1..4 COD a fuel-saving masterpiece and the 1.8 Quattro is a deserving range-topper; largest luggage
Tyre noise on 18s.
Four months after Audi’s all-new A3 Sportback arrived ‘Downunder’ the lineup has been boosted by arrival of the two completely different technology leaders of the A3 range. On the one hand, the sporty 1.8TFSI with Quattro all-wheel-drive and on the other, the fuel-sipping 1.4 TFSI with ‘Cylinder On Demand’ (COD) technology.
The new 1.8 TFSI is the first Quattro variant of the new Audi A3 Sportback and the 1.4 TFSI with COD uses brilliant technology to shut-down two cylinders at cruising speed to assist achievement of fuel consumption as low as 4.7l/100kms. That’s less than a three-cylinder Volkswagen Up (4.9l/100kms) and not surprisingly makes the Audi A3 1.4 TFSI with COD the most fuel-efficient petrol-fuelled car in its class.
Audi A3 Sportback Overview
The latest additions to the Audi A3 Sportback range occupy different sectors of the A3 lineup – the 1.8 TFSI Quattro is the new range-topper at $45,500, while the 1.4 TFSI COD is in the middle of the pack at $37,990.
The fuel-sipping Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI with COD runs the ‘Attraction’ trim level while the 1.8 TFSI Quattro is from the ‘Ambition’ family which means it adds items like 17-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, front fog lights, aluminium trim highlights inside and out, Audi Drive Select and colour driver information system.
As always with Audi there is a selection of option packages for the A3 - the most popular of the six so far since launch has been the ‘Assistance Package’ ($1,800) which brings safety items adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and high-beam assist. We’d scrounge an extra $4,200 and select the excellent ‘S line Sport Package’ to score S line exterior package, S line sports package, 18-inch alloy wheels and Xenon headlights with LED DRLs, sports suspension, sports seats in Alcantara/leather and Audi’s superb flat bottom, leather-wrapped sports steering wheel.
The full range is:
Attraction Specification
1.4 TFSI S tronic 90kW/200Nm $35,600
1.6 TDI S tronic 77kW/250Nm $36,500
1.4 TFSI COD S tronic 103kW/250Nm $37,900
Ambition Specification
1.8 TFDSI S tronic 132kW/250Nm $42,500
2.0 TDI S tronic 110kW/320Nm $42,500
1.8 TFSI Quattro S tronic 132kW/280Nm $45,500
Audi A3 Sportback Engine
As we mentioned, the Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI with COD has the lowest fuel consumption of any petrol-fuelled car in the segment at 4.7l/100kms. It’s also got a tad more urge than the regular 1.4 TFSI – 103kW at 5000rpm and peak torque of 250Nm from 1500-3500rpm for the newcomer.
The Cylinder On Demand technology while seemingly simple is actually complex and quite remarkable. Fact is this Audi masterpiece actually idles on four-cylinders but de-activates the second and third cylinders while cruising or coasting in third gear or above. “So, bet there are some vibrations,” the technically-minded are saying. Well, no actually because those clever folk at Audi manage to maintain even combustion and, combined with new softer engine mounts and a few other tweaks, you struggle to notice a change when it’s running on just two cylinders.
On the other hand the Quattro version becomes the most powerful A3 Sportback with the 1.8 TFSI, sourced from the TT, delivering 132kW at 5000rpm and peak torque of 280Nm from 1350-4500rpm.
The 1.4 TFSI with COD drives the front wheels via a seven-speed S tronic transmission while the 1.8 TFSI Quattro employs a six-speed S tronic. In fact this is the first time the Quattro all-wheel-drive system has been used in conjunction with the six-speed S tronic and it’s the latest fifth-generation transversely-mounted Quattro system which weighs only 22kgs and can distribute up to 70 per-cent of drive to the rear wheels.
Audi A3 Sportback The Interior
Regular CarShowroom readers know we rate current Audi interior design amongst the best of the current era. Fullstop.
And the A3 Sportback is part of that picture with its usual Audi precise-ness, obvious quality in material choice, practicality and comfort.
That said, we were particularly enamoured with the 1.8 TFSI Quattro we drove at this launch which was fitted with the S line Sports Package ($4,200) which includes excellent Alcantara/leather sports seats and Audi’s race car-like, flat-bottom leather-wrapped steering wheel.
This car and the 1.4 TFSI with COD we also drove were also fitted with the ‘Technik Package’ which includes the MMI navigation and rear-view camera with images displayed on the colour 7.0-inch monitor.
Audi is justifiably proud of the A3 Sportback’s boot. Featuring a two-tier loading floor, the A3 Sportback provides 380-litres of space with the rear seats in-place or 1220-litres when folded. That sees-off Mercedes-Benz A-Class, BMW 1 Series and Lexus CT200h in the cargo-carrying department to be best-in-class…an important consideration when many of these cars are purchased for mums doing school duty.
Audi A3 Sportback Exterior & Styling
Naturally there are no exterior changes for these additions to the Audi A3 Sportback lineup just a few months after launch. As we know, the latest A3 Sportback gained 58mm in the wheelbase over the previous generation (hence lots of extra interior space).
Of course the three-window design, beefy shoulders and thin, steeply-raked C-pillars provide the hallmark Audi A3 look.
Again we tip our caps to the S line ‘Sports Package’ on our 1.8 TFSI Quattro – those S line 18-inch alloy wheels certainly ‘pep-up’ the overall look.
Audi A3 Sportback On The Road
Adelaide was chosen by Audi to introduce these additions to the A3 Sportback range – the excellent roads out to Victor Harbour and back, as used in Targa Adelaide.
Car Showroom went right to the top for starters – the 1.8 TFSI Quattro. Pleasingly it was wet and, as expected the Quattro excelled with unbeatable grip and balance. Lots of high-performance AWD cars get a bit understeery at the limit but Audi’s engineers have always reigned this in with cars wearing the ‘Quattro’ badge and the A3 Sportback was no exception – very impressive.
But if the 1.8 TFSI Quattro on those 18s was on the firm side when it came to suspe4nsions compliance (rightly so for the model’s performance leader) our 1.4 TFSI with COD will definitely be preferred by fuel-misers without sporty aspirations. Still ‘firmish’ and precise in the Audi way, the 1.4 TFSI with COD on 17-inch alloy wheels was a softer drive on the roads back to Adelaide.
At no time was acceleration lacking - the turbo 1.4 had plenty in reserve – and we couldn’t pick a change in dynamics when coasting on two-cylinders.
Audi A3 Sportback Challenges
On coarse-chip bitumen roads the Audi A3 Sportback 1.8 TFDSI Quattro on the 18-inch alloy wheels in the S line ‘Sports Package’ did display noticeable levels of tyre roar.
Audi A3 Sportback Verdict
Another day, another cracking Audi arrives for us to drive. If you take the view the car industry is all about pushing the technology boundaries to meet the expectations of today’s society and customer demands…well these latest Audi A3 Sportbacks have nailed it.
On the one hand, the 1.8 TFSI Quattro delivers robust performance backed by the dynamics and safety of the world’s best all-wheel-drive system. And on the other, astonishingly clever ‘Cylinder On Demand’ technology brings remarkable fuel savings with the 1.4 TFSI with COD.
And both provide the luxury and convenience features we’re accustomed to in larger Audi models.
Audi A3 Sportback The Competition
Of course the new star in this end of town is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. A Car Showroom favourite and contender for ‘Car Of The Year’ honours, the A-Class excels at everything and starts remarkable at $35,600 (same as the Audi A3 Sportback).
The rear-drive BMW 1 Series is BMW at its best we reckon. Not the newest design in this league and getting up there in weight these days, the 1 Series does everything well and matches the A3 Sportback’s $35,600 entry price.
