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The 2022 Audi A3 is basically a luxury Volkswagen Jetta. That’s no bad thing. The Jetta is a phenomenal little sedan, and the A3 is just more of the things that make the Jetta so great. However, because the A3 is produced in such high numbers, its trim levels can be a little much to look at. Now, we’ll take a look at what trim levels are the best of the A3 lineup.

That means value, speed, and of course, looks too. There’s an Audi A3 for nearly every budget, and this little sedan has a lot going for it.

Is the base Audi A3 worth buying?

The 2022 Audi A3 in grey on a country road, shot from the 3/4 angle
The new Audi A3 | Audi

We’re going to start with the biggest issue on the A3. Audi means Quattro, and the 2022 Audi A3 makes you pay $2,000 for it. That means that if you want a base Premium trim A3, it’s really $42,245 after the addition of AWD. That said Quattro is one of the best AWD systems in the business, and well worth your money.

However, the standard A3 can feel a little lacking. While interior quality is top-notch at Audi, there are some niceties missing. Information on the 2022 model is scarce, but Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit is an option on the 2021 A3, and we expect the same. That means the Audi A3 Premium Plus is your best bet in terms of value and luxury, at $38,245.

The Audi S3 is a very special mid-level A3

A red 2022 Audi S3 shot from the 3/4 angle
The 2022 Audi S3 | Audi

However, there is another way. For those wanting a little bit more than the A3’s 201 hp four-pot motor, Audi offers the S3. Think of it like the GTI to the Golf. It’s just more of what makes the A3 great. However, beware that the addition of AWD to the S3 (and any 2022 Audi A3) will rob you of a few cubic feet of trunk depth. That’s to accommodate the rear differential.

However, it’s well worth it. The 2022 Audi S3 starts at $45,945, per Audi, and 306 hp. That makes the 2022 Audi A3’s S3 brother perfect competition for the Volkswagen Golf R that will also be arriving on our shores soon. While we haven’t gotten a go in the new S3, the previous generation offered just that little bit more luxury and performance than the Golf R for a little bit more money.

Once again, the middle path proves true for the A3

A grey 2022 Audi A3 shot at sunset from the 3/4 angle
The new A3 is unmistakably Audi | Audi

However, for those seeking to find their way into a more economical option, the 2022 Audi A3 Premium Plus is your best bet. Like the 2021 model before it, it’s the best mix of affordability and luxury on offer from Ingolstadt. However, you can always count some pennies and hope for enough pennies to buy the 2022 Audi RS3 when that finally makes its way over from Germany.

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MotorBiscuit Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Chase Bierenkoven

Chase Bierenkoven has been obsessed with cars his whole life and now finds joy in sharing what he’s learned from his own daily drivers. Chase earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology with a focus on legal studies from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and quickly became an automotive journalist. When he isn’t writing, Chase is either driving his passion project, a 2004 BMW M3 in Carbon Schwartz Metallic, or playing around Colorado’s terrain, mainly mountain biking and skiing.