INSTRUMENTED TEST
posed and compliant suspension keeps body motions in check without causing undo discomfort.
However, the A3 Quattro lets in more wind noise then we’d expect of a car wearing the Audi badge. Other foibles included a cramped rear seat and a smallish 10-cubic-foot trunk. Still, the folding rear bench seat’s limited space is par for the class, and the trunk at least offers a large and wide opening.
C.R.E.A.M.
Along with a set of 10-spoke 18-inch wheels, our top-spec Prestige model also wore a set of LED headlights and an S line exterior package that gave it an S3-like front and rear appearance. Those looking to keep a lower profile may opt for the Premium version that comes with 17-inch wheels and tires, HID headlights, and tamer bodywork. (The mid-level A3 Quattro Premium Plus shares the Prestige’s wheels and body kit.)
Regardless of trim, every A3 boasts a cozy cabin that combines quality materials with impeccable fit and finish. Standard convenience features on Quattro models include leather seats, a power driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and Audi’s MMI infotainment system that uses a central control knob to interact with a 7.0-inch multimedia screen that’s able to tuck itself into the dashboard at the push of a button.
Stepping up to the Premium Plus allows one to order Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster, a navigation system, and blind-spot monitoring. We’d recommend springing for the top-of-the-line Prestige, though, which comes standard with all three of those extras, as well as trim-exclusive items such as adaptive cruise control, lanekeeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights.
With a starting price of $44,100, the Prestige commands an $8950 premium over the base A3 Quattro. Our test car’s as-tested price of $43,900 incorporated a $200 credit applied to early-build 2017 cars that lacked the automatic high-beams feature. Also missing from our car were any of the Prestige’s three available options: a $250 sport suspension, $350 in rear side airbags, and the $650 Sport package, which adds a flatbottom steering wheel with paddle shifters, seats with additional bolstering, and Audi’s Drive Select that offers selectable driving modes that alter characteristics such as steering weight and throttle response.
ALL THE SMALL THINGS
Whereas the A3 Quattro’s compact luxury sedan competitors feel built to a price point, Audi’s smallest sedan offers the same attention to detail and sense of quality that is found in the four-ringed brand’s larger and pricier products. Ultimately, the A3’s greatest triumph is that it looks, feels, and drives more like a small Audi than it does an upgraded Volkswagen.