2016 Audi A3 2.0T review: Perfect things, small packages

Does the badge warrant the price?

It would be easy to dismiss this $42,000 Audi A3 sedan as an overly expensive, underequipped cash grab by the German company, joining in with the Mercedes-Benz CLA and BMW 1-Series as the cheapest way to experience Teutonic luxury. And if you did dismiss it, we wouldn’t fault you for it. But after a few hundred miles in the car, the A3 might make a little more sense. Especially after you’ve seen three grown men fit in the back seat. It’s possible.

The basic A3 starts at about $32,000 with the 1.8-liter, but we’d suggest at least springing for the upgraded model with 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged 2.0-liter. It starts at $35,000 or so, with destination. Unfortunately, it only comes with a six-speed S tronic dual-clutch job, which is fun, but it’s no manual.

Inside the A3, buyers get square miles of textured rubber on the dash -- not the best material, but it still feels better than the textured plastic on some domestic models. The screen pops out of the dash and conveniently stores itself when not in use, and the rest of the instrument panel is clean. The big vents can be aimed in any direction and twisted to be opened or closed, a quick way to take some of the heat off your face, if your lower half is still cold.

This A3 comes with the $2,700 technology package, which includes the sweet navigation setup powered by Google Earth. It’s cool when you’re cruising down unnamed roads and even better when you can spot the address you’re heading to by the shape of the building. Still, as good as it is, and as much as I’m familiar with the company’s MMI controls, I’d skip the option. Honestly, I’d skip the Premium Plus upgrades as well, even though those heated seats would be hard to part with. It also costs $2,700. Knock both of those out and you saved yourself more than $5,000. On the other hand, if it’s just a bare-bones small sedan, can it really be considered German luxury? But I digress.

At green lights, the A3 zips off the line, with the turbocharger kicking in hard after a second or so. It’s powerful enough to throw your head back a bit, but once you’re out of first gear it’s much less noticeable.

The best thing about these little all-wheel drivers is that you can literally stomp the pedal while making a turn without any tire-spinning drama. Just hold on when that turbo kicks in. Shifts are silky smooth from the dual-clutch once you’re moving, but it does get a little lurchy when trying to creep forward, say, while parking in a tight spot.

The brakes are nice and grippy, grabbing after just a couple inches of travel. There’s not a lot of dive either, as this A3 is sprung pretty stiffly. Direction changes are quick as well -- even with the softer winter tire compound -- but that means potholes will bang hard into the cabin, and into your fillings. If these wheels were wrapped in summer rubber, it would be even worse. Still, I’ll take the stiffness and the pothole dodging over the alternative.

Steering is a bit light, like most Audis, but it is quick and direct. Some people have said it has a nice mechanical feeling, but I would disagree. To me it feels digital. A bit more weight, and it would be very good.

Speaking of, the Audi Drive Select button does add some weight to the steering effort, along with remapped transmission and acceleration graphs. I didn’t notice the changes as much as when I shifted from drive to S mode, which holds the trans in gear until very late in the rev range, no matter how far you push the pedal. It almost seemed too aggressive at some points.

Curbside, the A3 is probably better looking than 1- and 2-Series BMWs, though not as sporty without rear-wheel drive. Its proportions are right, if small, with just a little overhang in back and not a lot of wheel-well gap. The Mercedes-Benz CLA is very close in proportion, but without the AMG bits not quite as fun. For driving enjoyment alone, I’d still have to pick the BMW, but for all-around driving and living, the Audi is probably head of the pack.

Remember, none of the three will feel as luxurious and quiet as the real starting point of German lavishness, which would be the 3-Series, Audi A4 and the Merc C-Class, all of which have stepped up their luxury game recently. Of course, once you deck out one of those with a few options, you’re in the $50,000-plus range, a far cry from where we are now.

To buy this car, the four-ring badge has to mean something, because you can get a lot more for less from one of the domestics, or even the Japanese, not to mention the Jetta GLI or Golf.

But, if you absolutely must be a German luxury compact car driver, you have your choices.

OTHER VOICES:

 Buy a GTI or a Golf R. Both are better cars in every conceivable respect, they cost less and you can order them with a stick. If you're an Autoweek reader, you'll enjoy owning the GTI more, I promise. 

Options: Technology package with CD/DVD player and HD radio, Audi MMI navigation, MMI touch, color driver information display, Audi connect, Audi side assist ($2,700); Premium Plus model with 18-inch wheels, heated power front seats, advanced key, aluminum window surrounds, aluminum mistral silver decorative inlays, Audi music interface with iPod cable, auto-dimming interior mirror with compass ($2,700); sport package with front sport seats, Audi drive select controls, three-spoke steering wheel, sport suspension ($800); monsoon gray metallic ($575)