2017 Audi A3: What's Changed

CARS.COM

• Most significant changes: Front-wheel-drive models get a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and seven-speed automatic transmission, and all A3 models get new front styling.
• Price change: Base prices are $300 to $850 higher on the front-drive sedan and $1,000 to $1,550 on the front-drive A3 Cabriolet. On the A3 Quattro sedan, the base Premium is unchanged at $34,200, the Premium Plus is $550 higher and the Prestige is up $100. Prices increases on the Quattro convertible run from $700 to $1,250. The S3 is $400 higher at $42,900. The destination charge for all models is $25 higher at $950.
• On sale: Now
• Which should you buy, 2016 or 2017? 2017 for front-drive sedans but 2016 for convertibles because of price increases for the 2017 model year.

Related: 2017 Audi A3: First Look

The 2017 Audi A3 sedan and convertible get mild front styling changes, and front-wheel-drive models receive a more powerful and efficient engine for 2017. A 186-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder replaces a 170-hp, turbo 1.8-liter engine in the FWD A3 models, and a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission replaces a dual-clutch six-speed.

With those changes, EPA fuel-economy estimates increase to 26/35/29 mpg city/highway/combined, up from last year’s ratings of 23/33/27 mpg. All-wheel-drive A3 Quattro models return with a 220-hp, 2.0-liter engine and six-speed automatic, and the performance S3 is back with a 292-hp version of the 2.0-liter.

The diesel sedan is gone, a casualty of Volkswagen’s emissions-cheating scandal. The diesel was announced for the 2016 model year but was scratched after the scandal broke.

The good news for 2017 is that FWD models have more horsepower and higher fuel-economy estimates, a win-win for buyers. The trade-off is that prices are higher — much higher on the convertible — and that the new engine requires premium gas (same as the 1.8-liter).

With brisk acceleration, a nicely appointed interior, standard Wi-Fi, leather seats, a panoramic moonroof and forward collision warning, the A3 presents an attractive value proposition in an entry-level luxury car. With its compact dimensions, though, passenger and cargo space may only be adequate, if that.