The A3 has been a long favourite here at autoX. When the car was first launched in India, we chose this small German luxury compact sedan to be our steed for our 100th issue anniversary challenge where we covered 6,000 kilometres of non-stop driving in under 100 hours. Now, it may not be the most engaging car to drive, but we put it to the ultimate test and it proved to be incredibly capable.
Earlier this year, the A3 underwent some minor design tweaks, and it also got a new engine. The new design actually gives the A3 a lot more character. It looks a lot more imposing now, while still in an understated fashion that’s typical of Audi. The biggest change, however, is the use of a new 1.4-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine. It’s the same engine found in the new A4 as well.
As we’ve seen in other applications as well, this new engine is very refined and super smooth – plus, it’s much more efficient as well. Even though it’s not excitingly quick, together with the beautiful S-tronic dual-clutch transmission, the drivetrain scored very high. But, the A3 doesn’t need to be a performance-oriented car since it’s mostly aimed at buyers who are looking to buy their first premium car – or current customers who might be interested in owning a second or third one. So, with 150bhp and 250Nm, the power output is perfectly reasonable and very usable. Around a lap of the short loop of the BIC, it was very capable and predictable – and, with a lap time just outside the top-ten, it certainly proved that it’s no pushover in terms of performance.
The cabin is very well put together, in typical Audi fashion, and it’s packed with features and tech. The trouble with this car, however – its Achilles heel – is its rear-seat room, or lack thereof. But, if you’re going to spend most of your time in the driver’s seat, the A3 is a wonderful machine that’s very much worthy of your consideration. At the end of the day, it’s a very comfortable and capable machine.
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