Audi A3 Sportback 1.0 Mild Hybrid TFSI Review: The Efficient Executive

What we like:

Very fuel efficient

Well-built even as an entry level Audi

Good looks

What we dislike:

Aircon vent layout

Ask any young executive on a car brand that they would aspire to own, and you can be assured that ‘Audi’ would emerge on your list. With COE prices inching up (or scaling fast), it may seem increasingly unattainable to own the keys to a new German executive car.

Audi has reintroduced the 1.0-litre three-cylinder model to its A3 range, and it is available in both Sedan and Sportback body styles. There is a good reason for that – the 1.0-litre engine falls into the Cat A COE bracket with its lower power output as compared to the 1.5-litre engine that is within the Cat B COE bracket.

This would translate into a price difference of nearly thirty grand between the two engine options. You may now be wondering why anyone would buy an entry-level Audi with a tiny engine that may struggle to move its own mass of German metal around.

Unless you were a car enthusiast, you would be hard pressed to identify the differences between this A3 Sportback 1.0-litre that is tested here and its 1.5-litre sibling. Gone are the days in which entry-level cars are built to a lower specification. The A3 Sportback 1.0-litre looks especially good in this shade of silver. The front is distinctly Audi with the front Singleframe grille flanked by large air inlets (pseudo) by the side. The headlight designs are also sharp and youthful.

Body creases in the door and a high bodyline running between the front and rear wheel arches create an elegant and purposeful stance.

The Sportback body style would also appeal to the younger demographic.

17-inch sport rims come standard. Whilst not the most exciting of designs, it would suit the demographics who would purchase this car. I actually like them more than the design found on its more expensive sibling.

Open the doors and that is where the build quality starts to shine. There is a certain heft to the doors and they close shut with a satisfying thud. Driver ergonomics is good and everything feels well laid out for ease of operation.

Buttons on the 3-spoke steering make a satisfying click when pressed and the same can be said of the aircon control buttons and power window controls. Yes, as per more expensive Audi models, it seems that every single button is engineered to feel and sound the same when pressed. The door handles also feel solidly damped.

The traditional gear stick is replaced by a simple stubby lever on the centre console and it is intuitive to operate while creating an ‘airier’ ambience. The silver garnish on the dashboard also lightens the dark themed interior.

Audi’s MMI infotainment system and virtual cockpit comes standard too. Parking assist also comes standard on this car which would make both vertical and parallel parking a hands-free affair (tested and proven!)

Start the car and the 1.0-litre engine makes a slight off-beat buzz, characteristic of three-cylinder engines. The older generation may ask ‘Huh, got power to move or go up-slope meh?’ Fret not, this turbocharged engine produces 109 bhp and 200 Nm and is nippier than many other cars out there. Do not expect it to win any races but it will get the car to 100 in 10.6s.

Paired to a 7-speed S-tronic gearbox and a 48V mild hybrid system, this car was purely engineered with efficiency in mind. The Sportback 1.0 has a ‘coast’ function (free-gear in local lingo) which allows the car to coast along when cruising along the highway or when the engine does not have any load. This is controlled automatically by the car and the engine and gearbox re-engage immediately once the gas or brake pedal is depressed.

Drive this car sensibly in Comfort mode and it is more than sufficient get around Singapore and even Malaysian highways. Dynamic mode may make the car go slightly faster but at the expense of engine noise. Sit back, relax and drive around in comfort to maximise the Sportback. Our OneShift team had also driven this exact car from Singapore to Hat Yai on less than a full-tank of petrol, achieving 26 km/l on their adventure.

At S$201,369, the Audi A3 Sportback 1.0 is not small change but it is the most affordable model in the Audi line-up. It is almost twenty grand cheaper than the Mercedes A180 Progressive and undercuts the BMW 116i by a sliver. With current COE prices where a Toyota Corolla Altis costs more than S$150,000, the Audi A3 Sportback 1.0 suddenly does not seem that expensive when you are getting a safe, quality and well-built car that is perfect for the young executive to embark on their motoring adventure.

The Audi A3 Sportback 1.0 is a practical choice for young executives and families that are looking to access the Audi brand.

Photos by Horizon Drivers' Club