Audi launches facelifted A3

The facelifted A3 sedan is priced from Rs 30.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the 1.4-litre petrol model, while the 2.0-litre diesel variant will set you back by Rs 32.3 lakh.

Just like the recently updated Cabriolet, the A3 gets refreshed styling in line with the larger A4. It gets new LED daytime running lamps, a more pronounced grille, reprofiled tail-lamps and restyled bumpers. The car continues to come equipped with a fair bit of kit. There are LED headlamps, two-zone climate control, a 7.0-inch screen for the MMI infotainment system, electronically adjustable front seats, a sunroof, a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, a wireless phone charging pad in the front armrest and seven airbags. The A3 misses out on Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster though.

The refreshed A3 continues to use the same petrol engine as the A3 Cabriolet, with the older 1.8-litre unit replaced by the 150hp, 1.4-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol motor. This engine comes with cylinder-on-demand technology – it allows the engine to run on only two cylinders for better fuel economy, depending on the driving condition. The old model’s 143hp, 2.0-litre diesel engine will remain unchanged. The facelifted Audi A3 will go up against Mercedes’ CLA.