Audi A3 Saloon
Baby exec model is back , with a revamped interior
THIS is the new Audi A3 Saloon, although we’d forgive you for needing a nudge to realise as much. The truth is, buyers couldn’t get enough of the outgoing A3, even towards the end of its life, so there was little reason for Audi to mess with a successful formula when the time for a replacement arrived.
From some angles it’s difficult to tell old from new. The keen-eyed will notice the Quattro-inspired slot above the single-frame grille, new bumper designs and sharper creases on the bonnet and the car’s flanks. In addition, the headlights get a more exaggerated L-shaped kink at their lower edge.
The cabin, meanwhile, has been subjected to a complete overhaul. The infotainment display of the old car has gone, replaced by an all-new 10.2-inch unit with a driver-focused feel. Audi’s latest Virtual Cockpit display sits in front of the driver; customisable dials are shown on a 10-inch screen in base models and a 12.3-inch unit higher up the range.
Unlike the latest VW Golf, the A3’s cabin isn’t button-free. In fact, while the volume dial is no longer a physical knob, the touch wheel (like an original iPod) works well.
But not everything feels of such high quality. For the most part it’s very pleasant inside, but the surrounds of the air vents, for example, feel low-rent. On balance, we reckon the Mercedes A-Class still feels like a more expensive product.
As before, the A3 rides on the VW Group’s MQB platform. Despite subtle changes to the response of the suspension, it feels like before: stable, reassuring and comfortable. Some versions are offered with adaptive dampers, allowing the driver to alter the compromise between sportiness and comfort, but regardless of mode, it’s a completely agreeable – if not particularly involving – way to get around.
The 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel, badged 35 TDI, is a hard engine to fault; torque delivery is smooth and strong, and even under hard acceleration it remains unobtrusive.
Possibly the most impressive thing about this 2.0-litre diesel unit is its thirst, or rather lack of it. Officially it’ll do 57.6mpg, and our time with it suggests that’s a completely achievable figure. Busy stop/start town driving returned close to 40mpg, but on long motorway runs it managed low-70s economy – a brilliant figure considering the punchy performance on offer.
The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox; on the move it feels largely similar to before, but some of the low-speed jerkiness which blighted the old car seems to have been tuned out. The smooth gearbox and excellent economy are among the qualities that make the A3 Saloon a great long-distance cruiser. The seats are comfortable, the ride settles down at higher speeds, and while road noise doesn’t seem much improved over the old car (it’s fine, in other words), wind noise is very well suppressed.
From a practical point of view, the A3 Saloon is nearly identical to the last one. So rear legroom is fine, but headroom is a little tight. The 425-litre boot matches the old car’s, and is five litres up on the Mercedes A-Class four-door’s.
Prices for the new A3 Saloon start from £25,265 for the 30 TFSI in Sport
“In town driving we got close to 40mpg, but on long motorway runs we saw low-70s”
trim. Standard kit is fairly generous, with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, part leather/leather-effect seats, cruise control, rear parking sensors and those 10-inch displays all thrown in. The S line model adds £1,900 to the asking price but features different bumpers complete with larger front air intakes, 18-inch wheels, LED tail-lights, rear privacy glass and sports seats.
Above this sit the Edition 1 and Vorsprung. Both add 19-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, a black exterior styling pack and seat upgrades (Alcantara for the Edition 1, Nappa leather for the Vorsprung). The Vorsprung also gets a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a suite of semi-autonomous driver assist systems. Powered by the 2.0-litre diesel of our test car, the Vorsprung costs £40,570.
If, like many drivers, you go down the finance route, the offers are thin on the ground just now; pay £4,114.50 up front on this top-spec Vorsprung diesel and you’ll have to stump up a chunky £585.39 every month.