AUDIA3 Sedan 2013 - 2016

　　Audi introduced the third generation of the A3 in 2012, and in the following year, it surprised its customers with a sedan and a convertible version of this upscale compact segment.

　　The German automaker built the entire A3 lineup on the same MQB platform used by most brands of the Volkswagen group. As a result, the development and manufacturing costs were low, but since the Audi was a premium brand, it could put a higher price tag on its vehicles, increasing its profit. At the same time, its main rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, tried to catch up and offered the 1 Series and the A-Class, respectively, but those were available only as hatchbacks. So, the four-ring brand was gaining again thanks to the sedan version.

　　Audi pushed up the styling department to improve the car’s premium aspect, which it did. As a result, the A3 Sedan featured a pair of headlights adorned by LED daytime running lights inside them, similar to those installed on the A4. Between them, the broad single-frame grille imagined by the manufacturer was a signature design element for the entire brand. Depending on the version, the lower side of the bumper was fitted with side scoops and a lower lip spoiler placed underneath the bumper. From its profile, the car was similar to the A3 Sportback (the five-door version) and featured sculptured doors and an ascending beltline that continued behind the rear doors, towards the taillights. The greenhouse featured a third pair of windows between the C-pillars and the D-pillars, creating an upscale, limo-inspired look for the vehicle. Finally, at the back, the short deck was slightly sloped down and adorned by a tiny spoiler.

　　The cabin looked premium with its rich equipment available, especially thanks to the pop-up screen for the infotainment system that raised from the dashboard atop the center stack. In front of the driver, Audi installed a compact instrument cluster filled with two large dials for the tachometer and speedometer, and above them were the gauges for the fuel level and coolant temperature. Furthermore, a TFT display that took center stage on the panel showed information from the onboard computer. The front seats were different depending on the grade and engine version and featured mild or high-bolstered areas. In the back, there was hardly enough room for three passengers, although those were fine for three kids. The split-folding 60/40 could expand the trunk space, which, otherwise, was not significantly large.

　　Under the hood, Audi installed a wide choice of diesel and gasoline paired with either six-speed manuals and six or seven-speed automatics. Like most other Audi in the family, the A3 Sedan was available either as a front-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive vehicle.

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