Looks great, drives great and great value…it’s an Audi
Tight-ish rear seat headroom.
You’d have to say Audi Australia boss Andrew Doyle was crystal-clear: “The A3 Sedan is the most important Audi model this year,” he said. And if that’s not enough, the cabrio version of the A3 is due in the third quarter of this year.
Audi is without question the star brand of the Volkswagen Group brands these days with global sales surging to 1.57-million last year. The German giant isn’t easing-off the accelerator pedal any time soon with 20 new models slated for introduction by 2020 and a target of more than 2.0-million annual sales.
Locally Audi sales grew by 10 per-cent last year to 16,009 vehicles, well ahead of the company’s earlier business plan which called for 15,000 annual sales by next year (2015).
Fact is the all-new A3 sedan, with knockout looks, twin-charge petrol or turbo-diesel engines and available Quattro all-wheel-drive technology, priced from $39,800, undercuts its major rival by at least $10,000. Got your attention premium small sedan buyers?
We’d say Audi Australia will have no problem recording its 10th consecutive year of sales growth this year. Included in that total will be combined A3 sales which will double the 2013 number…that’s how important the sedan model is in the overall scheme.
Audi A3 Sedan Overview
Let’s clear this up right away. The Audi A3 sedan shares no - not one – body panel with the hot-selling A3 Sportback launched last year (even the bonnet is unique).
And while it rides on the same Volkswagen Group ‘MQB’ platform, the flexibility afforded by that chassis enables the A3 sedan to be longer overall, longer in the wheelbase and 20mm wider in both front and rear tracks than its hatchback sibling.
The engine lineup includes the fantastic 1.4 TFSI COD, 1.8 TFSI and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and Audi has launched the all-new A3 sedan in its normal nomenclature (entry-level ‘Attraction’ and range-topping ‘Ambition’).
The full lineup is:
1.4 TFSI $39,800
1.8 TFSI $44,800
2.0 TDI $44,800
1.8 TFSI Quattro $47,800
Audi A3 Sedan Engine
Three powerplants – the new, lightweight 1.4 TFSI with fuel-saving Cylinder On Demand (COD) technology and the 1.8 TFSI are the petrol versions plus there’s the 2.0 TDI diesel.
Lots of technology with the 1.4 TFSI with COD (shuts down cylinders two and three under light loads between 1300-3900rpm). Maximum power is 103kW and peak torque is 250Nm.
The 1.8 TFSI delivers 132kW/250Nm.
Audi’s excellent 2.0 TDI turbo-diesel is good for 110kW/320Nm.
All three engines are angles backwards by 12-degree with the intake at the front. This configuration – enabled by Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform - allows for the front axle to be forwards which is boon for crash safety and distribution of axle loads in the all-wheel-drive Quattro version.
Drive is via the S tronic automatic transmission (seven-speed for the petrol engines or six-speed for the 2.0 TDI.
The range-topping Quattro version exclusively employs the 1.8 TFSI.
Audi A3 Sedan The Interior
The Audi A3 sedan sports the usual stylish Audi interior which looks sharp and oozes quality at every turn. There’s the traditional Audi instrumentation with the 3.5-inch multi-function screen and Ambition models add sports seats.
Centre dashboard is the telescopic (folds into the dashboard when not in use) screen for the navigation and audio (5.8 or 7.0-inch screens).
The 1.8TFSI we drove was fitted with the optional ($500) aluminium inlays which added some extra zing.
Rear seat accommodation is excellent and out back is a handy 425l/880l boot which Audi says is the best in class.
Audi A3 Sedan Exterior & Styling
“Our compact sports sedan has not been on the road for 15 years but returns with the styling precision which only Audi can do,” explained styling chief Wolfgang Egger. In fact Audi is launching the all-new A3 sedan with the advertising line: “The future isn’t written, it’s designed.”
So we have the hallmark Audi front grille, a curvy roof, sporty D-pillars and prominent ‘Tornado Lines’ running front to rear just below the glasshouse - to accentuate width – and, at the rear, a glorious integrated bootlid spoiler and two-piece tail-lights (the latter also providing a low, wide look and enabling optimized cargo space in this compact sedan).
As part of its extras, the sporty S line exterior package adds a single frame grille in gloss black, honeycomb air intakes, sill extensions and a platinum grey diffuser.
Audi A3 Sedan On The Road
At the Audi A3 national media launch, Carshowroom.com.au drove all three engines over a twisty route outside Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands. Summing-up, we settled on the 132kW/250Nm 1.8 TFSI as our favourite…but that’s a bit like asking a dad to pick his favourite offspring.
The ‘COD’ system in the 1.4 TFSI is brilliant fuel-saving technology which is virtually imperceptible in its operation and of course the 2.0 TDI is absolutely one of the very best small capacity turbo-diesels money can buy. But the little extra ‘pop’ gives the 1.8 the nod in our opinion.
Incidentally, during our time behind the wheel, our Audi A3 sedan 1.8 TFSI recorded fuel consumption of 7.7l/100kms – not far behind the 7.5l/100kms we managed in the 1.4 TFSI. But don’t forget most of our test route was high-speed hills and twisty corners so COD had limited play.
Regardless of the driveline, the all-new Audi A3 sedan delivered the high-performance driving dynamics synonymous with the brand.
Audi A3 Sedan Challenges
Rear seat legroom is excellent but headroom is a bit tight.
Audi A3 Sedan Verdict
The premium European compact sedan segment boasts some great cars and Audi’s all-new A3 sedan is a worthy addition – especially when you factor-in that $39,800 - $47,800 price range.
We really like the looks and we really like the engine technology – spot-on for this segment.
Another day, another brilliant new Audi really.
Audi A3 Sedan The Competition
Of course it’s the Mercedes-Benz CLA. And while there’s no denying the brilliant ‘Baby Benz’ has a price sticker which starts with a ‘4’ to ‘3’ for the Audi A3 sedan, equally there’s no denying the CLA’s all-round excellence.
And there’s no denying there’s currently no Audi A3 sedan which comes close to the $86,900 Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG.
