Entry-level luxury sedans have caught quite the traction and the 3 main players: Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi have been having a larger chunk of this sweet share. This segment comprises consumers migrating from large-sized sedans to their first taste of luxury. So, Audi is bringing about a very crucial revamp of its already successful A3 sedan. In fact, the all-new generation will be pitched in as 2022 MY, and the German automaker is skipping 2021.
It will take on its long-standing competitors that include the BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. And by the buzz of it, Mercedes-Benz is also working on models below the A-Class, which shows us how heated this segment is about to get. The 2022 Audi A3 has already been revealed in Europe and gets a thorough makeover inside-out.
It gets a very distinctive iteration of Audi's new design language and is so far, the most changed Audi in the portfolio. It gets longer, wider, and taller which in turn has also amplified the interior comfort and space. Not to mention, the technology it gets is also top-of-the-line, and we are pretty sure its competitors are already taking notes and prepping-up before Audi launches the 2022 A3 by the end of 2021.
2022 Audi A3 marks the dawn of extensively redesigned 3rd-Generation of Audi's smallest offering. The new A3 is expected to start with an MSRP of $35,000.
2022 Audi A3 Gets Bumped-Up Pricing And Updated Trims
By the current trend of things, the 2022 Audi A3 will carry over with 3 trim levels - Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. Owing to the extensive list of changes that the new A3 will come with, the pricing will surely be bumped up and we expect the base Premium to trim to start from $35,000 and top out at around $40,000 for the Prestige trim.
This is a notable bump in pricing as the 2021 Audi A3 starts from $33,300 and goes up to $39,500. But taking into consideration the fresh face that we are about to get, the premium is surprisingly low and well-deserved.
Powered By a 2.0L Turbo Inline-4; Adds Mild-Hybrid Tech Also
Audi hasn't confirmed the powertrains that will be put into the 2022 Audi A3. But by the trend of past years, it most probably will pack the same peppy 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4 motor that is rated at 184 hp and 221 lb-ft. It will be coupled to a slick-shifting 7-Speed Automatic transmission. The European models get a much wider spectrum of powertrains that include - a 1.0L Turbo Inline-3, an optional diesel, and the current 150 hp 1.5L Turbo Inline-4.
Audi is also expected to bring in a more powerful S-Line trim, which will most probably be backed by the Volkswagen Jetta GLI's 228 hp 2.0L Turbo unit. But the newest addition, no matter the engine, is a 48V mild-hybrid system that will be standard. This will help improve performance without hampering its EPA ratings. The 2022 A3 will surely churn out more MPG figures than the current 27 MPG in the city, 36 MPG on the highway, and a combined 30 MPG.
Drivability Is The Focus Here, With Retuned Ride And Handling
It is not only on the outside that Audi has freshened things up. The 2022 A3 gets retuned suspension and active handling system that acts as the brains behind every maneuver you make. As the car has grown in size, the added width and length will surely help in being more stable on the roads.
It will come in both, FWD and AWD layouts and Quattro will be taking care of the AWD finesse. It will be underpinned by Volkswagen's MQB platform that will also make it future-proof when it comes to hybridization. So, expect improved athletism from the freshest Audi out there.
2022 Audi A3 Gets A 'Wedgie' And Tech-Loaded Interior Makeover
Audi has redesigned the cabin and the most notable aspect is the new sleeker and cleaner dashboard design that gets a wedge design. It has been given this futuristic design language by Stefan Vollmer. There are little to no clickable buttons left, except for the air-con controls. The driver is given a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster which can also be swapped with a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus. It works in tandem with the MMI equipped 10.1-inch touchscreen unit and is positioned at the top half of the new 'wedge'.
As Audi has increased the new A3's footprint, comfort and cabin space has also been bumped up. Despite the form factor, the second-row seating is well suited to fairly taller passengers. Comfort features like faux-suede upholstery and powered front seats give it a fair amount of flexibility. It makes quite the mark when it comes to small sedans, and also comes with optional sport seats for that added sporty appeal.
Exterior Design Langauge Is The Freshest In A Long Time
The 2022 Audi A3 will be a future template for all Audis, up to the A8. Audi has taken a bold new route with the A3's design language. The 'wedge' design is carried on the outside as well. The front fascia gets a major upgrade with those radically looking LED headlamps that take the aggression up a notch. On top trim levels, the DRLs are composed of 15 LED segments, just the true-blue romance of Audi and Lighting!
A coupe-ish roofline gives it a sharper form factor, without compromising much on the second-row headroom, which isn't the case with the popular "Sportback" models from Audi. Audi has also added an integrated trunk lid spoiler and the taillamps also get the cut-through LED treatment, despite having the same shape.
Expected Warranty And Reliability Perks
Audi is expected to carry over its warranty package unchanged in the 2022 Audi A3. It includes a Limited Standard Warranty for 4 years/ 50,000 miles, Powertrain Warranty for 4 years/ 50,000 miles, and complimentary maintenance for 1 year/ 10,000 miles.
Sources: Edmunds.com, Media.Audiusa.com, Motortrend.com, Automobilemag, Caranddriver.com