Audi Reveals the 2017 A3’s New, Thriftier Base Engine

2017 Audi A3 FWD (Credit: © Audi)

Back in August, Audi unveiled its refreshed 2017 A3 and S3, and a pair of new engines. Oddly, the German automaker wasn’t quite ready to unveil the base version of the A3, leaving us to wait until late October to learn what the base-level A3 would deliver. Now’s the time the wait ends.

For 2017, Audi will scrap the old 1.8-liter turbocharged engine that sat under the hood of the previous A3. In will come a new 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine that produces 186 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque – increases of 16 horsepower and 21 pound-feet over the old 1.8-liter. This engine will pair with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to ship power exclusively to the front wheels.

The added power results in a significantly quicker 0-to-60 sprint of 6.6 seconds – 0.6 seconds quicker than the 2016 A3 1.8T.

Thanks to this engine’s refinements, which include a shorter combustion time, longer expansion phases, and an increased compression ratio of 11.7-to-1, fuel economy also improves to 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. These are improvements of 3 mpg city, 2 mpg highway, and 2 mpg combined.

As is the norm for Audi models, there is no shortage of premium features, even in this base model. The standard features include leather seating, a panoramic sunroof (sedan only), dual-zone climate control, Xenon Plus headlights, and LED daytime running lights and taillights.

The 2017 Audi A3 FWD (sedan and cabriolet) hit showrooms in the fall of 2016. The sedan will start from $31,200, then rise to $34,450 for the Premium Plus trim, and $40,150 for the Prestige model. The cabriolet will base at $37,600, then jump to $40,850 for the Premium Plus, and $46,550 for the Prestige trim.