Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 23

A

udi’s current A3 range, like
its predecessors, shares
its architecture and most of its
componentry with parent brand
Volkswagen’s Golf.
Prices for the fi ve-door A3
Sportback start at $36,600 for the
85kW 1.0-litre turbopetrol three-
cylinder/seven-speed automated
twin-clutch S-Tronic.
The 110kW 1.4-litre turbopetrol
four, with cylinder-on-
demand technology (COD) that
automatically shuts down two
cylinders under light loads to
save fuel, is $40,700.
The 140kW 2.0-litre
turbopetrol Sport is $46,800;
with Audi’s quattro all-wheel
drivetrain, it’s $50,400.
Sedans start at $42,300
for the 1.4-litre/seven-speed
S-Tronic; Sport variants, with
the same 2.0-litre front-wheel
drive and quattro drivetrains as
the Sportback, cost $48,400 and
$52,000 respectively.
Cabrios start at $49,800 for
the 1.4-litre turbopetrol COD.

The 2.0-litre turbopetrol

Sport models are $55,900 with

front-wheel drive and $59,500

with quattro.

S3 quattro variants, with a

213kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol

engine, start at $63,900 for the

Sportback, with a six-speed

manual or seven-speed S-Tronic.

The S3 sedan is $65,500 and the

cabriolet is $73,000.

The RS3 quattro hotrod, with

a 294kW/480Nm 2.5-litre fi ve

cylinder turbo/seven-speed

S-Tronic, costs $84,240 (sedan)

or $80,240 (hatch).

The Audi cabin is a beautiful

and effi cient design, with a

supportive, comfortable, part-

leather-upholstered driver’s seat,

the absolute minimum of buttons

and switches, a variety of high-

quality, subtly-patterned plastics

eschewing the usual clichéd

shiny stuff, and an obvious

emphasis on delighting the driver

at every touch.

Audi’s trick customisable

digital instruments are part of

a $2900 option package, as are

important safety features such

as automatic emergency braking

from highway speeds and blind

spot monitoring, which are part

of a $1500 Assistance package.

The back seat, though

relatively narrow, is spacious and

comfortable, with a deep, long

cushion. Boot space in the hatch

is also pretty good.

On a country road, the A3

handles beautifully, is untroubled

by a poor surface and very quiet.

The 110kW 1.4 turbo is

beautifully smooth and stronger

than its capacity suggests. Its

ability to run on two cylinders

sees it return great fuel

economy. It’s arguably the pick of

the A3 engine range.

The 2.0-litre turbopetrol with

either front-wheel or quattro

drivetrains really suits the sporty

fl avour of this car, and the

standard Drive Select system

allows you to adjust the steering

or engine/transmission alone, or

together, across several settings.

When you get to the S3/RS3,

you’re in serious performance

territory. RS3 hits the 100km/h

mark in just 4.1 seconds, and

can hold its own with BMW’s

M3, the Mercedes A45 AMG and

VW’s Golf R.

In all models, the S-Tronic

transmission has its usual

irksome foibles in town.

The occasional delay when

moving off from rest needs to

be fi xed, because it’s potentially

hazardous when manoeuvring

or trying to quickly take

advantage of a gap in traffi c.

S-Tronic has also given some

owners grief in previous models

and in the Golf, where it’s called

DSG but is the same transmission.

Otherwise, the A3 is a superb

machine, albeit one that comes

with a hefty price tag on Audi’s

four ring badge. Drive a Golf too

and see if the extra spend on the

Audi is worth it.

THINGS WE LIKE

 This and Golf are the best

hatchbacks on the market

 Beautiful, comfortable and

spacious cabin

 Great dynamics and a smooth ride

 Responsive, refi ned, fuel-effi cient

engines

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

The big price premium over an

equivalent Golf

S-Tronic transmission has its

quirks and can be temperamental

Expensive to service

Reliability issues with VW Group

cars in general

Rear camera not standard

SPEX (1.4 COD S-Tronic)

Made in Germany

1.4-litre turbopetrol/seven-speed

S-Tronic/front-wheel drive

110kW of power at

5000rpm/250Nm of torque from

1500–3500rpm

0–100km/h in 8.2 seconds (claimed)

Warranty: Three years/unlimited

kilometres

4.4L/100km highway; 6.1L/100km

city; CO 2 emissions are 117g/km

Standard: seven airbags, stability

control, 17-inch alloy wheels, tyre

pressure monitor, dual-zone air,

Bluetooth, voice control, front and

rear parking sensors, camera, low

speed collision mitigation, partial

leather seats

Redbook future values: 3yr: 50%;

5yr: 35%

Safety

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Alfa Giulietta, BMW 1 Series,

Mercedes A Class, Peugeot 308,

Volvo V40, VW Golf

S AUDI A3 FROM $36,600