Audi A3 Sedan 2015

Specifications

1. The 2015 Audi A3 sedan will be available with at least seven different engine options around the world. 2. The car’s base price in America is estimated at about $30,000. The car is expected to launch in the first quarter of next year. 3. The standard engine in America is a 1.8-liter TFSI gasoline turbo that delivers 180 horsepower and surprising acceleration. 4. A 2.0-liter TDI diesel is also available in America. It churns out 150 ponies with a heaping helping of torque, 236 lb-ft to be precise.

Preview

Since its introduction in 1996 over 3.5 million have been sold around the world. With such showroom success, the A3 accounts for a whopping 20 percent of Audi’s sales. But those are hatchbacks.

To further increases this market penetration the maker is introducing a sedan version of the popular car to better target U.S. buyers. The company estimates that two out of every three A3s sold will be sedans... Globally. To call this introduction an important one for the Ingolstadt-based automaker is an understatement.

INTERIOR

Despite its position as an entry-level model, the A3 is still an Audi, which means it has a superbly finished interior that’s every bit as stylish as the car’s elegant coachwork. Typical of the four-ring brand, the A3’s cabin is crafted of rich materials that look and feel top shelf. Similarly, fit and finish is unassailable. 

Bucking current industry trends, the car’s secondary controls are simple to use, as is the latest-generation MMI infotainment system. Overall the cockpit is very cleanly laid out. About the only letdown was the cloth seating surfaces on the entry-level model, which didn’t seem appropriate in such a classy interior. Then again, cloth seats are unlikely for North America.

The front chairs are fine for long-haul driving and even the back seats are sufficiently spacious. Two adults can ride in steerage for a fair length of time as long as they’re not too tall; headroom can be a bit tight back there. Putting three people in the rear is an invitation for complaints as the center position is nearly useless.

Under The Hood

 The base unit is a 1.8-liter TFSI four-cylinder that puts out a reasonable 180 horsepower. Thanks to advanced direct-injection, turbocharging and other technologies, it delivers 185 lb-ft of low-rpm torque. Zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) should take a light-footed 7.3 seconds.

Audi claims the A3 will achieve 33 mpg in the city and 49 on the highway for 42 in mixed driving. If that seems optimistic, it’s because it almost certainly is. Expect those numbers to fall once the EPA releases its own ratings for the car.For more bang, a larger 2.0-liter TFSI engine will also be offered, although Audi didn’t have output specifications available.

For diesel lovers the company will also offer a 2.0-liter TDI engine. It puts out 150 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of axle-snapping torque. The twist hits like a sledgehammer around 3,000 rpm, after that it gradually tapers off in the upper-rev range. Supposedly this car will sprint from a standstill to 62 mph in just 8.7 seconds and deliver a combined U.S. fuel-economy score of more than 57 miles per gallon. Again, those numbers deserve some salt.

Audi will also offer a plug-in hybrid drivetrain packaged in the A3 e-tron, which is due later in 2015. The seven-speed S tronic transmission is the only gearbox available in America.

Beyond these choices, global customers can get a 1.4-liter gasoline engine and a 1.6-liter TDI, among numerous other powertrain options. We had a chance to test drive both engines and the 1.4 was the most interesting bar none. 

With up to 140 horsepower it’s perfectly adequate for normal driving, with enough spunk for expressway merging and two-lane passing. To conserve fuel it’s fitted with start/stop, which kills the engine when the vehicle is parked or stopped. When the driver is ready to go it automatically starts up again.