How Does The All-New Audi A3 Sportback Compare To Its Predecessor?

The day had to come when the Audi A3 was no longer a more visually conservative alternative to the likes of the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1-Series. Now, it’s arguably the sportiest-looking of the German compact gang.

Compared to its predecessor, the all-new 2021 A3 Sportback appears totally unapologetic, which is to be expected when certain design cues unapologetically borrow Lamborghini styling language DNA, both inside and out.

For better or worse, this what a modern-day Audi looks like, almost as if it’s rebelling against all those “quiet” designs of the past. Of course, getting the spec right is as important as anything else, and the car in these press release images is obviously well equipped.

When the third-generation Audi A3 was unveiled back in 2012, it was mostly regarded as an evolution of the facelifted second-gen car, with the Ingolstadt brand playing it safe by not resorting to a fundamentally different design. Yet, one thing remained constant; the A3 kept growing so as to keep up with all the spacious C-segment offerings of the era.

According to Audi, the all-new model has similar proportions to the older one – not that its size wasn’t already emphasized by all the flared and undulating body panels. Everything is more “muscular” and convoluted, from the hood to the beltline, to the fenders. And yes, trunk volume is nearly identical at 380 – 1,200 liters (13.4 – 42.4 cu-ft).

The headlights are kind of a continuation of the old ones in terms of shape, but are larger, sharper and feature newer Matrix LED technology. As for the new honeycomb grille, it’s wider and positioned lower than before. Otherwise, the side mirrors are still placed on the shoulder, while the window line has been shortened to allow for thicker C-pillars and a sloping roof.

At the rear, the new taillights remind us of a horizontal teardrop, sort of like the ones on the A4 Avant or the Q3 Sportback. Would the A3 have looked better with smaller, A1-like taillights? It’s certainly an argument worth having.

Yeah, but that interior though…

You got us here. The old A3 had a really high-quality cabin with surprisingly minimal aesthetics. The latter philosophy is gone now, thanks to the new car’s Lamborghini Urus-like vent design, to go with the new steering wheel, dashboard-mounted infotainment display, available head-up display and angular door panel design.

It just screams futuristic, and given how modern the inside of a Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1-Series are nowadays, Audi couldn’t have afforded anything less.

We do spot one possible issue though. Since the 2020 Geneva motor show was cancelled and we couldn’t get anybody on location to literally touch the materials, we suddenly find ourselves a bit weary of all that cheap-looking plastic between the base of the center console and the armrest (where the electronic parking brake is) – but maybe it’s just the pictures. On the old A3, that specific region was comprised of arguably the most expensive-feeling plastic ever used on a C-segment car. Besides, it had to, since the rotary dial for the infotainment system extended all the way back there.

In any case, we still feel the new A3 is going to win over most people once they set foot inside.

Which version should I get?

Audi is launching the new A3 with three engine choices in Europe. There’s a 1.5-liter TFSI gasoline unit with 150 PS (148 HP), plus a 2.0-liter TDI diesel with either 116 PS (116 HP) or 150 PS (148 HP). Aside from the six-speed manual, you can also spec the car with a seven speed automatic, as well as Quattro all-wheel drive.

However, the spec to have might be whichever 150 PS version you can land, since that’s the only way you’ll also get the four-link rear axle suspension. There’s also available adaptive damping, as well as a sport suspension which you can get as standard on the S Line model – shaving 15 mm (0.6 inches) off your ground clearance.

Order books are set to open this month, with the first European deliveries kicking off in May. However, buying a version that’ll look anything like the one in the press release will mean spending considerably more than the €28,900 ($32,087) base price.

As for the 2021 Audi A3 Sedan, which is the one to come to America, it should be unveiled in the coming months as a direct rival to the four door saloon version of the Mercedes A-Class, while also being a competitor to the sportier looking CLA and BMW’s 2-Series Gran Coupe.