The Audi A3 is a desirable, premium-badged alternative to the VW Golf
It's easy to dismiss the Audi A3 as a triumph of style over substance. After all, it's basically a VW Golf in a fancier suit. Except it doesn't feel like a Golf.
From its gorgeous interior to its sporty drive, the A3 has a character all of its own. And if you look beyond the Golf's headline-grabbing starting price, you'll see that model for model the A3 is barely any more expensive.
Space
Good if you choose the Sportback version
There’s plenty of space in the front of the A3, and headroom is good throughout. However, six-footers will wish the three-door version of the car had a bit more rear knee room.
There’s plenty of space in the front of the A3, and headroom is good throughout. However, six-footers will wish the three-door version of the car had a bit more rear knee room.
This is exactly what you get with the Sportback model, along with two extra doors, so it’s a far more practical choice.
Whichever version of the A3 you choose, the boot is big enough to take a fold-up baby buggy or the weekly food shop. Plus there’s a false boot floor that lets you divide the space in two and raise the load level so that you’re less likely to strain your back when lifting in heavy items.
Like most rivals, the A3 has a couple of cupholders and a good-sized storage bin between its front seats.
Comfort
Supportive seats and quiet engines
The suspension feels firmer than a VW Golf’s, particularly around town. But as long as you avoid the sportiest setup that’s standard on S-line cars, the A3 is still pretty good at dealing with bumps.
It’s certainly a lot more comfortable than the MercedesA-class, and the A3 also has much quieter engines; they’re some of the best around.
A wide range of seat and steering wheel adjustment ensures drivers of all sizes can find a position that suits, and the seats themselves are supportive, so you shouldn’t suffer aches and pains on long journeys.
As simple to use as it is classy
Audi is famed for the quality of its interiors, and the A3 shows why because its dashboard wouldn’t look out of place in a car that cost twice as much. Certainly, no other family hatchback feels as classy, but the A3’s dash is also simple to use.
You operate most functions via a single rotary dial that's positioned within easy reach and linked to onscreen menus. What’s more, those menus are clearly laid out, and there are shortcut buttons that let you quickly flip between them.
The way the display screen is positioned high on the dash is also welcome because it means you can always keep half an eye on the road.
Easy to drive
Precise controls and a good all-round view
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Rear visibility is better in the three-door A3 than the A3 Sportback, but both versions are easier to see out of than a BMW1-series or Mercedes A-class.
Fun to drive
Feels sporty, no matter which version you choose
The A3 might be a little less comfortable than a VW Golf, but the advantage of its firmer suspension is a more agile feel in corners.
Fuel economy
The 1.6-litre diesel is particularly efficient
The most frugal version of the A3 is the 1.6-litre diesel, which returns an official average of 74.3mpg. That’s the same as equivalent versions of the BMW 1-series and Mercedes A-class, although VW’s super-efficient Golf Bluemotion manages almost 90mpg in Government tests.
The way the display screen is positioned high on the dash is also welcome because it means you can always keep half an eye on the road.
Easy to drive
Precise controls and a good all-round view
Rear visibility is better in the three-door A3 than the A3 Sportback, but both versions are easier to see out of than a BMW1-series or Mercedes A-class.
You shouldn’t have any trouble parking, then, especially if you specify the optional reversing sensors. And the A3’s steering, gearshift and pedals are all sweetly weighted, so driving it never feels like hard work.
Engines that pull the car with ease also help here. And you can have an automatic gearbox with every engine except the cheapest petrol.
Feels sporty, no matter which version you choose
The A3 might be a little less comfortable than a VW Golf, but the advantage of its firmer suspension is a more agile feel in corners.
It changes direction eagerly and grips strongly, while the steering feels precise and responsive.
The cheaper of the two turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engines is worth the premium over the 1.2-litre because it makes overtaking that much easier. In fact, this 1.4 is the most likeable engine in the range.
Reliability
Audi’s record could be better here
The latest A3 is too new to have been included in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey, but Audi’s record is merely average; it finished 13th out of 27 manufacturers in 2013, whereas Volkswagen was ninth and Mercedes fifth.
Audi does match Volkswagen in providing a year of breakdown assistance and a warranty that lasts for three years or 60,000 miles - whichever comes first. However, Mercedes is more generous here, giving you four years of breakdown cover and a three-year warranty with no mileage limit.
The 1.6-litre diesel is particularly efficient
The most frugal version of the A3 is the 1.6-litre diesel, which returns an official average of 74.3mpg. That’s the same as equivalent versions of the BMW 1-series and Mercedes A-class, although VW’s super-efficient Golf Bluemotion manages almost 90mpg in Government tests.
Petrol versions of the A3 also impress, matching the economy of petrol Golfs, while beating the figures you get with the 1-series and A-class.
Strong resale values and competitively priced
The cheapest VW Golf undercuts the cheapest A3 by abound £1500. However, the A3 has a more powerful engine, and when you compare versions of the Golf that you’d actually want with the equivalent A3 there’s less than £200 between them.
Factor in similar fuel, insurance and servicing costs, and the fact that the Golf will be worth less when you come to sell it, and the A3 could actually be the cheaper option in the long run.
The Bluemotion version of the Golf makes a cheaper company car than any A3, but if you go for the regular 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre diesel models the A3 is just as affordable.
Performed very well in crash tests
Audi fits seven airbags, including one beneath the dashboard that cushions any impact with the driver’s knees, and this helped the A3 earn the maximum five-star rating when it was crash tested by car safety specialists Euro NCAP.
Its scores for adult occupant safety and pedestrian protection were particularly impressive, bettering those of the BMW 1-series, Mercedes A-class and VW Golf, while only the Golf scored higher than the A3 for child occupant safety.
However, you do have to pay extra for a city emergency braking system, which automatically applies the brakes if it looks like you’re going to run into the car in front in stop-start traffic. Most Golfs get this as standard.
No version is badly equipped
Even in its cheapest, SE specification the A3 comes with most things you’re likely to want, including alloy wheels, air-conditioning, a Bluetooth hands-free phone connection and a digital radio.
The Sport model comes with bigger wheels and swaps the air-con for a dual-zone climate control system that lets the driver and front passenger select different temperatures. Meanwhile, S-line cars are the sportiest looking in the range.
Our favourite version
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1.4 TFSI 122 SE Sportback, list
price £20,200
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Options you should add
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Metallic paint (£525),
satellite-navigation (£495), rear parking sensors (£345) and electric lumbar
support (£195)
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Source : telegraph[dot]co[dot]uk
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