After just two years on the Canadian market, Audi’s popular compact luxury sedan, the A3, has undergone a facelift.
Emerging this fall, the 2017 A3 is marked by a handful of exterior tweaks that signal the sophomore sedan’s impending graduation from purely entry-level ranks. The best changes, though, are more than skin deep.
And they can be summed up in just one word: technology.
The A3’s German engineers have stuffed the compact model full of the brand’s most boast-worthy gadgets, most of which have traditionally only been available to customers who spring for Audi’s full-sized (read: highest-priced) models – think R8 sports coupe, TT roadster and Q7 sport utility.
Chief among these is Audi’s virtual cockpit, a high-resolution LCD screen that takes the place of traditional mechanical dials behind the steering wheel (the speedometer, tachometer, gas gauge etc.) Controlled by a steering wheel button, the virtual cockpit offers two “views,” one that shows the speedometer and tachometer in traditional analog form; the second reduces both to small clocks on the 12.3-inch screen to make room for a navigation map, phone, media, traffic, fuel data and outside temperature. The interface is sleek but not gaudy and wins points for putting a load of information directly before the driver, eliminating the need to look rightward at the pop-up screen housed at the centre of the dash (although this screen, controlled by a dial on the console, works nicely in tandem with the virtual cockpit when a larger map is needed on unfamiliar roads).
The addition of this technology is in step with Audi’s mission to create efficiencies and simplicity for the driver at every turn. But the abundance of information the virtual cockpit shows, combined with its dynamic, video game look, has drawn the ire of some critics who argue features such as this add to distractions for drivers.
To minimize the potential danger here, those who opt for the virtual cockpit (it’s not standard on base models) would do well to spend time off the road learning how to properly use it. Many of us whiz through orientation sessions upon picking up a new vehicle but have forgotten how to use even simple hands-free cellphone technology by the time we hit our driveways; to get the most out of newfangled features such as this, drivers cannot just hop in the car and hope for the best. To do so would be to waste your money – and risk your life and the lives of others.
Two more new driver assistance features have been borrowed from other models and added to the A3. Traffic-jam assist works with the adaptive cruise control in sluggish traffic to keep the car at a safe distance from others, releasing the driver from having to move on and off the brakes; the car will even take control of the steering wheel on well-paved roads below 65 kilometres an hour. Cross-traffic rear-assist warns the driver backing out of a perpendicular parking space of oncoming vehicles or pedestrians.
Also redesigned is the multimedia interface, which is intuitive and easy to use if you’re familiar with smartphone technology. Our test vehicles all ran Apple CarPlay without a hitch, allowing seamless integration of an iPhone. Each new A3 will come with an integrated SIM card, giving drivers the option of transforming the car into a WiFi hot spot. The phone box beneath the centre arm rest is a nice touch – it not only wirelessly connects the cellphone to the car, but allows for inductive charging (no cords!).
Luxuries abound in this not-so-little compact – as long as you’re ready to pay for them.
You’ll like this car if ... You want the convenience of a four-door car, the sportiness of a coupe and the best in luxury tech options without hauling around the square footage of an upsized sedan.
TECH SPECS
Base price: TBA (2016 A3 starts at $31,600)
Engine: 2.0-litre TFSI four-cylinder
Transmission/Drive: Seven-speed automatic S tronic/front-wheel; six-speed S tronic all-wheel
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): TBD
Alternatives: Mercedes Benz CLA, BMW 2 Series, Acura ILX, Lexus CT 200h, Lincoln MKZ, Cadillac ATS
RATINGS
Looks: Where the first-generation A3 sedan lacked attitude and expressiveness, the overhauled iteration has a sharpened, more confident look because of sportier trim lines, a wider grille and flatter headlights in the front. Rear taillights have been retooled.
Interior: Not much changes inside; the smartphone interface has been upgraded to look like an extension of your smartphone (hooray!). An auxiliary USB port has been added; rear-view camera is an available option.
Performance: There is a new 186-horsepower engine under the hood. In a world where we always want more, safe to say there’s enough power for a quality ride worth of the four rings badge.
Technology: The key word here is available. While virtual cockpit and a slew of Audi’s best driver assist features are available on the A3, they don’t come free. Most don’t even come in the base models, meaning you’ll be in the $40,000-plus range once you start adding options.
Cargo: This compact could seat five adults, but four would be more comfortable; the back seat could easily handle two car seats. The trunk is generous and can stow golf clubs plus luggage.
THE VERDICT
8.5
This is a great compact that can be customized for entry-level luxury buyers watching their wallet or for veteran drivers who want a luxury experience – and are happy to pay for it – without buying a whale of a sedan.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.
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