![]() Experience of the 1.5-litre petrol in other cars suggests the same of that model, too. We drove the 35 TDI diesel with the automatic gearbox and found it impressively smooth and powerful enough for relaxed long-distance cruising, where it scored commendably close to the official fuel consumption figures. The 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesels at the core of the A3 Sportback range both deliver 150 horsepower and offer a good balance of performance, economy and refinement. At least the heating controls retain proper switches and buttons. Audi’s mission to strip as many buttons out of the interior as possible means the interior looks good, but the replacement of basic controls like a volume knob with an overly sensitive touch pad can frustrate. Additional functionality, including driver modes and a fancier Virtual Cockpit display, feature as you progress up the range but there’s an impressive amount of tech on all models. ![]() The operating system behind this is 10 times faster than that of the previous car and powers built-in and fully connected navigation system as standard, though you can plug your phone in and use your apps if you prefer. Conventional instruments have been replaced by a 10.25-inch ‘Virtual Cockpit’ display behind the wheel while a fully integrated 10.1-inch touch-screen in the centre of the dash is your main point of interaction with the car’s systems. Mercedes and BMW are also at the top of their game here, but Audi knows what its customers like and the A3 Sportback will score well for showroom appeal for its interior alone. Overall, though, the A3 Sportback is dressed to impress and the cabin ticks all the style and tech boxes you could hope for, the dramatic angles, quality materials and smart integration of touch-operated controls meaning it feels properly premium. ![]() It’s better when the speeds rise and the A3 Sportback is impressively refined on the motorway, so if this is where you do most of your driving you’ll be in a happier place.Īudi interiors are rightly celebrated for looking good and being well put together, making that niggle we experienced all the more disappointing. But the ride quality on the bigger 18-inch wheels of our test car had an unpleasantly harsh edge on bumpier roads, especially at town speeds over the kind of potholes, rough surfaces and speed bumps and like you’ll encounter in urban driving. This gives the A3 Sportback a very planted and sporty feel, which is satisfying for the driver. Ride comfort will depend very much on which trim you opt for, given the less powerful engines and cheaper versions have a more basic rear suspension set-up and you only get the more sophisticated chassis on cars with more than 150 horsepower. Space in the back is average for the class, though a little dark and claustrophobic with the black trim of our test car. That’s OK, though, because the A3 was already a comfortable car with a great driving position, plenty of adjustment to accommodate drivers of different shapes and sizes and a suitably premium feel. The new A3 Sportback is fractionally longer, wider and lower than its predecessor to the benefit of styling but the gains inside are down to the odd millimetre here and there so not really of any consequence. Audi residual values are typically stronger, though, which should count in the A3 Sportback’s favour when crunching finance options against rivals. CO2 emissions and fuel consumption are all pretty much comparable too, meaning running costs are going to be close. It’s on a par with the Mercedes and BMW options when you compare equivalent models with 2.0-litre diesel motors and automatic gearboxes like our test car. The A3 35 TDI S line we tested is a popular trim level and, at list price, the Audi costs a little more than an equivalent Golf with the same engine and gearbox. ![]() But the core 35 TFSI petrol and 35 TDI diesel will be at the heart of the range and offer a solid basis for comparison with direct rivals, including the Volkswagen Golf (with which the A3 shares its foundations, engines and tech) and premium alternatives like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series. More engines will be joining the A3 Sportback range in due course, including hybrids at one end and more performance-oriented versions like the new S3 at the other. ![]()
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