AUDI A3 SALOON REVIEW

List price from £22,825 Lease price from £252 The verdict 9 

Cheaper to run than the Audi A4, yet classier inside, the A3 saloon makes a great company car

With a name that could have been devised by Ronseal, this is a four-door version of the AudiA3.

It's one of the smallest premium saloons on sale. However, it's also one of the classiest and most affordable. Few rivals are as good to drive, and it's available with frugal and tax-efficient engines.

Space

Smaller than other premium saloons, but far from cramped

There’s plenty of space in the front of the A3 saloon, and while rear legroom is tighter than it is in a BMW3-series or MercedesC-class, adults won’t complain unless they’re sitting behind a particularly tall driver.

Similarly, the A3’s boot is smaller than its rivals, but it’s still big enough to take a large suitcase and several smaller bags. Just bear in mind that the A3 Sportback is a more practical choice if you regularly carry large loads; it might have a smaller capacity, but it’s easier to load due to its bigger boot opening.

Like every A3, the saloon has a couple of cupholders and a good-sized storage bin between its front seats. 

Comfort

Supportive seats and quiet engines

The A3 saloon isn’t as forgiving as a Mercedes C-class, particularly around town, but as long as you avoid the firmest suspension setup that’s standard on S-line cars, it’s still pretty good at dealing with bumps.

It’s certainly more comfortable than its bigger brother, the A4, and the A3 has quieter diesel engines than the BMW 3-series and the C-class.

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. 

Dashboard layout

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 rival 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

The A3 saloon is harder to reverse than the hatchback, simply because its boot extends beyond the rear window, meaning you can’t see where it ends from the driver’s seat. However, as long as you specify the optional sensors, you shouldn’t have any trouble parking.

The fact that the steering, gearshift and pedals are all sweetly weighted helps make the car easy to drive, and the engines are all strong. You can have an automatic gearbox with every engine. 

Fun to drive

Feels sporty, no matter which version you choose

The A3 might be a little less comfortable than a Mercedes C-class, 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 lower-powered of the two 2.0-litre diesel engine is worth the premium over the 1.6-litre because it makes overtaking that much easier. It’s the engine that suits the car best.

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 behind Jaguar, Lexus and Mercedes.

Audi does match Jaguar and Lexus in providing a warranty that lasts for three years or 60,000 miles - whichever comes first. However, BMW and Mercedes are more generous here, giving you a three-year warranty with no mileage limit. 

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 the equivalent A3 hatchback and more than any version of the BMW 3-series or Mercedes C-class.

The lower-powered 2.0-litre diesel also manages over 70mpg, and while petrol A3s are obviously thirstier, they’re still easier on fuel than direct rivals. 

Affordability

Strong resale values and competitively priced

The lower-powered 2.0-litre diesel version of the A3 saloon undercuts the big-selling BMW 320d by more than £4000. And while the BMW has lower CO2 emissions if you specify both cars with an automatic gearbox (as most buyers will), the Audi is still cheaper to run as a company car because of that lower price.

Other running costs are competitive, and the desirability of the Audi badge keeps leasing rates low and resale values high. 

Safety

Performed very well in crash tests

The A3 saloon is still to be tested by independent safety body Euro NCAP, but its hatchback sister car earned the maximum five-star rating. The A3’s scores for adult occupant safety and pedestrian protection were particularly impressive, bettering those of key rivals.

Audi fits seven airbags as standard, including one beneath the dashboard that cushions any impact with the driver’s knees. 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. 

Standard spec

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	2.0 TDI 150 Sport, list price £24,275
Options you should add	S-tronic automatic gearbox (£1480), Metallic paint (£525), satellite-navigation (£495) and rear parking sensors (£345)

Source : telegraph[dot]co[dot]uk