - price is tricky when you start building an über clean-machine. Frankly, I would be worried less about reliability - we've had the Q5 hybrid on the road now a while, so it won't be a cold start on the hybrid concept. Making a plug-in hybrid is more about battery than it is about motor, really - and the system is really very simple. I'm a little more concerned about the fun factor. How about a stickshift, quattro, TDI clean-diesel A3, with a hybrid assist (like the Le Mans cars)? Oh wait, I just described an $60,000 A3 ;)

Whoa - all of that code was supposed to read "uber" with an umlaut. Yikes.

Fabian, yes - all of our vehicles use premium gasoline (unless they're a clean-diesel, of course!). The reason for this is because most of our engines are turbo- or super-charged and the engines respond better to the higher octane. In fact, some of our more adventurous clients have modified their cars to run on 100+ octane racing fuel and you would be surprised how much extra juice is available from the same motor. Both of the A3 engines available (1.8T and 2.0T) will be turbocharged and they will be available in the next few weeks. Our official launch party is on April 3rd (A3 - get it?) and you are certainly invited! RSVP or look at inventory here: goo.gl/xctplv

Great news - the A3 Sportback is definitely coming back to the US as a 2015. So thrilled :)

Ritobhash, The trunk is spring loaded so it will open up on its own much like the A4, but it is not motorized like an A8

Thanks!

I am buying the car today, after watching this guy, well Africa

Thanks Timbo!

Thank You Devin :)

The EPA estimates are 24 City / 33 Highway / 27 Combined. The only difference for the 1.8T is 23 City.

wow not bad. that's awesome thanks!

rkhrahmani, as I understand it, the circuit boards/modules for the 4G are fundamentally different so it will likely be an action item for when the Q5 goes through a complete redesign. However, the good news is that the new MMI system has an upgradeable architecture that allows for enhancements over time (such as faster processors, memory, other chipsets) so that the technology will adapt faster, even if the models don't change as often.

OfficialAudiMV Thank you much for the detailed answer. You are fantastic.

yoyoluc, it is the same basic platform (when you strip it down to the engine block) so the performance is similar, but the engine is built with different parts and tuning, so it drives differently. I'm glad to hear you like your current car - you can let us know any time you would like to make a switch.

Dan, my understanding is that the pop-up screen is included no matter what trim or options you select. The main screen would then be the same - color and all. What's different is that the system will use a 180 watt Audi Sound System with the Concert Radio (FM/AM/CD/SAT) system. There is no Audi Music Interface to integrate with an iPod. The driver's information display behind the steering wheel (between the gauges) would be monochrome, probably white or red. The MMI control panel by the shift lever would not include the touch interface on the selection wheel; the function toggles would be the same. There would be no Audi Connect online services. To recap: + Premium Trim = basic system. + Premium Plus Trim = adds Audi Music Interface (and other stuff like Cold Weather Pkg, et cetera). + Prestige Trim = includes Premium and Premium Plus, adds Navigation Plus system and Bang & Olufsen audio (and more...). If you want to add Navigation as an option (but don't want the Prestige trim): > Navigation Plus + Premium Trim = No Audi Connect, includes MMI Touch system, color driver information display. > Navigation Plus + Premium Plus = Includes Audi Connect, MMI Touch, color driver display. > If you get Prestige, you get it all and then some. Make sense?

Thanks so much OfficialAudiMV that is an incredibly clear description, makes sense. You guys must be paying attention to the Audi tech training for your dealership. (it also sounds really good in terms of what I might be looking for when my lease is up)

Thanks Giovanni, yes - the screen is standard and yes, Audi will have a roof rack for it.

KalT, the 170hp option is really not meant to be "sporty" - that's why the 220hp version is the only option with quattro all-wheel drive. I think the choice was to give entry-level buyers (say, a 16-year old teenage girl getting her first car from her parents) a reliable car that she and her friends would approve of. If that same young lady had been go-kart racing since age three and spends regular time on the racetrack I think her parents might bump her up to the 220hp / quattro version ;) As for the interior / rear seat space I can't say that it's voluminous by any stretch of the imagination and I would say it's accurate to call it a 2+2. I'm a pretty average dimension guy (5' 8", ~160 lb) and I fit in there comfortably, but not as luxuriously as in an A4.

OfficialAudiMV That is one lucky 16-year old girl... getting an Audi for her first car. My first car was a 1993 toyota corolla and I was the happiest man on earth. There goes my pride D:

Systolic120mmHg Toyota is a unsafe piece of shit. It already cause so many people death n get fined $1.2Billon. Now toyota announce recalls every year HA HA HA Toyota

It's ok mate, I'm still alive!

The 2015 A4's are on their way! To see what's coming, follow this link: www.audimv.com/new-inventory/index.htm?year=2015&&&&model=A4&

OfficialAudiMV Do you have any diesel on these 2015 a3`s?

Not yet, but they're going to be rolling out to us along with the E-Tron, S3 and A3 Cabriolet in the future. We don't have word yet of when exactly, but please do check back!

OfficialAudiMV thanks for following up. I since went to the dealer and saw the A4 and the A3 and realized the new A3 looks like A4 in size and has a new interior than the A4, so I decided it would be wiser to go with the A3 since it looks next gen similar to the CLA-250 has a newer look than the 2014 C-Class 250.

Do they have diesel models on that 2015 audi a3 it is really inside my heart,because i am addicted on diesel models and it is smaller than a4?

Arshmeet, thanks for watching. I'll try to answer, but my knowledge is pretty localized to the Southern California area. 1. No. There are a lot of factors that go into pricing worldwide - things like currency exchange and distribution pipeline are main factors that may inflate pricing. You can read a lot of comments on our videos where people end up spending twice if not more than the American price of the car. 2. The front is shorter; it's not as long as an A4, and nowhere near the grandeur of an A8 unfortunately. You'll have to make that decision when you see the car in person, I suppose. 3. In the front seats, yes. In the back seats probably not. 4. I just sold my 2011 Audi A3 TDI that was a Sportback. I love that shape; I would probably heir on the side of the Q3 - but I'm definitely a diesel fan so that would be a requirement. Good luck!

Okay boss (: Thanks for the time!

I hope it's soon; I have pretty high expectations! I know Audi is very busy right now coordinating the launch of the A3 Sedan and the S3 will probably get to us closer toward the end of Summer / Fall. Unfortunately, we're a dealership in Mission Viejo and as you can imagine all of the press publications get first grab on the new stuff. Now that I think about it, why is that? Shouldn't the people you buy your car from be the experts? Hmm...

OfficialAudiMV Cool. Just checked out the A3 in KC and can't wait for the S3 to arrive.

Hi Timeless, thanks for the questions. First, I can relate to the GTI - I used to drive a 2011 Audi A3 (Sportback) which was pretty much the same shape as the GTI. When I get in and out of the new A3 it feels very reminiscent of my old A3; the space feels similar. Now, I'm not very tall by comparison - but at 5' 8" I'm quite comfortable in the back but if you feel comfortable at 6' 4" in your GTI I think you'll be fine in the A3 for short-distances. Might not be fun for a road trip the length of California. Second, the Premium Plus comes with the 10-spoke RS-design wheel with a 225/40 all-season tire, which is the upgrade from the 17" 5-spoke wheel that comes on the Premium trim. Those are the only two wheel options as of now.

OfficialAudiMV Thanks for taking your time and responding my question. I will probably wait to buy till they come up with better options. Till then I will be satisfied with my GTI.

Thanks!

Nikolas Vrahimis it’s standard!

Fox, as a previous (2011) TDI sportback owner I completely agree with you. But, I am curious to see what the PHEV brings to the table technology-wise. I guess driving it will be the tell-all!

derouen, That's a pretty loaded question, but I'll give it a shot! I would say that Audi's first and foremost challenge is supply. If you look at BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, or any of the other high-end import brands, they all have very full pipelines of cars; they sell something like 300,000+ cars per year and some have very few model variations, which means that there's a ton of selection for anyone who stumbles upon the dealership lot. Audi has A LOT of model variations in its lineup (so many of the models don't even make it to the United States!) and a pipeline of about 100,000+ cars per year, which restricts supply pretty considerably. Since the United States is huge (really huge), there's a lot of ground to cover and a lot of cars to distribute; LA doesn't always get the lions' share - and I know Audi has been focusing on eating up some market share in some other major US cities recently. So while the West Coast was once celebrating competitive inventories of what continues to be a very hot product, now the inventory may be a little thinner than it used to be - we keep selling them and they're not always being replenished as fast. As you can imagine, its hard to tell an American car buyer (who is notoriously "now, now, now" impulsive) that they have to order and wait 90 days for a German car when the lot down the street has 22 acres of cars. I can say that from what I've observed and heard since the A3 has been getting close to release is that Audi is planning to take the West Coast by storm with this thing. In fact, we're already gearing our website up with the inventory we're expecting in the next few weeks: goo.gl/46z4Im. Hope that answers your question?

Thank you so much, answered my question... maybe ill drive by one day

bird, the Plug In Hybrid is coming with the Audi A3 etron Sportback! I've got a picture of it on this page: goo.gl/xctplv

No sugar-coating it: you're probably right. While I would say a 6'2" driver and passenger would be fine in the front seats, the 6'+ passengers riding in the back at the same time may not be as happy. If you think that four people will constantly riding around in the car, you may consider an A4 (which we're running a $299/mo lease special on - see details & inventory: goo.gl/1X2ide) as it is longer and more spacious in the back. If you want to see more about the A4 you can watch our video on it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nZeWqbxeFxA.html. However, if you think that your son will be driving 95% of the time by himself and 5% of the time with one or more friends, I think they could make it work.

Thank you very much for your honesty and suggestion.

Not very similar cars. 335i is an inline six with 300hp. 335 is also a lot more expensive unless your thinking about getting a previous generation ie. 2011

Timothy Sover what did you decide on?

Dea, unfortunately, the demand for a manual transmission among American drivers is small due to the fact that the majority of the population does not know how to drive a manual transmission. We haven't heard anything about the possibility of a manual being offered state-side, but we will let you know if anything changes.

pillowpants, that's very interesting - why no quattro for you? I'm surprised because so many love the quattro; it would be great to understand the reasoning against it.

OfficialAudiMV While Quattro is great, it is an expensive feature. An all-wheel drive car has an additional rear differential which translates into 4 additional CV joints. That is 4 more CV joints to have repaired/replaced when the boots rip open, and one more “transmission” to have the fluid drained and replaced for regular scheduled maintenance. The all-wheel drive assembly has a shaft doing down the middle of the car where the exhaust pipe normally goes. This translates into the exhaust being different than non-all-wheel drive car (because it is re-routed or made differently to fit in the small space), which equals a much higher bill when the exhaust needs replacing. The added weight of all the extra parts needed to make it an all-wheel drive car adds another 300+ lbs to the car, which translates into slightly more gas being used to drag all the weight around for a feature that really only benefits me 3 or 4 days of the year when I’m driving in really bad weather. For $36,000 CDN, plus options, plus freight, plus PDI, plus taxes (~$42,000), it’s just too much money; the value isn’t there. I’m going to stick with front wheel drive cars that come in under the 40K mark.

Ooh! I found it!

mphil, yes - the Premium trim includes Bluetooth (and streaming audio). Yes, Siri will work, however you would still need to press the home button on your iPhone to activate it. Siri's voice will stream through your speakers and you can reply commands through the vehicle's built in microphone.

Tanvir, thanks for the question. As I see it, our first run of A3s is scheduled to hit the ground in the next few weeks. All Audi dealers are having an official, coordinated launch on April 3rd. The launch will be more of an experience / test-drive event. At this point Audi has been tight-lipped as to whether or not the cars that are coming in the next few weeks will be demonstrators (and not for sale), or regular for-sale units. Would you like us to contact you when the first cars arrive? Also, would you like to attend our launch party? If so, use the link in the video description and submit your interest. Thanks again for asking!

OfficialAudiMV thanks for your quick reply.