Filed under: Car Buying, Hatchbacks, Audi
2009 Audi A3: Tweaked and priced
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Audi A3
Audi gave up the details on the European-spec A3 earlier this year, but it took until today for it to disclose what changes will carry over to the U.S. model when the 2009 A3 goes on sale later this month.
A cursory inspection of the exterior and specs doesn't reveal much, but dig a little deeper and the revisions become obvious. The fascia has been tweaked with a few cues from the recently revamped A4, including new LED daytime running lamps, and redesigned rollers fill the wheel wells, hiding Audi's optional Magnetic Ride suspension system.
The five-door's powertrain choices remain, with either a 2.0-liter turbocharged four or a 3.2-liter V6, and all-wheel-drive is finally available as an option on the 2.0T model. Previously, Audi's hill-start assist was only available with the S-tronic dual-clutch transmission, but it's now standard on models fitted with the six-speed manual.
Pricing has been set at $26,920 for the front-wheel-drive, six-speed manual model equipped with the 2.0T, while the top of the line 3.2-liter Quattro variant comes in at $36,975.
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
zamafir 5:05PM (9/05/2008)
pity they didn't tweak the chassis, or the interior, erm... engines... wow. yawn. current a3 sales trends should continue with the 09.
Reply
Sandeep 5:09PM (9/05/2008)
I really want to like this car, but it's a bit pricey compared to some of its competition. A TSX maxes out at 32k and is actually a bigger (which some equate with nicer) car, while a G35 lightly equipped (which by no means is skimpy) can be had for as little as 33k. Even a C300 can be had for those prices.
Sorry, Audi, but this there's just too little to differentiate this and a GTI, especially considering the premium price over the competition.
Reply
zamafir 5:22PM (9/05/2008)
Why wouldn't someone looking at the TSX, C class and G37 not be considering the B8 A4 instead of the A3? I dunno, maybe i'm odd, wanting to compare like cars to each other, esp when a car maker has a brand new chassis/interior/etc to test out. Maybe most people compare an expensive hatch of one brand, utterly ignore the brand new, faster, larger, more fuel efficient than the previous mode sedan, and then compare sedans of other car makers... seems... pretty odd.
DKB_SATX 5:27PM (9/05/2008)
When a TSX or G37 wagon or hatchback is available in the US, I'd cross-shop them against the A3 and the A4 Avant. Until then, they're too different. If I wanted a sedan, the TSX would be good competition for an A4 FWD, but for people who want hatch/wagon profiles, the cars you listed just aren't competitive with the A3.
richard 5:21PM (9/05/2008)
Too bad they didn't put the new 2.0T engine from the 2009 A4 with the 258 lb ft of torque in there.
Reply
judd 5:57PM (9/05/2008)
You're about $599.00 away from that kind of power.
Swede 5:22PM (9/05/2008)
The three door looks like an entirely different car. The five looks good, the three does not.
Reply
Paul M. Watson 5:51PM (9/05/2008)
Hard to understand the appeal of this car. Better, cheaper, nicer looking cars out there. My girlfriend wants one... I just don't get it.
Reply
blotto 7:00PM (9/05/2008)
It's a chick mobile. I see more women driving the A3 than men.
Dan Isaacs 11:34PM (9/06/2008)
Well, she wanted you. So if its her taste you're questioning, perhaps you're right. :P
.josh. 6:15PM (9/05/2008)
Did everyone miss the most importnat thing
2.0T now available with Quattro! Now we are talking, plus it (finally) gives the A3 something the GTI doesn't have. Once the AWD hits the showroom, a test drive to see how it compares with the R32 is a must.
Reply
Sam 6:22PM (9/05/2008)
Completely agreed. You beat me to it.
zamafir 6:29PM (9/05/2008)
Nah, I don't think anyone missed it, Audi told us we'd be getting it half a year ago. 0-60 is going to be .7 seconds slower on paper, exhaust is going to sound much weaker, weighs 250lbs less (which helps given it's down on power). and costs $7,000 more MSRP (discounting the current going rate of the R32 $3,000 below MSRP) - when equipped with the features which come standard on the R32.
Basically, if you're looking for something that's a lot more expensive, slower, less enjoyable, BUT gets better fuel economy, it'll be worth shopping.
PJ 7:05PM (9/05/2008)
Yeah, but is it true that the 2.0T Quattro is available exclusively with S tronic? If so, the significance of that model pretty much fizzles at the transmission.
I'm surprised the interior updates didn't go further, considering that the A3's isn't looking terribly special for a $27K-$35K car anymore.
At US launch, the 2.0T FWD 6MT represented an unusually classy, well-rounded package for sport-compact fans. These days, though, there's some awfully well-resolved sport compacts with real edge available for much less cash.
wasabisuicide 8:22PM (9/05/2008)
i don't think this is the same quattro drive in the other audi models. this is i believe a rudimentary haldex system.
Sam 6:19PM (9/05/2008)
Finally! I've been waiting for the 2.0T to be offered with AWD. There's not much point in buying the 2.0T and tuning it if all you have is FWD. But 330hp in an AWD car wouldn't be half bad.
Audis ARE spendy, no doubt about it. But you get a lot of car for the money.
Also, I think Zamafir is correct--I think the TSX, G37, et al would be more more aptly compared to the A4 rather than the A3.
Reply
Fritz 6:33PM (9/05/2008)
Yay, quattro 2.0T! Automatic only... Audi used to was friendly toward the aftermarket, it seems that's going away. The easily tune-able models are almost all S-tronic exclusively now, or worse. Front wheel drive.
Reply
Justin 8:20PM (9/05/2008)
Automatic? I wouldn't call Audi's double-clutch DSG with paddle shifters an auto transmission. First off, there's no torque converter. Also, the car is faster with the DSG than with anyone but Andretti driving the 6MT--and maybe not even then. Upshifts are incredibly fast, there's real (double-clutched) downshift rev-matching, and I've driven one and I want one! And this is coming from a someone who's owned only sticks in the past.
FSM 7:54PM (9/05/2008)
I really want to like the A3, but I don't think its interior quality is much better than the GTI. Obviously the exterior is more classic and less boy racer than the GTI, but I find the A3 to have less space for passengers and for cargo. The last failing of the A3 is the inability to get a cloth interior A3 with various other options. If you choose cloth then you are forced to go with a barebones car. The moment you try to add ANY option, it forces you to upgrade by a couple thousand dollars to get leather seats. Try it at their configurator, and you will see.
Reply
IowaSuby 9:05PM (9/05/2008)
I have an A3 and I'll agree with you that there's not a lot of room for cargo. However, it works 98% of the time. We fit luggage for a family of 4 in ours with no problems.
I thought the interior of the A3 was much nicer than the GTI, we cross shopped both.
I agree this car is more favored by women, this is my wife's daily driver, she liked the ride, quality, mpg and it's way easy to park. 2 other women where she work also bought this car after seeing her's. I think the GTI would be heavily favored by males.
Like all luxury cars, why buy new? Most people buy these then get rid of them right away. I picked up a 1 year old 2006 A3, sticker price was $35k, I paid $26k 1 year later. Luxury cars do not hold their value. If you like the A3 but not the price, look for a used one, there are great deals to be had.
30k miles on ours, no reliablity problems, 1 latch broke on our sunscreen thing. 210HP with 32mpg is a great combo IMO.