► 2017 Audi A3 Sedan Overview

Key Features Xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights Panoramic sunroof Leather seating surfaces Audi pre sense® basic Audi pre sense® front S line® exterior appearance and fender badges Audi advanced key — keyless start, stop and entry1 Heated front seats Audi smartphone interface including Apple CarPlay™ and Google™ Android Auto Parking system plus with rear view camera (front and rear acoustic sensors) Full LED headlights and LED taillights with dynamic turn signals Audi virtual cockpit MMI® navigation plus with voice control system2 Audi adaptive cruise control with stop & go Bang & Olufsen® Sound System with 14 speakers and 705 watts

Audi’s entry-level model in the United States, the A3, receives some significant updates for the 2017 model year.

The current-generation A3 still seems like it only arrived yesterday, but the car actually made its debut overseas in 2012 and is now at the midway point in its life cycle—and in Audi tradition that means it’s time for an update.

The changes made to the A3 are significant as they include not only exterior styling tweaks but also new tech features in the cabin.

Some of the powertrains have also been changed. The front-wheel-drive A3 models have ditched their turbocharged 1.8-liter engines in favor of more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engines. Output is 186 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, up 16 hp and 21 lb-ft. The all-wheel-drive A3 models continue with turbocharged 2.0-liter engines delivering 220 hp and 258 lb-ft. Those seeking more oomph can upgrade to the S3 which also features a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine but a more potent 292 hp and 280 lb-ft.

And for the eco-minded, there’s still the A3 e-tron Sportback plug-in hybrid which combines a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with an electric motor to produce a peak 204 hp and 258 lb-ft. The electric-only range of this model as rated by the EPA is 16 miles. While the updated A3 continues to offer diesel powertrains overseas, the fallout of the recent emissions cheating scandal means there’s no diesel here.

All A3s in the U.S., apart from the front-wheel-drive models, miss out on the new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission offered overseas. Instead, most A3s here stick with a 6-speed unit. A 6-speed manual transmission remains the standard option, though.

You’ll be able to spot the updated A3 thanks to new lights at both ends and a more pronounced grille. There are also five new colors to choose from as well as new wheel patterns. The wheel sizes range from 16 to 19 inches in diameter.