Audi A3 35 TFSI Sportback First Drive Review: It's Good Whatever You Pick

What we like:

Sportier and more youthful looks

More interesting colours now available

All A3s now come with proper multi-link rear suspension and the 1.5 TFSI engine as a minimum

What we dislike:

A little light on engagement

MUNICH, Germany - The A3 is currently available in Singapore either as 1.0 TFSI (110 hp - Cat A COE) or 1.5 TFSI (150 hp - Cat B COE). The incoming A3 improves the Cat A proposition tremendously - it now inherits the 1.5 TFSI engine with 116 hp / 220 Nm and is christened 30 TFSI, while the 35 TFSI (Cat B) car retains the same engine with 150 hp / 250 Nm. The 1.5 TFSI comes with a 48-volt mild hybrid system with recuperation, coast, and boost function.

As a fan of the 1.5 TFSI engine, I’m really pleased that this is now the base engine available for the A3. The 1.5 TFSI brings with it slightly more power (+6 hp), far greater refinement with one additional cylinder versus the 1.0 TFSI, while the unspoken change on the chassis front is that the updated A3s all now come with multi-link rear suspension. The outgoing A3 1.0 TFSI had to make do with a rear torsion beam. All round, it’s a great update for the A3, in particular for the Cat A car.

How does the new A3 look?

Being a test drive of both the A3 and S3 at the same location, I was initially unable to tell the difference between the two – at least from the front. That they look so similar is credit to the A3, as the car now looks more purposeful and hunkered down even though it is just the standard car.

Audi has redesigned the front single frame to be lower and wider, enlarged the air intakes and bumpers and incorporated a new diffuser, giving the car a surprising presence on the road.

Coming as standard are the LED headlights, which now also come with three different daytime running light (DRL) signatures (or four, if you pick the optional LED matrix headlights) that’s also paired to different coming home/leaving home lighting sequences. It’s the first time the A3 has this feature and gives a subtle differentiation that’s typically Audi.

It’s obvious, too, how Audi is targeting a more youthful crowd with its new palette of colours for the A3. District Green looks distinctively military, while Ascari Blue is a recognisable colour from the RS models.

How is the new A3 on the inside?

The cosy driver-oriented cockpit is largely retained, which is a sigh of relief for me as buttons have been retained instead of being integrated into the touchscreen. This generation of A3, in my view, is the right mix of physical controls and screens, an approach that pricier Audi models should follow.

More technology and convenience items now come as standard, including a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, Audi virtual cockpit, wireless phone charger, and four USB-C ports in total – two in front and two at the rear. In addition, Singapore-bound A3s get three-zone air-conditioning and the ambient light package as standard. Included as well as an interior technical fabric that is made from 100% recycled polyester. At the very least it is more interesting than just grey plastic.

An eye-catching optional feature that I quite fancy is the laser-cut fabric door panels that are illuminated from behind (part of the ambient light package pro). The fabric is cut 300 times and I daresay, enlivens the interior when night descends. Again, it’s an unboastful way for Audi to say, ‘I know how to deliver quality and style’. Other interesting optional extras include front massage seats, a SONOS sound system and a head-up display.

How safe is the new A3?

Very. On top of adaptive cruise control, lane change warning, lane departure warning and rear-cross traffic assist which are fairly common features these days, the A3 also comes as standard with Audi pre sense front and Park assist, the latter helping to park as well as back out of parking spaces through automated steering.

How is the new A3 like to drive?

Unfortunately, due to a heavy downpour, we had time constraints and did not get to drive the 30 TFSI. However, we tested the 35 TFSI variant instead, which should provide a close enough impression of the 30 TFSI.

May I remind you that the 35 TFSI is a 100hp/litre engine, which is an impressive figure even to this day. That said, it is an engine geared towards efficiency, so while there is enough poke the car is ever ready to shuffle up to the top gear or to switch the engine off altogether to conserve fuel. Only by selecting Dynamic in Drive Select do you get to harness the full potential of the motor.

On the twisty country roads just outside of Munich Airport, the A3 impresses with its composure despite the drenched road surface and less than ideal grip levels. It feels light on its feet and supremely easy to drive, demanding very little of the driver. Indeed at some parts, I wished for more power from the 1.5 TFSI as its power band tapers off towards its top end.

With the multi-link setup, the rear feels less crashy versus the torsion beam in the 1.0 TFSI predecessor, which is something to look forward to in the new Cat A model as well. You can feel it the most when you’re going over the divider strips on the Autobahn at speed. Speaking of which, noise insulation is OK for anything under 130 km/h but road roar starts to intrude when you go above.

What’s your conclusion about the new A3?

I’m especially excited about the new A3 with a Cat A COE, because it now delivers the proper Audi experience with a better engine and a more sophisticated suspension setup. The new A3 is a very safe car as well, and looks sportier on the outside. The standard equipment list is impressive. All of which makes the updated A3 worthy of your attention when it arrives in November. 

Photos by Audi AG

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