The entry level to the brand, the Audi A3 is an all-wheel drive (AWD) compact sedan that takes on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLA, Acura Integra, and BMW 2 Series.
2026 Audi A3 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Audi A3
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Audi A3
Changes for 2026 A3 are centered around added equipment. The content from the former Technology Package has now become standard. A new Premium Plus S Line trim has been added to the lineup and includes a sport-tuned suspension with a 0.6-inch lower ride height, front sport seats, and black exterior trim. The Premium Plus trims add a standard surround-view camera this year.
Design
The A3 is a small, sporty sedan with a short deck and an extra front overhang to accommodate the engine sitting partly ahead of the front axle. The face has the trapezoidal Audi single-frame grille, smaller than on the S3 and RS 3, and with a honeycomb pattern. The outer air intakes are also smaller, though the pointed LED headlights take on the same shape. Along the sides, the look is simple and rounded, with a distinct character line that rises gently from the front wheels to the rear wheels. A rear lip spoiler sits above LED taillights that play off the shape of the headlights. Taller sidewall tires on 17-inch alloy wheels lend a reserved look to the base trim, while the available 18-inch wheels offer a sportier stance. Standard aluminum trim is replaced with black trim on the S Line trim level or with the Black Optic package.
Powertrain
The A3 draws its power from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 201 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that routes the power to all four wheels via Audi’s quattro AWD system. Fuel economy is fairly thrifty at 24 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined.
Interior
The A3 comes standard with leather upholstery and heated front seats. Driver’s seat memory is available, and a panoramic sunroof is included. The trunk is rather small, offering just 8.3 cubic feet of cargo space, but that space can be expanded thanks to a standard 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat.
Technology
The A3 features Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, plus a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation. The A3 also comes standard with a three-month satellite radio trial and a six-month trial that includes satellite imagery for the navigation system, traffic-light information, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and online radio. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and wireless smartphone charging is optional. The base audio system has six speakers; a 15-speaker Sonos system with 680 watts of power is standard on all trims except the base.
