2015 Audi A3 Test Drive and Video Review

Sharp-eyed car buyers might notice something a little different about the 2015 Audi A3, namely, that it’s no longer exclusively a hatchback. The first 2015 A3s available are conservatively styled compact four-door sedans, and the hatchback will join the lineup a little later. The Audi A3 is a compelling car, even when it’s equipped and priced to attract the attention of entry level buyers. That said, even when it’s entry level, it’s not an inexpensive vehicle, considering it has a $31,000 base price. So Autobytel’s Road Test Editor, Chris Wardlaw, test drove a basic version of the 2015 Audi A3 with the 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder. The good news is that although the 170 horsepower is modest for the class, but the Audi A3 makes the most of it, distributing the power solidly across the entire rev range and providing quick throttle response. A six-speed automatic transmission helps deliver city mileage of 23 miles per gallon, and 33 highway. Buying a front-wheel-drive Audi based on its lower price means missing out on the company’s great quattro all-wheel-drive system, but for the 2015 A3, quattro is only available with the higher-end 2-liter four-cylinder model. That is part of the conundrum with the new Audi A3, namely, deciding if the pros and cons balance out for a good value.