Does a 1.0 in an Audi, Make it Less of an Audi?

What we like:

Frugal engine

overall refinement

good handling

comfortable drive

What we dislike:

Start-stop function can feel rough

slightly slower than the 1.4

It is no secret that the power has been reduced with the new “right-sized” 3 cylinder engine delivering 7 bhp less, at 115 bhp (some of you would remember a time when an Audi 80 2.0 would produce the same power). However, the 200Nm of torque remains the same. There is just a little bit of lag below the 2,000rpm, thereafter, full torque kicks in till 3,500rpm, where it tapers away a little. But as you keep in gear, you’d not realise much that of a flat spot in the engine, as the revs cross the 5,000rpm mark, until the gears change, bringing the engine closer to the maximum torque band again, would you experience a surge in acceleration, especially in ‘Sport’ mode. There is a characteristic 3 cylinder rasp once you work the engine very hard, but other than that, the 1.0 performs smoothly. But overall, there is very little evidence to establish a difference between the larger 1.4 and the 1.0 unit when cruising on the highway. And even in bumper to bumper situations, the 1.0 holds it’s own.

A cause for some discomfort at the lights is when the intended fuel-saving start-stop function is switched on. There is definitely more vibration from the engine bay, when the 3 cylinder springs to life before you take off, versus a smoother 4 cylinder engine’s start-up. Llike it’s larger siblings, the A3 also shuts the engine, when it is just about to come to a stop, maybe saving additional fuel vapour? It all adds up. As an added fuel saving effort, the A3 can coast as you cruise on the highway, allowing the engine to idle, instead of keeping up to speed, to keep the car going.

The seven-speed S Tronic, like in the previous 1.4, does a fine job in switching cogs for you. The 1.0 does come with a set of paddle shifters behind the wheel, which provides a very entertaining drive as you negotiate a series of tight bends. While the car may have a set of 16” rims with rather chubby looking tyres, it somehow seems to be the sweet spot between a comfortable ride and in keeping the car well planted. Frontal plough is minimal with the A3, and the rear follows the car cleanly when entering and exiting very tight bends. Push the car harder, and minor but controllable understeer follows.

Dropping a 1.4 in place of a 1.0 may seem a step back for Audi’s entry level sedan, but in a country where the cost of owning a car is just next to owning a home, the running cost from having a 1.0 makes the A3 a little more affordable. Sure, you may lose that 1 second to the magical 100km/h, but the 21.3km/l consumption, quality and refinement does still present a rather attractive option, but keeping the car in ‘Sport’ mode which makes it quite a joy to drive would likely reduce efficiency in the real world.

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