Powering the Audi A3 is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder available in several states of tune. 40 TFSI S tronic models come with 184 horsepower, while 45 TFSI S tronic models have a more powerful version of the same engine making 228 horsepower. Power is sent to the front or to all-four wheels via a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. An even higher performance version of the same engine powers the all-wheel drive Audi S3, where it makes 288 horsepower--enough to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The RS3 also comes only in all-wheel drive form and is powered by a 2.5L turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that makes an almost-unbelievable 394 horsepower.
The Audi A3 is available in two trim levels: Premium and S line Premium while the S3 comes in the S line Premium trim only. The Premium trim includes leather seating with heated front seats, a panoramic glass sunroof, Xenon plus automatic headlights, 18-inch wheels, power adjustable side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 12-way power adjustable driver's seat, rearview camera, heated mirrors and washer nozzles, twin USB power/data ports, Bluetooth wireless connectivity and a 10-speaker sound system with a 3-month subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio.
The Premium Plus trim adds full LED headlights with high beam assist, rear cross traffic assist and side assist systems, parking sensors, a Bang & Olufsen sound system with 14 speakers and 705 watts, wireless phone charging and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with an integrated compass.
Option packages on the Premium Plus include a Driver Assistance package with adaptive cruise control, park assist and active lane assist. Also optional is the Navigation Package which gets Audi's virtual cockpit: a 12.3-inch LCD screen replaces the instrument cluster and is able to display navigation data and maps right in front of the driver.
A final edition Package is new for this year and is available on both trim levels. It features a flat-bottom steering wheel with shifter paddles, red leather seats with contrasting stitching and puddle lights.
The RS3 is a special beast of its own. Besides the tremendous engine, the RS3 comes with a unique red-stitched Nappa leather interior as well as 19" 5-arm wheels, full LED headlamps, RS-specific fascias and diffuser and magnetic ride suspension.
Safety features on all the A3 models include anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control and a tire pressure monitoring system. Airbags include advanced driver and passenger front airbags, knee airbags, thorax side airbags as well as side curtain airbags. An anti-theft alarm system comes standard, while Active Lane Assist, Audi Pre-Sense automatic braking and adaptive cruise control are all optional on the A3 Prestige.
