2024 Audi A3

We recommend sticking with the base 40 TFSI Premium. Although you'll go without Audi's famed Quattro all-wheel drive, you get significantly better fuel economy and a cool $2k discount in return. We appreciate the appeal of AWD in the snow belt, but today's stability control systems are so good at keeping cars on track that AWD isn't the huge advantage it used to be. You're also adding complexity if you spring for Quattro, which could lead to maintenance issues down the line. As for why we recommend the default Premium trim rather than the upgraded Premium Plus, well, the whole point of an entry-level luxury sedan is to provide an upscale experience on a budget, which is exactly what the A3 Premium does in the $35k range. But if you splurge on the Premium Plus and maybe some other options besides, it's easy to shoot past the $40k mark, which brings less cramped and more capable luxury sedans into play. We do wish that adaptive cruise control weren't limited to the Premium Plus, but the well-priced A3 Premium is otherwise a nice package, providing the excellent 10.1-inch touchscreen and many other niceties as standard.