2015 Audi A3 Sedan Preview: New York Auto Show

Audi is on a quest to become the largest luxury car automaker on the planet. To do this, it needs to fill every niche and segment possible. Not with junk though, but with solid products designed to appeal to a wide swath of the car buying public. That’s why the German automaker is bringing its all-new 2015 Audi A3 sedan to the American market in the first quarter of 2014.

What’s New for the 2015 Audi A3 Sedan:

• Everything.
• The A3 hatch grows a sedan stablemate.
• A wide variety of powertrains.

New 2015 Audi A3 Sedan: Styling and Design

Audi has reworked the exterior of the A3 so that it falls in line with the rest of the refreshed family. The lines are tighter, the head and taillamps are more brilliant, and the shape is sharper. Additionally, the exterior dimensions are almost the same as the A4 sedan that launched in 1994. My how cars have grown…

Inside, the standard array of Audi tech is in place and the entire aesthetic is one of minimalist luxury. The materials are upscale without being in your face. The seats are both supportive and comfortable. It’s a similar design style to that of the exterior, just translated into a cabin space that works and looks good at the same time.

New 2015 Audi A3 Sedan: What’s Under the Hood

Choices! That’s what you have under the hood. Audi offers up a choice between four powertrains for the A3 sedan. The base unit is a 170-horsepower 1.8-liter TFSI motor, and a 150-horsepower 2.0-liter TDI clean diesel sits just above it. Audi has stated that two versions of a gasoline-drinking 2.0-liter TFSI engine will be offered, one a low-output version for the standard A3 and the other a high-output S3 variant.

Each engine is paired with the six-speed S tronic gearbox.

New 2015 Audi A3 Sedan: Features and Technology

Audi knows that the A3 sedan will be cross-shopped against some serious in-segment competition. To that end, the automaker is filling the four door with great standard kit. Items such as Bluetooth connectivity, rain-sensing wipers, and leather upholstery are all included in the base price tag.

On top of the standard items, Audi will offer plenty of great optional extras. Items such as 4G LTE connectivity and a Bang & Olufsen audio system are available. Not only that, but Audi will offer a unit called the Audi phone box, which is located under the armrest and boosts a phone’s cellular coverage thanks to a special antenna in the rear windshield.

The 2015 Audi A3 sedan should prove to be a tech-lover’s dream machine.

New 2015 Audi A3 Sedan: What Autobytel Thinks

It’s a bit sad to think that a new compact sedan is the same size as an automaker’s former mid-size unit. Still, the A3 sedan looks fantastic and offers a wide range of great powertrains to choose from. Not only that but the level of technological features available are sure to fill the cabin with an upscale feeling. Car shoppers take note, this car could soon be on your short list, and it will help Audi further on in its quest for world luxury car domination.