Audi has launched a new base trim for the A3 petrol; the A3 40 TFSI Premium priced at Rs 25.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). It is now the sole petrol variant in the A3 range. The Premium Plus trim, which was priced at Rs 30.2 lakh, has been discontinued.
With this launch, owning a petrol A3 has become a bit more affordable, but the entry-level trim does lose out on a bit of kit as compared to the Premium Plus. It gets 16-inch alloys instead of the 17-inchers, conventional halogen headlamps instead of the Xenons, and the parking sensors only come with audio warnings rather than with display. Speaking of parking sensors, the Premium trim only gets rear sensors, and it also loses out on fog lamps and the tyre pressure monitoring system.
The Audi A3 petrol is powered by a 177bhp 1.8-litre TFSI unit mated to a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox.
Audi's new entry-level petrol variant has opened up a near- Rs 10 lakh gap between the base A3 and the base Mercedes CLA, and the difference is so pronounced due to the fact that the Merc is a full import. This cost differentiation could be a deciding factor for those looking to enter the luxury segment, and Audi seems to have the upper hand, at least for now.