Audi may already be topping the luxury car sales charts in India but now, it’s ready with another model that could help further distance itself from rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The model in question is the A3. In brief, the A3 is Audi’s entry-level sedan. More importantly, it is the German carmaker’s most affordable sedan. Likely to be priced in the region of Rs 28 lakh (estimated, ex-showroom), the A3 will be more expensive than other players in the mass luxury segment such as Mercedes’ A-class and BMW’s 1-series hatchbacks. However, given Indians' penchant for a sedan body style, the slight premium in price is unlikely to hurt the A3’s far wider appeal. Right badge, right image and potentially the right price apart, the A3’s got a lot else going for it too.
For starters, it looks like a proper Audi. Right from the large grille and sharply cut headlights to the nicely arced glasshouse and LED brake lamps, there’s little deviation from Audi’s neat and uncluttered look. What many buyers will also like is how the A3 appears larger than it actually is. It’s got a nice, strong stance that helps camouflage its Honda City-like dimensions very well.
Sadly, this impression of size ceases the moment you open the back door. Space in the rear seat is just average, with limited headroom and cabin width marking this down as a car for the predominantly chauffeur-driven. To be fair, Audi’s junior sedan is intended for younger buyers who are likely to drive themselves. And it is this lot of self-driven buyers who will really like their seats for comfort and the general ambience within the cabin. Sure, the dashboard isn’t as elaborate as in other Audis but it’s just as well finished with fine attention to detail. The knurled climate control knobs and turbine-like air conditioning vents, in particular look, and feel very special.
What’s also nice is that Audi hasn’t skimped on equipment. The A3 comes with a panoramic sunroof, cruise control, reverse sensors, powered front seats and a 7-inch high resolution display for the multimedia system. The interface is easy to scroll through helped in no small part by raised toggles near the gear lever that serve as shortcuts for the telephone, navigation, audio and radio functions.
In terms of engine specification, the Audi A3 does not disappoint. On offer is a 2-litre turbo-diesel and a 1.8-litre turbo-petrol, both mated to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. We drove the petrol engine-powered A3 and were deeply impressed by its refinement and performance. The tech-laden engine features direct injection and pumps out a very healthy 177bhp between 5100-6200rpm and a max torque of 25.5kgm from a low 1250rpm all the way to 5000rpm. As the numbers suggest, there’s lots of punch right from the word go. That means you don’t need to flex your throttle foot too long to reach serious speeds. Helping matters is the quick-shifting gearbox that’s almost intuitive in the way it’s always in the right gear at all times. Sadly, there are no paddle shifters though you can use the gear lever to change gears manually in tip-tronic mode.
Engine aside, what will endear the A3 to most buyers is how composed it feels in all conditions, be it on the highway or driving up a twisty hill road. The fairly direct steering, excellent grip and relatively small size make this a car that’s easy to drive hard. What only further adds to the A3’s appeal is how well its suspension and tyres deal with the worst of Indian roads, at just about all speeds.
The A3 then is a car that seems well suited to India. It offers almost everything we like about larger Audis but in a smaller package and at a friendlier price point. Sure, the limited rear seat space could be a deal breaker for some, but if you drive yourself, the A3 is worth making a beeline to your local Audi dealer for.
