In Udaipur we had the option of driving the
diesel car that gets the very familiar 2.0 TDI under that stout bonnet. Don't
be deceived by the 35 TDI badge on the boot, though. This is Audi's new
nomenclature system making its debut with the A3. The 35 indicates the car's
dynamic quotient, which is arrived at after some complex calculations,
including acceleration. The petrol car, therefore, wears a 40 TFSI badge
instead of the more familiar 1.8 TFSI. But I digress. As I mentioned, it's the
same 143-PS and 320-Nm 2.0 TDI pulling the 1,315 kilograms of the A3.
Transmission to the front wheels is done via Audi's S Tronic gearbox, albeit a
six-speed one.
The
7-inch retractable screen is the highlight of the infotainment system
The oil burning unit is smooth and refined
with hardly any noise at tick-over. Stamp on the throttle and it actually has a
slightly gruff sporty note to it. Not exactly an aural delight, but pleasing
nevertheless. On the go, the Audi's powertrain is a willing partner that
matches the driver's sporty intentions. On the open Rajasthan highway from
Udaipur city to Mount Abu, enthusiastic throttle inputs got the needle on the
easy to read speedo up to just over 190 km/h before we erred on the side of caution
and got back down to sensible speeds. The gearbox is quick and keeps pace with
the engine's torque and power that are unleashed when you increase the pressure
of your right foot. What was missed, though, was the absence of paddle-shifters
that may have pleased the enthusiast in us a bit more. But, honestly speaking,
it's not a big enough detractor from the fun you can have with the A3. At the
same time, with the max torque being developed at a low 1,750 RPM and then
staying with you till you're on the other side of 3,000 RPM means there’s
enough grunt and more in the low- and mid-range for crawling around the city
without ruining fuel efficiency too much.
The
glovebox houses the multimedia input for SD card and DVD
At high triple-digit speeds the A3 feels
planted and charges ahead with gusto. Sweeping bends are also taken care of
without drama. Even at 140 km/h on a bend you don't feel nervous in this sporty
compact sedan. Brake hard and you will be able to finely judge whether the ABS
will kick in, for there is ample feel from the central brake pedal, not to
mention a progressive confidence-inspiring action as well. It's also a very
nimble car as we found out when we drove up a really narrow twisty mountainous
road up to the erstwhile Maharana's monsoon palace, called Sajjangarh. Taut
handling and crisp feedback-rich steering response means that a slow drive up
transforms into a smile-inducing quick one.
The
low profile rubber does not affect the ride quality and the tyres offer oodles
of grip
It is also on these secondary roads where
surfacing is frequently patchy with the occasional pothole where you truly
begin to appreciate the A3's ride quality. The suspension set-up treads the
delicate balance between good handling and a pliant ride quality; neither too
soft, soggy nor too stiff. This Audi rumbles over the patchy surfaces without
allowing the shocks to distract you from the fun and it's only the largest of
potholes or highest bumps that catch the A3 out. Dips on the highway also are
well damped and further reduce chances of hair-raising moments when the smooth
stretch of asphalt ahead suddenly dips into a deepish trough when you're at
full clip.
Boot
measures 425-litres and can be expanded to 880-litres by dropping rear seats
At the end of a day of driving it was easy
to come to a verdict. There is precious little not to like about the new Audi
A3. It looks good in a classy sporty fashion that is not overtly blingy. There
are enough comfort features by way of Bluetooth telephony, an accurate sat-nav,
climate control, a pair of 12 V sockets (one up front and one at the rear),
panoramic sunroof and more. It drives well enough to induce grins while keeping
things sufficiently comfortable for the less enthusiastic members of the
family. The only flip side is diminished rear space, but then you shouldn't
expect more in a compact sedan. So as far as the A3 package goes, I'd have to
say round one goes to Audi, even if this is a one-make race at the moment.
