Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

2015 Audi A3 and S3 sedans are small on size, big on tech

Stephen Edelstein
By
2015 Audi S3 reveal front three quarter
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Audi thinks small is the next big thing.

The German carmaker says its 2015 A3 and S3 sedans may be small in size, but they still feature the same luxury and technological amenities of the larger four-ringed rides. Audi unveiled the pair at a special event prior to the New York Auto Show.

Recommended Videos

Looking at the A3, it’s easy to see what Audi is getting at. At 175.5 inches in length, it’s about 10 inches shorter than an A4, and 6.6 inches longer than the current A3.

Related

However, the A3 looks like a shrunken A4, with the same elegant, tightly creased lines, shield grille, and LED lights as the larger models. Fans of current Audis will love it.

On the inside, Audi packed the 2015 A3 with tech, including a Bang & Olufsen sound system, 4G LTE connectivity, Nvidia Graphics Processing Unit, and the latest version of Audi’s MMI infotainment system.

To make MMI more intuitive, Audi added a touch-sensitive button at the top of the rotary knob controller that allows drivers to quickly select what they want. The display is a 7-inch screen that electrically motors out of the top of the center stack.

Google will also help A3 and S3 drivers get where they’re going with Google Earth 3D satellite imagery, POI search, and voice controlled Local Search.

2015 Audi S3 reveal rear three quarterAudi didn’t skimp on interior materials either. The seats are trimmed in leather and there are plenty of high quality-feeling plastics. The sporty S3 also had some very nice bucket seats.

However, not everyone will find Audi’s small sedan a nice place to be. The price of that attractive styling is a cramped interior. Anyone six feet tall or over will have trouble getting comfortable in the back, proving that while the A3 is a luxury car, it’s still a small one.

At least Audi’s line of turbocharged engines will have less mass to haul around. The A3 will launch with a 1.8-liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 170 horsepower, and a 2.0-liter version with an unspecified amount of addtional power.

After the base A3’s launch, a TDI diesel with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four will arrive, along with the S3, which will get a high-output version of the 2.0-liter gasoline engine. All engines will come with Audi’s S-tronic six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

2015 Audi S3 reveal interiorAudi will also bring back the A3 Sportback (hatchback) as a plug-in hybrid. It could be based on the A3 e-tron concept shown at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The A3 e-tron had a 1.4-liter gasoline engine and a 75-kilowatt electric motor that was integrated into the transmission. Total system output was 204 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque, and Audi said it would return 156 mpg on the European cycle.

The A3 will go on sale in the United States next year, with the S3 and A3 Sportback plug-in to follow.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
The 6 best car phone holders in 2024
Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger with an iPhone 14 Pro.

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Installing a car phone mount in your vehicle is the best way to make sure that you have easy access to your smartphone when behind the wheel. While you shouldn't be using your phone while driving, having it mounted on your windshield, dashboard, vent, or anywhere else will let you take a quick glance when you're using a navigation app, or to change your playlist when you stop for a traffic light, for example. Instead of having to pick up your device, it will be easier and faster to get these done while it's on a car phone mount for less time of having your eyes off the road.

Read more
Should you buy a used EV? Maybe, but it’s complicated
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD rear end side profile from driver's side with trees and a metal fence in the back.

Electric cars are slowly but surely getting cheaper. Over the past year or so, Ford and Tesla have been discounting their most popular electric cars while other brands, like Rivian, are laying the groundwork for all-new cheaper models.

But you'd still be hard-pressed to call electric cars cheap, and buying a completely new car in the first place is a hurdle in and of itself for many potential buyers. According to Statista, used car sales represented around 74% of all car sales in 2022, and while this figure is likely to change as electric cars get cheaper, the fact remains that most car buyers would prefer to save cash and buy used rather than buy something new.
Buying a new car ain't what it used to be
Buying a car with an electric powertrain doesn't necessarily need to be all that different from buying an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. But there's a little more to it than that.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Will the R2 be a better buy?
Side of the Rivian R2

The Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it could end up being the go-to EV for drivers who want a decently affordable electric car with a rugged look and feel. But when it finally launches to the public, it won't be the only option in its price range -- the Ford Mustang Mach-E could be one of its main competitors.

The Mustang Mach-E may not be quite as rugged-feeling as the Rivian R2, but it does have a lot going for it -- like an increasingly low price, sleek design, and comfortable interior. Is one of these EVs better than the other? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to note about the two cars is their design, as they’re pretty different. The Rivian R2 is built to be a little more rugged and outdoorsy, while the Mach-E instead has a sleeker and sportier look to it. Both cars look stylish and modern.

Read more