In Korea's imported car market, the tilt toward large sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is deepening, but demand for compact sedans remains solid. According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), 129,674 imported cars with engines under 2,000cc were sold last year, accounting for 42.2% of the total. The not-too-small, not-too-large compact body is well suited for zipping through crowded city centers, making it a choice for 20- and 30-something newcomers to the workforce and urban commuters.
We recently test-drove Audi's compact sedan, the 2026 "The New Audi A3," around the greater Seoul area. After its launch in 1996, it was sold only as a hatchback for a time, and a sedan body style was added starting with the third generation in 2013. The current A3 is the fully redesigned fourth generation for 2024. The car comes in three trims — ▲ 40 TFSI ▲ 40 TFSI Premium ▲ 40 TFSI quattro Premium — and we drove the 40 TFSI quattro Premium.
The exterior is compact and tidy, as befits a compact sedan. At 4,505 millimeters long, 1,815 millimeters wide, and 1,430 millimeters high, it is about 300 millimeters shorter than the mid-size sedan "The New Audi A5," which sits one segment above.
It looks small but sharp. Audi's characteristic honeycomb grille has been changed to a new "modern design." Flanking it are sharply opened light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps. It is also fun that you can choose one of three headlamp patterns. The air intakes at both ends of the bumper open boldly.
Seen from the side, the shoulder line runs from the headlamps to the taillamps, aiming for a more dynamic yet elegant impression. The laser-engraved model name and engine type on the B-pillar, the pillar between the first and second rows, signal that this vehicle is a premium sedan.
The rear bumper, inspired by the high-performance RS models, gives a sportier feel. The mufflers are not exposed, pursuing a more futuristic rear look.
Sitting in the driver's seat, the interior design was clean and uncluttered. They say the interior materials have been upgraded from before, but it seemed hard to see it as a premium vehicle.
The digital displays for the instrument cluster and the center fascia (the area with climate controls between the driver and passenger seats) are a suitable size, making information easy to find intuitively. The climate control system uses physical buttons, which made operation convenient. The second-row space, as expected for a compact sedan, cannot be called generous, but it seemed sufficient for younger elementary school children.
Once we set off, it was clear the car has strong power. You can feel the engine note with just a slight press of the accelerator. In particular, it seemed more inclined to dart forward quickly than to move gently.
At high speeds, too, it delivers an immediate sense of speed in line with accelerator input. The New Audi A3, in both the base and Premium trims, is equipped with an inline four-cylinder gasoline direct-injection turbocharged (TFSI) engine and a seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission.
Maximum output is 204 horsepower, peak torque — which governs instantaneous acceleration — is 32.6 kilogram-meters, and top speed is 210 kilometers per hour. Compared with the Mercedes-Benz A-Class in the same segment, maximum output and torque are higher by 14 horsepower and 2 kilogram-meters, respectively. The time to reach 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill is 6.7 seconds for the base and Premium trims, and 6.5 seconds for the quattro Premium.
The fact that the quattro Premium features the permanent all-wheel-drive system "quattro" also maximizes driving performance. Because engine power is delivered to all four wheels, even when taking curves at high speed, it felt like the vehicle advanced stably without wobble, exactly matching the steering angle. Even at high speeds, despite the small body, it felt planted to the road without any sense of "taking off," thanks largely to the all-wheel-drive system.
However, because of this system, the curb weight (1,530 kilograms) is 90 kilograms heavier than the base trim, which is a minus for fuel economy. The 40 TFSI quattro Premium returns 9.7 kilometers per liter in the city and 14.1 kilometers per liter on the highway, with a combined average of 11.3 kilometers per liter.
Compared with the Hyundai Motor Avante and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class in the same segment, its combined fuel economy is 1 to 3 kilometers less per liter. The way it relays every undulation of the road maximizes driving enjoyment, but in city driving it can somewhat increase fatigue.
Safety and convenience features are at an adequate level. Even at a standstill, rear radar sensors detect vehicles in blind spots, fast-approaching vehicles, and bicycles. In dangerous situations, a disembarkation warning system is engaged, flashing LEDs on the side mirrors and doors and temporarily preventing the door from opening.
Unlike other cars where a small icon on the mirror surface of the side mirror blinks when a vehicle approaches while driving, a large alert on the outer part of the side mirror also helps put the driver at ease.
The New Audi A3's prices, including the reduced special consumption tax and value-added tax, are ▲ 40 TFSI 43.53 million won ▲ 40 TFSI Premium 47.46 million won ▲ 40 TFSI quattro Premium 50.40 million won.