After being in production for over 7 years, it is offered with the group's new 1-litre engine. Does the A3 still hang in the corners?
Nano gray metallic, 18-inch rims, black roof rails, S line roof edge spoiler and striking S line bumpers make a very good first impression. In fact, it looks so good that one expects to find to tail pipe through the rear diffuser. But there is only one - and the engine is the group's new 1-litre engine with 116 horses. In Audi language, it is about the 30 TFSI, - an engine that is also delivered to new A1 and Q2.
Running on the torque
The new drivetrain replaces the 1,2-liter 110 HP engine. It provides higher torque, more horsepower, lower consumption, lower CO2 and lower taxes than its predecessor. A win-win situation, had it not been for the fact that the engine characteristics have changed. You drive even more "on the torque" than before. The engine provides good bottom pull from 1500 revs all the way up to 4000. During normal driving, you can keep the revs as low as 1500-2000 revs and save noise and fuel. The manual six-speed gearbox makes it possible to keep the revs down even on the motorway. The engine's biggest disadvantage is that it is a three-cylinder, that it vibrates at idle, that the soundscape when gas is applied sounds cheap and the engine seems slow when you want to pick up revs quickly.
The Audi feeling is present
Comfortable sports seats, torquey engine, low noise level, good radio and black roof cover give the feeling of driving a premium car. Behind the wheel, the Audi feeling is present. It also helps that the car looks good from the outside. But the idyll can crack. Our house in the south of France is on a rather steep hill. When we arrived on Saturday evening, we had to stop for some cool young people on their way to a party. I actually felt pretty cool myself, sitting in a cool Audi with cool music on the radio and an open side window. But the steep hill start made the 3-cylinder engine rush up the hill like a Fiat 500. Then the Audi feeling suddenly disappeared - at least for me.
On the road
The tire size 225/40R18 suits the car very well. Perfectly firm and stable on the road. In addition, they made little noise and provided good comfort. The tires felt more right for this car than the 16- and 17-inch tires I've previously had on "my" A3s. It's fun to steer the A3 around on small French roads that meander through the terrain between the vineyards. The road surface is rough and reminiscent of oil gravel. When I checked which tires were on the car, I saw that there were Pirelli P Zeros at the front (original Audi tires) while it had been changed to Hankook tires with a similar pattern at the rear. That's the tire brand my car rental company uses when retrofitting. I have previously stated that Hankook tires are quite quiet - probably quieter than the stock tires.
Prices and equipment
"Our" A3 had the S line exterior package and 18-inch wheels. It's expensive, but makes the car look younger and stay attractive even after the new A3 arrives next year. In addition, it gives you the good Audi feeling despite the small engine. The list price of "our" A3 then ends up at just over NOK 398.
The problem with premium cars like Audi is that everything that is premium costs extra. You can easily reach a six-figure sum on the options list. It is necessary to prioritize. What you really need is the 35 TFSI. Then you get the group's 1,5 liter engine with 150 horses and ACT (Active Cylinder Technology). It provides significantly more power and driving pleasure, with the same low fuel consumption as the 30 TFSI. The price difference between the two engine choices is NOK 52. It corresponds to optional equipment such as navigation and leather seats - equipment I would happily have sacrificed for increased driving pleasure.
consumption
During the 808 kilometers we drove the car, the average fuel consumption was between 0,55 and 0,60 on country roads and motorways in Spain and France. The country roads are peppered with small roundabouts which make it impossible to maintain a steady speed and drive economically. On one occasion we had 4 adults in the car and the consumption was around 0,60. With two people in the car, we measured 0,56 on the car's dashboard over a stretch of 200 km on Spanish motorways at a steady 120 km/h.
Conclusion
Audi's engine series 30 TFSI delivers good torque in the rpm range used in daily traffic, but is not ideal for "keen drivers". The advantage of the smallest engine choice is the price, more specifically NOK 52. If you splurge on the S line exterior package with 000-inch rims, fabric sports seats, sports steering wheel and black headliner, you'll still get plenty of good feeling - a real Audi feeling - but it comes at a cost.
Facts
Weights and Measures
Length, width, height: 431 / 179 / 143 cm
Wheelbase: 264 cm
Own weight: 1265 kg
Max trailer weight with brakes: 1500 kg
– without brakes: 750 kg
Luggage compartment: 380 litres
Petrol tank: 50 litres
Drivetrain
Displacement: 999 ccm
Power: 116 at 5000-5500 revs
Torque: Max 200 Nm between 2000-3500 revs (175 Nm from 1500 revs).
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Performances
Top speed: 206 km/h
0-100: 9,9 seconds
Tires
Dimension: 225/40R18 Y92
Type: Pirelli P Zero Nero GT (front - standard)
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 (rear - retrofitted)
Price and equipment
Base price A3 Sport 30 TFSI: NOK 330
Paint supplement Nano gray metallic: NOK 9
S line exterior package: NOK 19
Business package: NOK 13
18-inch alloy wheels: NOK 19
Roof rails (black): NOK 3
Black interior roof covering: NOK 3
About the car
Owner: Europcar.es
Model: 2019
Mileage: 23
Km driven: 808
Source: Audi.no
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