The new four-door A3 is Audi’s answer to an
entry-level executive saloon. It’s the first time that Audi has competed in
this market and it is keen to highlight the 24cm of length that separates the
A3 saloon from the A4.
Audi
A3 2.0 TDI Sport Saloon front
The A3 saloon is a good-looking car and
shares no body panels with the Sportback on which it is based. There are strong
lines and a definite presence on the road.
At launch, the car will come with a choice
of two petrol engines and one diesel. Driven here is the 2.0 TDI, which sits in
the middle of the range and produces 148bhp and 236lb ft.
Audi
A3 2.0 TDI Sport Saloon side
It’s a gutsy unit, giving immediate
acceleration from low down in its rev range. It’s also very refined and settles
to a quiet cruise on a steady throttle. Although it does not benefit from the
cylinder-on-demand technology of the lower-powered 1.4 TFSI, we easily matched
Audi’s claimed 68.9mpg combined economy.
Audi
A3 2.0 TDI Sport Saloon back
However, the diesel unit suffers from a
relatively narrow power band (around 1750-3000rpm); beyond that, there is the
impression that it’s running out of puff.
Audi
A3 2.0 TDI Sport Saloon boot
A six-speed manual gearbox will be fitted
as standard from launch. However, that wasn’t available on our test car.
Instead, we had the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that will come as a $2220
option later on. It’s a good transmission, giving clear and quick changes in
Normal mode, but beware of some rough downshifts when in Sport mode.
Audi
A3 2.0 TDI Sport Saloon interior
Urban commuters might prefer the
higher-powered 1.8 TFSI petrol model but, for motorway cruising, nothing in the
launch range beats the refinement of this 2.0-liter diesel.
Audi
A3 2.0 TDI Sport Saloon inside
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Specs
·
Price: $38,633
·
0-62mph: 8.7sec
·
Top speed: 137mph
·
Economy: 68.9mpg
·
CO2” 107g/km
·
Kerb weight: 1390lg
·
Engine: 4 cyls, 1986cc, turbo diesel
·
Power: 148bhp at 3500-4000rpm
·
Torque: 236lb ft at 1750-3000rpm
·
Gearbox: 7-spd dual-clutch automatic
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