What does everyone want from a new-generation model? Overall, a more wholesome package. And the brand-new Audi A3 Sedan promises to meet that target and some. Honestly, we weren’t a fan of the old A3 Sedan. We thought it lacked Audi’s character somehow, and it never looked that great either. The new model, however, is a head-turner (in a positive way). Even for us! But there’s a lot more to it than what meets the eye.

Boring stuff first. Compared to its predecessor, the new A3 Sedan is a 40mm longer, 20mm wider and 10mm taller. The wheelbase, however, remains unchanged. The extra real estate has resulted in more a bit more room for living things. At 425 litres, the space for non-living things remains the same as before. And before you wonder, the Sedan is about 150mm longer than the A3 Sportback.

In terms of design, there’s little to differentiate the Sedan from the Sportback. The most notable difference is, of course, at the rear end. The three-box layout not only enhances practicality but also allows Audi to carve a coupe-like silhouette. The Germans go on to claim that thanks to a panelled underbody, a large diffuser and a controllable cooling-air inlet behind the massive grille help the new-gen model cut a smoother cut through the air when compared to its predecessor. That will pay a dividend in fuel economy.

Indoors, it is the features list that impresses the most. It includes a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with handwriting recognition, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless mobile charger, support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and automatic climate control. In the options list, there’s Audi’s virtual cockpit plus (a 12.3-inch display with three different modes), head-up display and the MMI Navigation Plus, which ropes in Wi-Fi hotspot and Audi connect services. And yes, there are several safety and assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control and Audi pre sense, on offer as well.

At the time of launch and depending on the market, the A3 Sedan will be available with two engine and as many transmission options. There’s a 1.5-litre petrol producing 148bhp/250Nm, and a 2.0-litre diesel generating 148bhp/360Nm. Both power-plants will be on offer with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. However, the petrol mill with a 6-speed manual gearbox will also be available. No matter which powertrain you choose, the 0-100kmph sprint time (8.2 seconds) and the top speed figure (232kmph) remain identical. And yes, the variants with the automatic transmission will also get a mild-hybrid system.

Presales of the Audi A3 Sedan in several markets across Europe will begin by the end of April 2020, and the prices will start at EUR 27,700. Soon afterwards, the model will march towards countries outside Europe, including India.