Audi A3 Reviews

Kickoff is $72,000 – a hefty old ask for what is essentially a three-door hatch.You could buy any variety of Subaru's Impreza WRX for that figure and still pocket plenty of change.But then, your new car would not be a German bahnstormer and it would certainly have a completely different feel to the super slick Audi which really hits the sweet spot.The naturally aspired 3.2-litre V6 produces a sizzling 184kW of power at 6300rpm and 320Nm of torque between 2500 and 3000rpm. It is currently the most powerful engine in the range, that is until we see what the new S3 has to offer.Drive is fed to the ground through all four wheels via Audi's Quattro all-wheel drive system, with electronic stability control to keep things under control. The ESP can can be switched off if desired but really this is not necessary as we discovered because it is not intrusive.With the V6 on board you don't get a choice of transmissions. It is the double clutch DSG tranny or nothing. Having said that, it is much faster than a normal auto and with six cogs to play with, there's plenty to go round.We should make a special mention here of the Sport mode, which is not much good around town, but really comes into its own on winding country roads. The gearing is very aggressive, it changes quickly and only does so when necessary, leaving the driver to get on with the job of steering the car. You couldn't ask for a better compromise.In terms of power the A3 should trounce the Rex and it does, (at least the equivalent auto model) even though the Audi is a good 75kg heavier at 1525kg. This is like having someone in the seat next to you the whole time. Suffice to say the A3 goes hard, with a 0-100km/h taking 6.4 seconds and the top speed electronically governed at 250km/h.Handling is top notch, in a well balanced package that hugs the road. The ride is form but not uncomfortable. Brakes are excellent with big fat 17 inch alloys and 225/45 high performance tyres.Despite a heavy foot we still managed to still get 11.2L/100km from the 60-litre tank in just over 1000km of driving, which is excellent considering the size of the engine. Note however that it takes premium unleaded fuel and prefers the 98RON stuff if the budget runs to it.Lots of standard equipment including six airbags, suede leather upholstery and a first rate sound system.

The diesel pump nozzle doesn't quite fit into the spout opening, so you have to pour it in slowly to prevent spillage.It is the only drawback in what is a fabulous turbo diesel engine.The new two-litre A3 comes with either a fuel stratified injection (FSI) petrol engine or a turbo direct-injection (TDI) diesel donk.You will pay an extra $8800 for the diesel and bright mathematicians will be able to work out that with diesel prices sometimes higher than unleaded fuel, it could take quite a while before the better fuel economy in the diesel starts to flow through as savings.But is that the only reason why people should buy a diesel car like the A3?Diesel engines are no longer noisy, smelly, slow or dirty. Quite the opposite. And this one is a great example.A little clatter at idle soon disappears and returns as a "junior" V8 growl when you get up it. There is no smell and very little emission thanks to European pollution laws.And as for its speed, get this: it has 320Nm of torque, which is about the same as some large family cars and 120Nm more than the A3 petrol equivalent.Plenty of torque means plenty of launch off the line. It also means that filling the back seat and the boot area won't drain the power, nor will hills.Married to the six-speed auto box with sports shift and sequential options on the T shift and paddles on the wheel, it is truly inspiring.In normal Drive mode, it tends to change gears too early for the petrol-engined FSI and will drive around town in sixth gear.Yet this is fine for the torquey diesel engine which will pull from these low revs with a nice growl.In the petrol engine, it's a little under-revved and you must wonder what it is doing to itself.Coming up to a corner, if you bang it across to sequential, you will often find you are in one or even two gears higher than expected.With no time to glance down and check what gear you are in, you drop it down one or two cogs and still find you are in a gear or two higher than where you want to be.In Sports shift, it changes gears so intuitively you don't really need to go for the sequential shifter. Besides, you have to go back to Drive to get it across to the sequential, unless you have the optional paddle shifters on the wheel.The paddle shifters are fine for driving sweepers and highways where your hands don't move around the wheel, but around town and in tight turns you can lose those paddle shifters just when you need them.In Sports shift, the A3 holds gears well as you accelerate; heading downhill it hangs on to gears so you don't roll on speed and when you need more oomph, it drops down quickly and delivers.I expected cruise control on a car in this price range. Sporty drivers may say that it's not important, but perhaps it's even more important when the car wants to give you this much power in a small package.On several occasions I found it accelerated so fast and effortlessly that I was way over the posted speed limit. If not a cruise control, then how about a speed-limiter like Mercedes-Benz employs, or at least an audible speed warning?Styling is beautiful, with fine touches of brushed aluminium, such as in the rim around the instruments.The sound system is superb, especially with the Bose speakers option, and also comes with a tape deck in case the solid suspension is too much for the CD player.But it would be nice in a car of this price to have the audio controls on the steering wheel.The sound system is obviously set up for left-hand drive as the volume control is all the way over on the left. That's a distraction you don't need when you are driving a sporty car.It is based on the Golf chassis and some of the knobs, instruments and do-hickeys are shared.You sit down in it, more so than the Golf. Seat height adjustment also helps here.Quality abounds and the suspension and driver aids all add up to making this a superior road-holder.However, the traction control could not have been more brutal, giving a couple of huge transmission thumps when it activated. That's fine when you are giving it a go and you expect a bit of noise, but when it activates in the wet – and after all it's a front-wheel drive – it is awfully disconcerting and surprising.There is a fair bit of torque steer from the electro-mechanical system which you have to fight when the front steering drive wheels get light or break traction, but after a while you get used to it and actually enjoy the feel. It is speed-related with servo assistance, so it does away with a pump. Understeer is predictable and never a problem and works in just fine with the torque-steer feel, trying to right itself and point the wheels straight.

While not exactly the definitive profile of the "little Aussie battler" the four-ringed marque has certainly spent a long time as the one having sand kicked in its face in its respective playground.While still struggling against the Euro-lux big boys – BMW and Mercedes-Benz – Audi is continuing to win some small victories in the turf wars.The A8 is now widely regarded as the benchmark for large-car luxury, usurping both BMW's 7 Series and the ageing Mercedes S-Class, while Audi's RS performance cars have won praise as athletes you can live with day to day.But it is at the bottom end of the size scale where the scrapping is likely to be fiercest.The A3 is the gateway to the world of Audi, a (relatively) affordable introduction to Europe's junior luxury club.With the latest model, Audi has polished up the interiors, produced a platform to be proud of and found a couple of new engines – but is it enough?Within a couple of months the A3 will have fresh challengers, led by BMW's 1 Series and to be followed within a year by the all-new Mercedes A-Class.Time spent in the new A3 range – 1.6-litre petrol, 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre turbo diesel – suggests Audi is up for the challenge.The first impression of the new range is that they have been given a dose of attitude.A little wider, a little lower and a little more launch feel – in all but the 1.6 – the changes are subtle but together noticeable.For its size, the A3 is a substantial car. Weight-saving has not been top of the list in this car and it is the 75kW 1.6 that suffers.Up and cruising the entry-level engine has all of Audi's niceties in ride quality and handling, but away from the mark and in acceleration it is hoppled by its 1200kg mass.Step up to the 2.0-litre FSi (fuel stratified injection) and things start to look up.With some 30 per cent more power and torque than the 1.6, the FSi engine is a far more lively proposition.The six-speed tiptronic box is well matched to the engine and in full automatic delivers enough mid-range urge that manual shifting only becomes an attraction on that special piece of road.However, the pick of the litter – and the one least likely to be bought by Australians – is the 2.0-litre turbo diesel.The trick DSG (direct shift gearbox) offers less to the mix than its hype would suggest, but the engine is a treat.With 103kW – not bad for a small oil-burner – the power is sufficient for comfortable top-end cruising but it is the way you get there that makes the difference.Pulling peak 320Nm from 1750rpm through to 2500rpm the Audi TDi has mid-range urge to die for.Noise isolation is good – partly from sensible engine mounting isolation and partly from lots of sound insulation in the car body – and while you still know it is a diesel on start-up the impression doesn't hang around for long.A stand-out feature from all the cars was the new electro-mechanical power steering which allows superb feedback and surety of turn-in while retaining a nice weighting and enough off-centre feel to make high-speed cruise a breeze.As you would expect from Audi – and for any small car which is going to hit the pocket on a sliding scale from $40,000 – the inclusion list is good and of good quality.ABS and electronic stability control are standard, along with 16-inch alloys in the lower-end models. Duel front, side and curtain bags are the norm as are climate control air, full electric windows and mirrors, reach and tilt steering wheel adjustment, and five lap-sash belts.Further up the model range you will get 17-inch alloys, sports suspension, fog lamps, trip computer and a sports leather trim.

There is little doubt Audi is setting the pace in styling terms over its most direct European competitors.Look at the new A3 – a sexy looking, well-proportioned car if ever there was one.With subtle links to the first A3 from 1996, the new model has progressed to the point where other companies would be silly if they didn't copy elements of the A3 look. And they will, wait and see.Like all the other Audis in the currentl line-up the A3 with its high door sills is body beautiful.And then you drive it.Things get better from here. v This was the "base" model, 1.6-litre, three-door hatch with optional six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission selling for about $37,000. v What is impressive about this powrtrain is the auto trainsmssion – not yet available on any other car in this segment. Others make do with four or five cogs in their small car automatics.EVen better are the A3's steering wheel shift buttons so you can pretend you are behind the wheel of an F1 car.The 1.6-litre hi-tech, petrol engine is good for 75kW/148Nm output.Not a lot on the face of it, especially in the weighty A3 but the six-speed auto does an excellent job of marshalling engine output and feeding it through the front wheels to the road.This layout – small capacity engine with a six-speed auto – could point the way to the future, especially in small petrol-powered vehicles.The engine is sweet running and economical and has good response from low in the rev range. It spins out freely and is quiet in cruise mode.The auto shifts smoothly and adapts to various drivin styles and conditions.Audi has given the new A3 tidy dynamics that deliver a sporty, taut on-road feel which flows through to other areas of the car. The electric steering for example is direct and firm and the brakes are powerful.It is well suspended and feels like a larger car. It is in fact slightly larger than the previous A3.The interior is up to expected generic high Audi standards and is functional and attractive with some arty touches to liven things up.Access to the rear seats is OK, aided by a clever front seat folding mechanism. Once you're there the rear seat isn't bad. The boot is large for a car of this size.It is well equipped and has quality ancillaries.Can't wait for the five-door version to arrive.

The seemingly sedate dash lights up a brilliant red, as he goes from angel to red-hot party animal.I can't tell you my delight at accessorising my hair with my dash, though sadly, because it is dark, the full effect is lost somewhat.Suddenly, you have a licence to thrill, to shed those sensible Audi shackles and live life on the edge.It's the ultimate boyfriend – the type your mum would approve of – good breeding and pedigree, but once safely away from prying eyes it fires up.The little A3 is too cute for its own good. Jealous stares come from males and females alike, though it's a little disconcerting when 50-year-old men approach you to say they love your car.But proving as always that looks can be deceiving, there are a few design flaws that befuddle.For instance, when the armrest is down, if you apply the handbrake your arm and the brake hit the armrest. OK, so this is easily remedied by placing the armrest in an upright position (see, I could have been a hostie) but, seriously, why should you have to?Surely someone sat in the car before it was put on the production line? OK, maybe not.Then there's a rather uncomfortable accelerator pedal, which feels like your foot is at a 90-degree angle.Although I have never had the pleasure (or displeasure) of giving birth, I felt like my feet were in stirrups ready to launch.And don't they think of things like high heels when designing a car which mainly women will drive?However, one thing Audi has done right is the vanity mirrors, which have a light that switches on automatically when you slide the mirror cover across.Anyone (we'll assume it is women, but you should never rule things out) who has tried to apply lipstick in a dark car using only the interior light will extol the perfection of this invention – no more panda eyes from eyeliner you thought was in place and no clown-style lipstick.Which is a good thing, because we are headed for a party, after all, my Audi and I.

It's the clatter of tiny pistons in the driveway and, similarly, it represents a big lifestyle change.Welcome to the new age of diesel-engined – or perhaps more correctly, diesel-fuelled – cars.Australia has been poorly served by diesel passenger vehicles while owners in Europe bask in the mechanical chatter of fuel-efficient, durable and reliable oil-burning cars.It's easy to see why – diesel in most other nations is half the price of petrol, unlike the general parity in Australia.Some are already here – Peugeot and Citroen especially – though Australia's grotty, high-sulphur diesel fuel has restricted imports of high-performance cars.It's getting better.The sulphur content of Australian-supplied diesel fuel is as high as 500ppm (parts per million), but that will fall to 50ppm by January 1, 2006, allowing new-generation, high-performance engines to run cleanly and trouble free.But we don't have to wait that long. Audi this month unleashed its first performance diesel – appearing in the A3 – and more will come from the maker.Mercedes-Benz and BMW have less fuel-sensitive diesel-engined vehicles on the market, though they – and others – will offer better engines by 2006.Which leaves us at 110km/h on a flat ribbon of bitumen east of Perth with the Audi A3's engine humming at a mere 2000rpm.Other than the muted gruffness and subtle clatter of the engine at idle, there is no hint that this car is alternatively fuelled.Drive it – really drive it hard – and it feels like a very torquey petrol engine.It does suffer from some lag off the mark, though clever drivers can use the automatic transmission's manual shift to reduce this.The engine dislikes high revs – it redlines at 4500rpm – but there's no need to go that hard because all the oomph comes in mainly from 1500-3000rpm. Over-revving merely causes engine wear and high fuel consumption – it doesn't improve performance.The A3's handling and road manners are confident, impressing more in the country where its solid feel makes the driver test the sensational handling.It is as easy to drive as a petrol-fuelled car. Earlier dieselsrequired the driver to wait a few seconds before cranking over the engine to allow time for the glow plugs to heat up.Despite a rather unpleasant 0.6C Sunday morning recently, the Audi started first turn without any waiting.Now if you think all that's pretty smart, have a look at the gearbox.This is Audi's six-speed DSG (direct shift gearbox) transmission that acts like a conventional automatic but with the option of using the Tiptronic function, operated either by the gear lever or small paddles on the steering wheel.The trick is the speed of the gearchanges – not only better than a manual, but better than any sequential semi-automatic.The reason is the DSG has two clutch plates. While happily accelerating in first gear, the second clutch engages second gear and spins it up to the required speed, before it falls straight into the drivetrain with virtually no pause.While second gear is engaged, the DSG gets third gear ready, and so on right through the six ratios. It's speed of engagement makes it more than a rival for any standard manual gearbox, so why buy one?DSG is offered only on the model tested, an A3 TDI, and the 3.2-litre petrol V6 version.The new A3 three-door hatch is visibly cleaner than before, though its bland shape does suffer an identity crisis. That aside, the build quality is fantastic. Yes, better than Mercedes and BMW.The panel fit of the body, the superb materials used in the cabin and the way everything works so well puts it above even Lexus.There's a big boot that expands thanks to a split-fold rear seat, but beneath the luxurious carpet in the cargo area is a stupid space-saver tyre.There are six airbags, a brilliant Bose sound system, dual-zone climatic airconditioning, electric windows, leather upholstery and big alloy wheels.But you pay for it. The A3 TDI's $47,800 price tag – plus onroad costs – is an awful lot for a small four-seater ostensibly as functional as a $21,000 Toyota Corolla hatch.

The brand says its new small hatch/coupe will become the light-car benchmark. And they are hoping it is the first step in converting the next generation of luxury car buyers away from rivals BMW and Mercedes before they reach luxury car buying age."We're putting the cards on the table up front and challenging not for volume leadership but for benchmark status," Audi Australia managing director Graham Hardy says."The role of this car is to secure the leading position in the A (light) segment in terms of design and aspiration and to defend its position against future competitors."The new design will have to defend its position for seven years, the expected life-cycle of the model.Audi describes the A3's appearance as "aggressive", though it is similar to its predecessor and is much less confrontational than the cars Audi names as its main competitors, the radical BMW 1-Series and the Mercedes-Benz A-class.Despite visual similarities to the previous car, the A3 is 55mm longer, 30mm wider and 10mm lower.The A3 has a true three-pronged attack with, in the beginning, three very different engine types, to be joined by a fourth in August.At the bottom of the A3 chart is the relatively conventional 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 75kW of power and 148Nm of torque.The most important engine in terms of sales volume is the 2.0-litre FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection), a direct-injection engine in which the fuel is atomised into the combustion chamber rather than through a manifold. The FSI has an output of 110kW and 200Nm of torque and Audi predicts it will make up about 60 per cent of sales.Unfortunately, the high sulphur content of Australian fuel means that one particularly useful feature of the engine – its lean-burn mode that reduces the amount of fuel used when the engine isn't working as hard – has been turned off for local conditions because of potential nitrous oxide pollution.A first for Audi in the A3 is the 2.0-litre TDI (turbo-diesel injection), with a useful 103kW of power and an impressive 320Nm of torque.Audi predicts 20 per cent of A3 buyers will take up the diesel option.The 1.6-litre will be offered with a five-speed manual or six-speed tiptronic auto.A six-speed manual is available for the FSI, along with the six-speed auto, while the TDI has a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), a sequential manual gearbox.The DSG has two clutches. While one clutch is engaged, the other preselects the next highest gear (or fifth gear if it is already in sixth).When it's time to change it simply disengages one clutch and automatically engages the other, promising slicker gear changes without the loss of power in an automatic caused by the torque converter.Across the range there are two equipment levels, the base model, Attraction, with 16-inch wheels and cloth trim, but with split-zone climate control, eight-speaker stereo with CD, stability control and traction control as standard.The up-spec Ambition has 17-inch cast aluminium wheels, a higher-level cloth trim, sports seats in the front, trip computer, fog lights and sports suspension.The Attraction is available with the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre FSI engines. The Ambition level is offered for the FSI and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.The top-of-the-range A3 Quattro Ambition with a 3.2-litre V6, all-wheel-drive and the DSG transmission arrives in August.According to Hardy, Audi Australia is still hoping for an 11th-hour price cut for Australian A3 customers from the company in Germany, even though some of the cars have already landed in Australia."The price was finalised but the case has been re-opened and we have a more competitive price than we had last week."We've taken the view that it's worth it for positioning the car for the next six or seven years."ON THE ROADNOT long ago buying an Audi was the left-field option for those wanting something different to the "safe" choices of a Merc or BMW.Looking at the new smallest-car offerings from the three German brands you'd be forgiven for seeing it the other way round.Next to the quirky Mercedes-Benz A-Class and the confronting BMW 1-Series, the new A3 looks conventional and handsome.While appearance is subjective, we think the Audi's looks will get people trying and liking it, whether they sneak in at the bottom, or go the extra distance in the turbo diesel.If you're going to tour the north-east Victorian wine district and the Great Dividing Range in a small car, we couldn't think of a more pleasant way of doing it than in the new A3.Our first impression of the car is that it's solid. Whether it be the doors, controls, steering or handling, nothing feels flimsy.We gave all three engines – the 1.6-litre four, the 2.0-litre FSI and the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel – a good workout.Buyers should be given a good reason to spend extra on going the next step up on the model ladder and, while it is a serviceable enough engine, the 1.6 does give a strong case for the other two.We drove the 1.6 with the five-speed manual through undulating roads near Beechworth and, having to cart around a kerb weight of 1205kg, it was competent but hardly "sporty" in the way Audi says. There is a dullness when accelerating, especially uphill, often requiring a shift down to give it a hand.The handling, however, feels almost foolproof. At night with dew beginning to settle on hilly roads, the A3 sits flat and comfortable on the tarmac, with an impressive level of grip and balanced steering.From the TT to the A8, Audi has been without peer when it comes to designing an interior and instrument layout that's attractive and easy to use. The A3 continues the trend, giving the car a level of class well above most European rivals.The seats are a fine balance of comfort and support, and the seating position feels right too.Climb into the 2.0-litre FSI car, and what's missing from the base A3 1.6 becomes obvious. The FSI has a glorious note that even an Alfa Romeo fanatic would find difficult to fault, and an extra 35kW and 52Nm of torque. Combine the tiptronic automatic with some ripper winding roads near Bright and you have as good a Euro hatch experience as you could wish for.But it's the turbo-diesel that Audi is most excited about, claiming it is the fastest and most economical A3 in the range. The most impressive thing about it is the "average litres per 100km" on the trip computer screen, which hovered around 6.5.