TESTED PRICE ENGINE KW/RPM NM/RPM DRIVEKERB
KGKW/
TONNE0-100
KM/H 0-400MFUEL
CONSPROS & CONS
A3 1.8 TFSI
11133$43,100 (7dc)
($600)I4/2.0T 132/6200250/1250 front 1280 103 7.3 – 5.6 Surprising turn of pace; agile handling; classy feel
Not particularly exciting; Golf GTI money
A3 1.8 TFSI quattro
11133$46,100(7dc)
($600)I4/2.0T 132/6200250/1250 all 1380 96 6.8 – 6.6 Quattro adds all-weather security and pace
Extra 100kg hurts performance and economy
S3 Sportback
11113Jun 14$61,100 (6m/6dc)
($1200)I4/2.0T 210/6500380/1800 all 1425 144 4.94 13.21 10.2 More power and less weight makes S3 faster than ever
Still feels a bit ‘safe’; we don’t get the Euro-spec 221kW
S3 Sedan
11113Dec 14$63,400 (6m/6dc)
($1200)I4/2.0T 210/6500380/1800 all 1450 142 4.99 13.28 6.9 Sleek looks, compact size, pokey performance; value
We’d still have the lighter hatch
S3 Cabriolet
11123$70,500 (6dc)
($1200)I4/2.0T 210/6200380/1800 all 1620 130 5.5 – 7.1 Finally, a good-looking small convertible
Inevitable compromises, but not as much as you’d think
A4 2.0 TFSI quattro
11133$57,100 (6m)
$59,900 (7dc)I4/2.0T 165/6250350/1500 all 1530 108 6.4 – 6.6 Classy interior and a surprisingly able drive
Barely raises the pulse above idle
A4 3.0 TFSI quattro
11133$92,900 (7dc) V6/3.0S 200/4780400/2150 all 1610 124 5.4 – 8.1 Terrific Q-car; plenty of grip and grunt
Massive price premium doesn’t really feel worth it
S4
11123$105,000 (7dc) V6/3.0S 245/5500440/2900 all 1705 144 5.0 – 8.1 Cracking supercharged six and polished dynamics
Looks like any other A4; sports diff is optional
S4 Avant
11123$108,500 (7dc) V6/3.0S 245/5500440/2900 all 1750 140 5.1 – 8.4 More attractive than the sedan; space for the dog
Usual A4 gripes – disinterested steering and chassis
RS4 Avant
11113Apr 14 $151,400 (7dc)
($1500)V8/4.2 331/8250430/4000 all 1870 177 4.93 13.08 10.7 Wicked engine; incredible grip; can swallow a family
Gets pricey when you start ticking options boxes
A5 2.0 TFSI
11133$75,400 (6m)
$77,300 (7dc)I4/2.0T 155/6000350/1500 all 1510 103 6.4 – 6.8 Sweet spot of the ‘non-S/RS’ A5 range; manual option
Bang for your buck factor isn’t too flash
A5 3.0 TFSI
11133$99,300 (7dc) V6/3.0S 200/6500400/2150 all 1650 121 5.8 – 8.1 Sexy coupe is surprisingly agile; benchmark interior quality
Steering lacks feel; can’t match a 4-Series dynamically
A5 Sportback 3.0 TFSI
11133$99,300 (7dc) V6/3.0S 200/6500400/2150 all 1715 117 6.0 – 8.1 Engine is a peach; coupe-hatch body looks good
Hard to judge as it doesn’t really have any rivals
A5 Cabriolet 3.0 TFSI
11133$111,400 (7dc) V6/3.0S 200/6500400/2150 all 1850 108 6.3 – 8.5 Gorgeous body; smooth V6; excellent roof operation
Not a sports car; very heavy; quite thirsty
S5
11123$119,900 (7dc) V6/3.0S 245/7000440/2900 all 1675 142 4.9 – 8.1 Looks great, sounds great and drives nicely
We miss the old V8 and its six-speed manual ’box
S5 Sportback
11123$119,900 (7dc) V6/3.0S 245/7000440/2900 all 1745 140 5.1 – 8.1 Offers plenty of pace in an inconspicuous body
Does that really sound appealing?
S5 Cabriolet
11133$129,900 (7dc) V6/3.0S 245/7000440/2900 all 1880 130 5.4 – 8.5 Brilliant V6 sounds mega with the roof down
Body flex means it suffers in the bends
RS5
11113Jan 13 $157,900 (7dc)
($1500)V8/4.2 331/8250430/4000 all 1725 191 4.52 12.66 10.5 Continual updates have made it a genuine super coupe
Ride can be terse; a C63 or M3 is still a more exciting drive
RS5 Cabriolet
11133Jan 14 $176,400 (7dc)
($1500)V8/4.2 331/8250430/4000 all 1930 191 4.9 – 10.7 Incredible soundtrack; roof-down refinement
Weighs a tonne, two of them, in fact; scuttle shake
A6 3.0 TFSI
11133$115,300 (7dc) V6/3.0S 228/5500440/2900 all 1740 120 5.5 – 8.2 Blown V6 is brilliant and new chassis has talent
Lacks involvement and a true sporting character
A6 3.0 TDI Biturbo
11123$119,700 (8a) V6/3.0TTD230/3900650/1450 all 1790 128 5.1 – 6.4 Incredible power and torque make this A6 haul
Diesel still lacks performance cred; heavy front end
S6
11123$168,900 (7dc) V8/4.0TT309/6400550/1400 all 1895 156 4.6 – 9.6 Classy, comfortable and bloody quick; huge grunt
Lacks dynamic sparkle; let us hear the engine!
RS6 Avant
11112Feb 14 $225,000 (8a) V8/4.0TT412/6600700/1400 all 1935 213 3.93 11.89 9.8 Incredible performance; involving handling; beautiful interior
Erm, the ride’s a bit firm and it’s a b-i-g car. That’s about it
A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI Biturbo
11123$136,750 (8a) V6/3.0TTD230/3900650/1450 all 1850 129 5.3 – 6.4 Brilliant cabin; one of the world’s best diesels
Lacks the excitement of the blown V6
A7 Sportback 3.0 TFSI
11123 $145,300 (7dc) V6/3.0S 228/5500440/2900 all 1785 128 5.6 – 8.2Great performance and handling for such a big car
Looks an acquired taste; occasional gearbox fumbles
S7 Sportback
11123Jan 13$179,900 (7dc) V8/4.0TT309/6400550/2900 all 1945 152 4.57 12.69 9.6 Just like the S6 but with added style, inside and out
Huge weight; not the most elegant of dancers
RS7 Sportback
11113Jan 15$238,500 (8a) V8/4.2TT 412/6600750/1750 all 1920 215 3.90 11.87 14.4 An RS6 that’s been to modelling class
You’d have to love the looks to choose it over RS6
A8 4.2 TDI
11123May 11 $249,900 (8a)
($2000)V8/4.2TD258/4000800/1750 all 1995 148 5.5 – 7.6 Thunderous twin-turbo V8 diesel; first-class cabin
Ride can’t match its rivals; you feel like a chauffeur
UPDATED: S8
11123Aug 14 $281,000 (8a)
($2000)V8/4.0TT382/5800650/1700 all 1990 192 4.1 – 9.6 Hilarious performance for a two-tonne limo
Performance advantage irrelevant in Australia
TT 2.0 TFSI
11123May 13$78,050 (6dc) I4/2.0T 155/6000280/1800 all 1360 114 6.2 – 7.8 Less is more with the TT; 2.0-litre quattro is a delight
Can’t match its acceleration claims; image problems
TT 2.0T Roadster
11133$81,100 (6dc) I4/2.0T 147/6000280/1700 all 1405 105 6.4 – 7.8 Svelte aesthetics; quattro traction
Again no manual for our market; overshadowed by TTS
TTS
11113Nov 14 $100,000 (est.)
(6m/6dc)I4/2.0T 228/6200380/1800 all 1385 165 4.6 – TBA Sharp steering and handling; effortless pace
Looks are pretty evolutionary; still not the last word in fun
TTS Roadster
11123Jul 09 $103,300
(6m/6dc)I4/2.0T 200/6000350/2500 all 1455 137 5.8* 14.0* 8.0* Boxster S pace on a budget; looks brilliant
Can’t match the Porsche’s feedback
TT RS
11123Jan 12$139,400
(6m/6dc)I5/2.5T 250/6500450/1600 all 1450 172 4.47* 12.75* 9.2 Turbo five goes hard and sounds horn; idiot-proof chassis
Stiff urban ride; handling could be more adjustable
TT RS Plus
11123Sep 13 $139,900 (6dc) I5/2.5T 265/5500465/1600 all 1475 180 4.5 – 9.2 Oh-so-close to supercar straight-line ability
Chassis lacks involvement; same price as Cayman S
R8 4.2 FSI
11113$279,500 (6m)
$287,000 (7dc)V8/4.2 316/7900430/4500 all 1585 199 4.3* – 12.4* R8 is even better with its new face and twin-clutch ’box
Tyre rumble; not the quickest supercar around
R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI
11113Jun 13 $308,400 (6m)
$315,900 (7dc)V8/4.2 316/7900430/4500 all 1685 187 4.5* – 12.6* Turns just as many heads as V10 Spyder for $80K less
Between V8 and V10 coupes on price, a dilemma in itself
R8 5.2 FSI
11112$366,900 (7dc) V10/5.2 386/8000530/6500 all 1645 235 3.6* – 13.1* Acceleration; handling; noticeably more potent than V8
Only aggressive inside the cabin, not outsideVW GOLF R
$52,740
Lifted its game markedly
M-B A45 AMG
$75,800
Supercar slayer
HOT
HATCHES
1 ST
2 ND
3 RD
UPDATED!Alfa Romeo
Giulietta QV
WITH ALL signs
pointing to the Golf
GTI when buying
a reasonable hot
hatch, it’s nice when
something different
becomes available,
like the upgraded
Giulietta QV. As well
as the carryover
manual spec, it’s now
available with the
six-speed dual-clutch
’box from the 4C and
177kW/350Nm (up
4kW/10Nm over the
manual) from the 1.75
turbo four. Price-
wise, Alfa usefully
undercuts the GTI,
with the manual
$39,000 and the
TCT $42,000. We’re
driving it shortly and
will give you the full
rundown next month.
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AUDI – BMW
TOP 3
333 RD
VW GTI PP
$48,490
Sharpest GTI ever
134 march 2015 motormag.com.au