Audi A3 Sportback One step forward and one step back for Audi’s new upmarket family hatchback
Audi tackles the tough task of replacing one of the best family cars of the past decade On sale May Price from £24,900 ‘Even with lowered S line suspension, the ride is impressively supple at all speeds’
FIRST DRIVE
“LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH.” IF that’s the first thought that enters your head when you gaze upon the new Audi A3 Sportback, you’re either standing very far away or are part of Audi’s exterior design team. After all, they were quoted as saying the legendarily angular Italian supercar was a design reference, in places, for this new family hatchback.
Take that claim with a pinch of salt; it’s clear that the design of the new A3 has played it safe. But that bodes well for the rest of the car; after all, the outgoing A3 was one of the most outstanding cars of the past decade – impressive in every area and beating newer rivals even at the end of its life.
Based on the same underpinnings as the latest Volkswagen Golf, the new A3 is very similar in size to its predecessor. Initially, the only petrol engine is a 148bhp turbocharged 1.5, while 2.0-litre diesels (with 114bhp or 148bhp outputs) are also offered. Later, an entry-level 1.0-litre petrol model with 109bhp will join the line-up, along with a plug-in hybrid and at least one performance version.
On the road, the new A3 is just as impressive as its predecessor, if not more so. In 35 TFSI petrol guise with an optional automatic gearbox (which brings an efficiency-boosting 48-volt electrical system to make it a mild hybrid, unlike the manual version), the engine is quiet and responsive, delivering plenty of power to shrug off motorway journeys. The seven-speed auto is as good as the slick ’box in the BMW 1 Series and far less hesitant than the Mercedes-benz A-class’s.
The only issue with this version is that the brakes take some getting used to. Because the mild hybrid system uses energy from braking to charge a tiny battery, the brake pedal is quite unresponsive initially but then rather grabby, so stopping smoothly can be tricky.
Although S line trim lowers the ride height by 15mm compared with other variants and includes big, 18in alloy wheels, the ride is impressively compliant at all speeds, at
12 May 2020
BMW 1 Series least when equipped with optional adaptive suspension that you can stiffen or soften. And when you hit a bump or pothole, there’s no bouncing around afterwards. Those big wheels generate a little bit of road noise, but in general the A3 is impressively quiet on the motorway.
It’s agile, too, tackling corners with hardly any body lean and dealing with quick changes of direction in an unflustered manner, while there’s plenty of front-end grip. However, there’s a hint of vagueness to the steering as you begin to turn the wheel; it’s missing the crispness that you feel in the 1 Series. Sport mode adds an unnatural feeling of heft to the steering, although you can alter that separately from the car’s other settings for the suspension and so on.
The A3’s new interior follows the sleek design of all of Audi’s latest models,
BUYER’S FILE
but build quality has taken a step backwards compared with the vault-like standard of the previous model. Parts of the dashboard and centre console flex significantly when you press on them – making the A3 feel less robust inside than the 1 Series – and while the quality of the materials is generally very good, there are a few more hard, scratchy plastics dotted around than there were in the old car.
In place of the previous A3’s user-friendly rotary controller between the front seats, there’s now a touchscreen for the infotainment system (which is joined by a crisp, clear digital instrument panel that can be configured to show a variety of information directly in front of the driver). The touchscreen is more distracting to use on the move than the previous setup, although the screen is responsive and clear and the system is loaded with features.
Despite these backward steps, the A3’s interior stands up pretty well to scrutiny next to the best of its current rivals, being slick and classy.
The driving position is pretty much spot on, while space inside is relatively generous, with a little more rear head room than the 1 Series and A-class but a similar amount of leg room.
Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI S line S tronic Price Engine Power Torque Gearbox 0-62mph Top speed Economy CO2, tax band
Because this fourth-generation A3 comes with five doors only (the three-door body style of previous models having been dropped due to slow sales), access to the rear seats isn’t an issue, either. The boot, meanwhile, is a very similar size to the A-class’s and bigger than that of the 1 Series.
The three core trim levels are all impressively well equipped, with even entry-level Technik getting cruise control, rear parking sensors and LED headlights. Pricing puts the new A3 above the 1 Series and A-class, but only by a small margin.
Although it’s a shame that the new A3 can’t quite match the heights of its beautifully crafted, user-friendly predecessor inside, Audi certainly hasn’t dropped the ball with its family hatch; the A3 remains one of the most desirable and well-rounded cars in its class. The 1 Series and A-class have got a fight on their hands.