Car Review: Audi A3
The Audi A3 is has been on the market for 20 years already, can you believe it? When I was much younger, my next door neighbour got the first generation and I was in complete awe. I knew I would have to own one as soon as I got my licence. That never happened, I couldn’t afford one and still can’t, but my love for this car has never wavered.
I attended the launch of the refreshed third generation Audi A3 last week and my love affair continues (and so does the fact that I still cannot afford one). It doesn’t stop other people from buying them though. The first generation launched in 1996 and became the segment leader in the premium A-segment and has since sold over 1 million units worldwide, 51 400 of those were sold here in South Africa between 1998 and 2016.
This third generation boasts a full range, it is available in a three-door hatchback (although possibly not for much longer), a five-door Sportback, Sedan and Cabriolet. As Audi’s Product and Volume Planning manager, Charl Human, points out, this third generation, launched back in 2012, doesn’t even need an update it looks so great already. And it’s difficult to update a package that already works so well within the market. And of course, you need to retain the A3 character. So the updates have been rather minor but we’ve seen an improvement in technology and efficiency.
The styling has been updated ever so slightly with headlight and taillight design changes, an integrated front bumper, redesigned grille, sculpted bonnet and Xenon lights now standard across the range. There are also five new colours to choose form.
The engine range is where we see changes with five to choose from. Three petrol and one diesel. For the first time Audi offers a 1,0 TFSI three-cylinder engine in the range and before you think, “Hell no that’s too slow,” you need to take it for a spin. You would be forgiven for thinking you are in a more powerful engine. It delivers 85 kW of power and 200 N.m of torque. And of course with such a small engine, you can expect low fuel consumption. Audi claims 4,5-litres/100 km. It is also exempt from CO2 tax in South Africa before of its emission level of just 104 g/km. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 9,7 seconds.
Another first for the A3 is the 1,4 TFSI with cylinder-on-demand (COD) efficiency technology. What does this mean? Well it performs like a 1,0 engine when in traffic by switching off two cylinders when power is not required. Which means you get the same claimed fuel consumption of just 4,5-litres/100 km as the 1,0. But you get 110 kW of power and 250 N.m of torque. Audi predicts it is this engine that will account for 50% of A3 sales in this market. It’s the engine with the best of of both worlds.
You will also have the choice of the newly developed 2,0 TFSI which is accompanied by a completely new seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Or the 2,0 TDI which is only available with the S tronic transmission.
The S3 has raised the bar in terms of power with 18 kW more power and 20 N.m more torque. This 2,0 TFSI now generates 228 kW and 400 N.m of torque. The Cabriolet range is limited to the 2,0T FSI and the S3 Cabriolet.
Inside the cabin, the highlight is Audi’s Virtual Cockpit which you should remember from the Audi TT that is now available in the A3 range. The MMI radio plus with the electrically extending seven-inch monitor is standard equipment. For the first time, there is a choice of two different MMI Navigation systems to choose from, a basic version or an advanced version. Both versions include Audi connect and Bluetooth streaming, the only difference being the MMI touch pad and the level of radio system.
Like I mentioned, there wasn’t really much to change on the Audi A3. It is still one of the leaders within the segment, if you discount the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the A3 is the bigger seller. It is certainly still one of my favourites, it even won this year’s Women on Wheels Car of the Year award for Best Hatchback.
It ain’t cheap, but then again, you can’t expect such premium quality to come cheap. And some blame has to go to the state of our country and the strength of the Rand (or lack thereof).
Audi A3 Pricing:
The range will be priced as follows, including all taxes and the standard 5 year/100 000km Audi Freeway Plan:
Audi A3 Hatch:
A3 1.0T FSI Manual: R 391 000
A3 1.0T FSI S tronic: R 409 500
A3 1.4T FSI Manual: R 412 000
A3 1.4T FSI S tronic: R 430 500
A3 2.0 TDI S tronic: R 481 500
A3 2.0T FSI Manual: R 429 500
A3 2.0T FSI S tronic: R 448 000
S3 quattro S tronic: R 638 500
Audi A3 Sportback:
A3 Sportback 1.0T FSI Manual: R 398 500
A3 Sportback 1.0T FSI S tronic: R 417 000
A3 Sportback 1.4T FSI Manual: R 419 500
A3 Sportback 1.4T FSI S tronic: R 438 000
A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI S tronic: R 489 000
A3 Sportback 2.0T FSI Manual: R 437 000
A3 Sportback 2.0T FSI S tronic: R 455 500
S3 Sportback quattro S tronic: R 646 000
Audi A3 Sedan:
A3 Sedan 1.0T FSI Manual: R 408 500
A3 Sedan 1.0T FSI S tronic: R 427 000
A3 Sedan 1.4T FSI Manual: R 429 500
A3 Sedan 1.4T FSI S tronic: R 448 000
A3 Sedan 2.0 TDI S tronic: R 499 000
A3 Sedan 2.0T FSI Manual: R 447 000
A3 Sedan 2.0T FSI S tronic: R 465 500
S3 Sedan quattro S tronic: R 656 000
Audi A3 Cabriolet:
A3 Cabriolet 2.0T FSI S tronic: R 566 500
S3 Cabriolet quattro S tronic: R 758 000
Look out for the Audi Sport models of this range, the RS3 Sedan and the RS3 Sportback which we should see hit our shores next year.