Price, power, practicality

Audi is betting big on its A3 entry-level sedan, and the diesel variant is a well-rounded machine equipped to take on its rivals

August 20, 2014 06:54 pm | Updated 06:54 pm IST

The Audi A3 diesel

The Audi A3 diesel

Audi has launched the A3 sedan and we have tested the variant that’s most likely to comprise the lion’s share of its sales in India, the A3 diesel. According to dealers, this oil burning version is the one that has received most enquiries. It is powered by a 141bhp 2.0-litre diesel motor (similar to the one that powers the Q3 S).

Although styling is a bit too generic, the A3 looks good. The crisp lines and spot-on proportions look magnificent and it’s definitely one of the more athletic- looking Audis, especially in this S-line trim with the 17-inch rims. Predictably, the interiors exude an upmarket feel and material quality is typically Audi. The cabin is well screwed together and it doesn’t make you feel short-changed. Sure, there are a few bits of hard plastic on the dash but on the whole, it doesn’t skimp on the luxury experience. The all-black dashboard is unique for the A3 and is inspired by the TT sportscar rather than any of the larger Audi sedans. If anything, the buttons, which are a bit too small and bunched together, make the dash appear a bit too sparse. The empty space atop the dashboard is accentuated when the pop-up 7-inch infotainment screen is tucked away.

Audi A3 35TDIPrice Rs 27.0 lakh (estimated) L/W/H 4456/1796/1416mm Wheelbase 2637mm Engine 4-cyl, 1968cc, turbo-diesel Power 141bhp at 3500-4000rpm Torque: 32.63kgm at 1750-3000rpm Gearbox 6-speed automatic

The MMI display itself which glides in and out of the dash with delectable fluidity has fantastic graphics that are crisp and easy to read. The interface also employs a nice high-resolution screen and is powered by Audi’s new ‘scratch-top’-enabled MMI controls and its integration with our Android phone is seamless in the way it handles music and calls. The scratchpad is particularly useful to quickly dial people from the phonebook Also convenient are the dedicated shortcuts for frequently accessed functions such as music, telephone and navigation.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels great to hold and doesn’t block your view of the instrument cluster. Elements such as the turbine-like air-con vents and technical-looking instrument cluster help create a contemporary cabin. The powered large front seats are quite accommodating and you don’t feel tired even after spending almost a full day in them. However, head room at the rear is a bit too tight and taller passengers will have to stoop a bit to avoid contact with the roof. While average frames won’t have a problem with space or thigh support, rear passengers will find their legroom is limited by a tall driver. On the upside, the rear bench feels quite airy, especially with the sunroof cover open.

The car gets a badge which says 35TDI instead of the expected 2.0 TDI. This is Audi’s new ‘dynamic factor’ nomenclature, which is a system they use to calculate the performance of a given model and variant. Simply put, the bigger the number, the quicker it is to 100kph. The engine, is mated to a six-speed S-tronic automatic ‘box but there are no paddle shifters. Compared to its compact luxury rivals, the diesel A3 produces almost as much power as the 143bhp BMW 1-series diesel and a lot more than the 108bhp diesel Mercedes A-class and B-class.

It doesn’t have the same scintillating performance of the turbo-petrol version, but that’s not to say it’s slow. This is a nice torquey motor that’s quite responsive and it simply gobbled up the road. Useable power starts from as low as 1,600rpm and peaks between 2,000 and 3,500rpm. Within this powerband, there’s strong tug everytime you flex your right foot. Sure, the low-end response isn’t as snappy as the petrol’s but it isn’t really bothersome as even off-boost, the engine doesn’t get bogged down.

More impressive though is how easy it is to overtake even on single-carriageways; the punchy mid-range catapulting you ahead of slow-moving trucks. However, the car lacks the ‘shove-in-the-seat’ surge of torque found on rivals and the gear changes aren’t the most seamless as you feel the ‘box swap cogs when accelerating hard. Another issue is with the ECU calibration. When you floor the throttle at low speeds, there is a momentary delay followed by a sudden surge of power which makes driving smoothly tricky.

As for noise, the engine is largely quiet, getting a touch gruff when you rev it hard. Cruising at about 80kph, it’s hard to tell you’re in a diesel and road noise is well-contained. Overall, the diesel motor is quite refined and offers a nice blend of driveability and performance.

Complementing this motor is a great ride and handling balance. The ride felt a bit firm (but never uncomfortable) and has more to do with the optional larger 17-inch wheels fitted with lower profile rubber, since both petrol and diesel A3 have the same suspension setup. Just like its petrol sibling, this car rides reasonably flat on long stretches of undulations, and feels quite unflappable over broken sections of road; even moderately deep potholes are dispatched without much fuss. The long, fast corners gave the A3 scope to prove itself and it did, exhibiting fantastic body control and holding the tarmac with a vice-like grip. Despite being front-wheel-driven and slightly nose-heavy, it can carry some serious speeds entering a corner. What also helps is that the electric steering, though a touch numb, is accurate and never feels overly light.

The car offers a fantastic blend of luxury, fun and practicality. Sure, it isn’t as refined and doesn’t quite thrill you like the 177bhp petrol variant but, on a day-to-day basis, the performance is more than adequate and it will be significantly cheaper at the pump too. You may argue that this small, assembled-in-India Audi isn’t exactly cheap but then, it’s quite well-equipped and doesn’t skimp on the luxury experience. Between the German three, Audi is a late entrant, but with this sedan, it’s hit the sweet spot in the compact luxury space.

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