Audi aims high with new A3
Company replaces practical hatchback with snazzy sedan
Competition is heating up in the compact luxury segment, as evidenced by the recent launch of the Mercedes-Benz CLA and the third-generation Audi A3, slated to arrive in Canada for April 2014 as a 2015 model. By introducing a sedan designed specifically to appeal to consumers in the two biggest car markets of China and North America, Audi hopes to double its A3 sales, which now account for 20 per cent of the automaker’s volume worldwide.
Replacing the current, very practical five-door hatchback with this new sedan also means that Audi is adopting a different strategy for the A3, moving it upmarket and clearing the way for the arrival of the A1, a smaller hatchback already on European roads that is expected to become the brand’s new entry-level car for North America.
The new A3 sedan was penned by Canadian designer Dany Garand — who hails from Sherbrooke, Que., and has been working in Audi’s design department for many years — and its dimensions and proportions are remarkably similar to those of the firstgeneration A4 introduced in 1994.
At first glance, you could almost say that the new A3 is a 7/8thscale version of the current A4 and casual onlookers will have trouble telling the cars apart. The large single-frame grille, the sculpted flanks with the Audi signature contour Tornado line and the trunk lid spoiler all contribute to create a sporty yet somewhat understated and classic shape with a 0.29 drag coefficient.
Audi is very big on headlight design and technology right now, and the new A3 will be available with full LED headlights.
For the Canadian market, Audi will offer a choice of three turbocharged four-cylinder engines — two gas-powered and one diesel. The 1.8-litre gasoline engine and the 2.0L TDI diesel will be paired with front-wheel drive, while the 2.0L gasoline engine will equip all-wheel-drive A3s. All models will feature the six-speed S Tronic dual-clutch gearbox, as the sixspeed manual has been dropped from the catalogue for North America, even though it will remain a fixture for the European markets.
High performance will be added to the mix in the guise of the 300-horsepower S3 variant, which will also arrive in the spring of 2014 (you can expect to read about it here in November).
The five-door configuration will eventually return to North America a year behind the A3 sedan as a dedicated plug-in hybrid model with a combined output of 204 hp supplied by a 1.4L engine as well as an electric motor.
At the car’s launch in Budapest, we drove the A3 sedan powered by the 1.8L gasoline engine, as well as the 2.0L TDI, but not the 2.0L gasoline engine, as production of that particular power plant had not yet begun. With the 178-hp 1.8L TFSI engine, the A3 proves to be an able and competent performer as the engine delivers its maximum torque of 184 pound-feet on a very flat torque curve between 1,250 and 5,000 rpm. It still takes 7.3 seconds to get to 100 kilometres per hour from a standing start, but the engine is very willing and the A3’s performance is more than adequate, as the torque remains relatively constant, making passing manoeuvres on secondary roads easy.
With the S Tronic dual-clutch gearbox, the A3 shines. The gearbox is smooth and refined and the car is happy to flex its muscles in the lower gears as the engine gets close to its maximum revs, while highway cruising at low revs in the highest gear is a very relaxed affair.
Fuel consumption is rated at a remarkable 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres average on the notoriously optimistic European fuel consumption cycle and although we can expect a higher fuel consumption rate in real-world conditions in Canada, the A3 will still impress in that regard.
The 2.0L diesel is even better, as it is rated at 4.1 L/100 km, while being remarkably smooth and hushed at cruising speeds. Torque is more abundant here than on the 1.8L gasoline engine (the rating is 236 lb-ft between 1,750 and 3,000 rpm) and the engine delivers good performance while in that mid-range sweet spot, but the diesel-powered A3 is slower on the run up to 100 kilometres per hour with its 8.7-second time.
One of the key attributes of the A3 is its extended use of lightweight materials, such as aluminum, which is used for the hood and various components. With the TDI engine, the car weighs only 1,315 kilograms. At 1,295 kg when powered by the 1.8L TFSI engine, it’s even lighter, which helps the A3 get such admirable fuel efficiency.
In terms of ride and handling, the A3 is not a car that will challenge you to attack the next highway off-ramp, as the electrically assisted steering, while very precise, does not provide much feedback, which makes the handling feel uninspired.
With the Audi Drive Select system, you can tailor the car’s dynamic responses to your liking and the A3 is happy to cruise along at a more-than-decent pace with a ride quality that remains on the firm side while still displaying good road manners.
As can be expected, the new A3 can be loaded with optional driver assistance systems such as Side Assist for blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.
Inside the cabin, the A3 is typical of other Audi products, as the assembly quality is first-rate. However the large one-piece section that sits atop the dashboard is made of the same material that is used in the Volkswagen Golf GTI, and although the styling is different, this piece looks more at home in a Volkswagen than in an Audi.
A high-definition seven-inch colour screen rises from the dash on startup and is linked to the Multi Media Interface, which now features a larger rotary controller with a more intuitive feel. The cargo space is very good at 15 cubic feet, and folding the rear seatbacks will increase capacity to 31 cu. ft.
With a combination of classic good looks, more-than-adequate performance and good fuel economy, the new A3 should do well in Canada. No pricing information has been released yet, but will be set closer to the car’s market launch in Canada next spring.