Is the 2022 Audi A3 a Good Car? 4 Pros and 4 Cons
The Audi A3 compact luxury sedan and its more performance focused S3 variant were redesigned for 2022 after sitting out the 2021 model year. While the return of a sporty and upscale sedan is always welcome, we’re mixed about Audi’s redesign efforts — the new A3 and S3 have some potentially deal breaking flaws.
However, there’s still a lot to like about Audi’s smallest sedan — chiefly that it’s enjoyable to drive, especially in the sportier S3 trim with the 100-horsepower boost that comes with it. A redesigned RS 3 is also coming soon with even more performance, but it was not yet available in time for our test.
The A3 and S3 also offer balanced handling, plenty of standard features and style. But in a competitive marketplace that embraces SUVs over sedans, the A3 and S3 have their work cut out for them. And aside from competing against compact luxury sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the Audis also face pressure from more mainstream compact sedans, some of which offer an enjoyable driving experience and upscale interiors for considerably less cash than the $35,000 to $50,000 required to get behind the wheel of an A3 or S3.
Here are four things we like about the 2022 Audi A3 and S3, plus four things we don’t:
Things We Like
1. Handling
Both of our test Audis were equipped with upgraded sport suspensions that offered sharp handling with plenty of grip, good steering feedback and minimal body lean in turns. All-wheel drive helps with a neutral feel in corners, sending enough power to the rear wheels to minimize understeer. The S3 had the sharper handling of the two thanks to its firmer adaptive suspension, larger wheels and tires, and quicker steering ratio.
2. Standard Features Aplenty
A base A3 with front-wheel drive starts at $34,945 (including destination charges), and that price includes heated leather seats with eight-way power adjustments, tri-zone climate control, a moonroof, lane departure warning with steering assist, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and more; AWD adds another $2,000 to the A3 and is standard with the S3.
3. User-Friendly Tech
The A3 and S3 both come with a single 10.1-inch touchscreen that’s relatively easy to use and a welcome alternative to the multiple touchscreens found in some pricier Audis. You’ll also find physical buttons for many controls, with the notable exception of some stereo controls and the dreaded slider for controlling volume. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are part of the package along with a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster.
4. Quick Off the Line
Powered by a 201-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the A3 is quick to respond from a standstill, with plenty of grunt at lower speeds. Some of that eagerness is lost, however, once the A3 gets up to cruising speed. The S3 also uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but it’s a whole different experience with 306 hp on tap. Acceleration is quicker, as one might expect, but things really liven up past 5,000 rpm, where power comes on in a big way.
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Things We Don’t Like
1. Shifting Focus
Both Audis use a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission that does little to enhance the driving experience. Quick to upshift, the A3 in particular requires what seems like an inordinate amount of time to downshift when underway. During testing, the A3 took a full two seconds to downshift when the throttle was punched at 50 mph. The problem was not as bad with the S3, which responded with a more typical kickdown time when the throttle was punched.
2. Stiff Ride
With its optional sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch wheels and tires, the A3 delivers a firm but not overly painful ride, with some harsh impacts at speed; admittedly, the standard suspension would probably be a better choice for comfort. The S3 with the sport suspension and 19-inch wheels stiffens things up further, to the point where road irregularities can be disruptive at speed.
3. Low-Rent Interior
Audi has long been associated with comfortable and upscale interiors, even when compared to other luxury brands. That makes the cabins of the A3 and S3 that much more of a disappointment: Both of our test cars were saddled with cheap-looking grainy plastics on the doors and console, plus soft-touch panels that barely can be described as such. And as much as cost-cutting is evident in the front, it’s even worse for backseat passengers.
4. Limited Room
Luxury or otherwise, compact sedans are not known for especially roomy interiors or lots of trunk space, but the A3 and S3 fall short even against competitors. Front seats offer decent legroom, but narrow cushions result in knees rubbing up against the doors and console. In the back, a low seat cushion means passengers ride in a knees-up position with no gain in headroom. And by Cars.com’s measurements, there’s just 12.82 cubic feet of trunk space, so the Audis fall short of others in the category.
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