2017 Audi A3

Premium compact sedans were unheard of when Audi India brought along the A3 in mid-2014. Sharing market space with a few luxury hatchbacks at the time, the A3 ticked most of the right boxes for first-time premium car buyers and came with a good mix of luxury and performance. Fast-forward three years and this segment has expanded somewhat, allowing Audi India to burst on to the scene again with the updated 2017 A3.

With the facelifted Mercedes-Benz CLA out now (click here to read our review) and the 2017 Audi A3 just arriving, things are heating up in the entry-level premium sedan segment. Like the updated CLA, this new A3 is less about ground-breaking changes and more about subtle but noteworthy improvements. As a result, the 2017 A3 has received a few cosmetic changes, but the new look is just the beginning for this much-needed update.

The world of cars seems to have come full circle. Not in terms of sales or the options available, but every single car that has grown over the decades to a size above now needs another model below it that is of the original size of that car. Premium manufacturers are also discovering a market in a size and price bracket below their traditional customers – this works out well for them, as these products are projected as an additional fuel-efficient model for the family in developed markets, and an easier step up to luxury in developing markets. Enter the Audi A3, which will be the easiest access to a premium luxury sedan when it launches.