Audi A3 Sedan facelift revealed

The Audi A3 range, including the Audi A3 Sedan, has received its mid-life facelift, with sales starting in Germany next month. The front fascia sees the bulk of the changes with redesigned A4-like headlights, a tweaked grille, a new bumper and newly-designed foglight enclosures. Towards the back, the A3 Sedan facelift gets a new bumper and revised taillights. Audi will offer its Matrix LED lighting technology as optional fitment on the A3 Sedan.

Changes inside are very minor. A new three-spoke steering wheel and an updated MMI system with simplified menus are the highlights. Optionally, the Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster can now be specced on the MQB-based compact Audi as well. Engine options previously available on the A3 range continue to be offered, though with minor improvements.
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ilovecar2015 - 4/6/2016 2:12:15 PM

+2 Boost

Better than last year A3 with the new grill from A4. Now what? Still a small, over priced FWD (base) car. A4 is still a better value.

cidflekken - 4/6/2016 4:02:26 PM

+2 Boost

How is the A4 the better value, again? Similar interior space. Similar performance. Better mpg from A3. $7k lower base price for A3. The only real advantage the A4 has is larger cargo area and an available virtual cockpit (which is $3250 extra).

cidflekken - 4/6/2016 6:30:08 PM

+2 Boost

Oops, I stand corrected. The new A3 will have Virtual Cockpit available as well. So, who needs an A4 for more money?

ilovecar2015 - 4/6/2016 11:27:52 PM

+1 Boost

Uh, from wheel base, to length, to height, and overall width, the A4 is all bigger than A3. Then comes the most important: A4 2.0T is at 252HP/273 Torque, A3 is 1.8T at 170HP/200 Torque.

A4 also comes with a few options standard that is not available for A3 at the base price (auto dimming mirror, power passenger seat etc)

It is as clear as day

ilovecar2015 - 4/6/2016 11:32:05 PM

+1 Boost

Also, fuel economy for A3 and A4 are virtually the same:

A3: 23/33/27 combine
A4: 23/32/27 combine

cidflekken - 4/7/2016 12:33:48 AM

+1 Boost

Why don't you compare apples to apples? The A3 2.0T Prestige with quattro starts at $43k. The A4 2.0T Prestige with quattro starts at $48k. The A3 2.0T goes 0-60 in 5.8 secs. The A4 2.0T goes 0-60 in 6.1 secs. Ok, you got me on mpg where the A4 2.0T gets 1 more mpg, 27 vs 28 combined. The A4 is barely larger inside than the A3, which counts for more than the external measurements. Are those differences worth at least a $5k difference? I'm not so sure.

ilovecar2015 - 4/7/2016 9:26:57 AM

+1 Boost

Buddy, I said the A4 is a BETTER VALUE than A3, I've never said they are the same car. You are the one that stated they are "similar". The A4 dimension is bigger than A3's on paper, and it is even more substantial in real world. (Look at X1 and X3, not much difference on paper, big difference in real world)

PUGPROUD - 4/6/2016 2:34:58 PM

-1 Boost

This is the before picture...right? No! Who knew.

MDarringer - 4/6/2016 8:13:15 PM

0 Boost

Exactly! If a vehicle is face lifted, it should be readily apparent that such an update has happened. This simply does not look new. I simply do not see why anyone would choose an Audi over the comparable Mercedes product.

runninglogan1 - 4/6/2016 8:33:18 PM

+1 Boost

Because the Audi is better. That's why.

MDarringer - 4/6/2016 9:55:00 PM

0 Boost

If better you mean lesser performance, lesser reliability, lesser resale value, and lesser styling, you are indeed correct.

runninglogan1 - 4/7/2016 3:27:14 AM

+1 Boost

That's your ridiculous opinion. Not shared by those in the know - including the motoring press. Show me an instance where the lackluster CLA beats the A3 in a comparison. You won't because you can't.

runninglogan1 - 4/7/2016 3:32:17 AM

0 Boost

A year after its introduction, A3 sales are 30% better than the M-B CLA.

llaroo - 4/7/2016 10:23:07 AM

+2 Boost

new A4 is way more advanced in design, engineering as well as a very different quattro platform. the A3 is front wheel biased too vs A4 that throws way more power to rear wheels

both are nice - value is moot