Road Test: Audi A3 Sedan 1.8 TFSI S-tronic

The introduction of the Audi A3 Sedan means there are now three body styles to choose from in the Audi A3 family, which has the compact hatchback and sedan segments covered. The sedan is, however, the second four-door in the line up, (not counting the Sportback’s rear hatch), which does raise the question of whether a booted version of the A3 is all that necessary. After all, the Audi A3 Sportback is one of, if not, the brand’s most popular models on sale, so why tamper with a sure thing.

The rationale behind the introduction of the A3 Sedan is of course to broaden the A3′s appeal. We are seeing the number of choices in any given market segment balloon, as manufacturers scramble to win-over and retain consumers by offering something for everyone. To this end, Audi’s new MQB-platform is beginning to show the breadth of its talents, as the number of models it under pins will continue to grow in 2014, with the arrival of the Audi A3 Cabriolet later this year.

The extent of the exterior styling does not simply start and end with the addition of a boot, but instead the sedan’s lines are sharper than on the other two A3 models. The side surfaces are more curved, and the wheel arches are slightly more flared. With a width of 1.8 metres the A3 Sedan is 11 mm wider than the A3 Sportback and its height of 1.42 metres is 9 mm lower. From behind the wheel, the A3 Sedan feels lower and wider too, giving it a different driving experience to that of the 3- and 5-door A3 hatches. It’s a handsome looking car and garnered many looks and comments.

The interior is superbly insulated from the hustle of daily grind. So much so that I actually became aware of being more relaxed when arriving at work each morning having navigated rush-hour in the A3. It’s a point worth noting because it’s the kind you may expect from a flagship sedan such as the Audi A8 or the more svelte A7 Sportback.

Interior design is borrowed from the rest of the A3 range, which is very good. Quality remains top-notch in terms of attention to detail, as does the tactile nature of the soft-touch plastics and other materials.

The multitude of comfort and convenience features are presented in a manner that will appeal to both the novice and tech-savvy among us. The Audi MMI (multi-media interface) features a colour LCD screen (which can be hidden within the dashboard when not in use) in combination with an intuitive rotary dial conveniently located between the armrest and gear selector.

The A3 Sedan offers a similar amount of space for front seat passengers as found in the hatchback and Sportback counterparts, however, the rear offers a little more space than initially meets the eye. While leg room can be described as adequate more than generous, a passenger of 6 ft isn’t likely to utter the word ‘cramped’. With the rear seats in place, cargo volume is actually larger than the A3 Sportback, at 425-litres, while folding them horizontal in a 60:40 split expands the usable area to 880-litres.

The 1.8 TFSI engine is familiar to the A3 range and delivers 132 kW and 250 Nm from 1 250 r/min. It provides plenty of ‘go’, but as with all A3 models, when dressed up in the S-Line package, it’s hard not to lust after the more powerful 2.0 TFSI, which would bridge the gap to the 206 kW Audi S3. Noticeable in its absence is the lack of character from either the engine or exhaust, which if you listen carefully, do start to hum in unison above 5 000 r/min.

Wishful thinking aside, the modest 1.8-litre engine does manage excellent fuel economy, both on the open road and in city traffic, thanks to a number of efficiency systems. Engine stop/start, brake-energy regeneration and engine coasting, all help to achieve an overall fuel consumption of 5.6 l/100km. Audi claim 7.0 l/100km in the urban environment and throughout my time with the car I routinely achieved 7.8 l/100km in stop/start traffic without much effort.

Large 19-inch wheels with 235/35 profile rubber are always going to raise the decibel levels, however, it’s only on the odd occasion that it becomes apparent, such is the refinement of the sedan’s cabin. A progressive suspension setup manages to deliver composure at both low and high speeds, while limiting the transfer of road imperfections into the cabin; an admirable trait considering the optional low-profile wheel and tyre combination fitted to our test unit.

A benefit of the larger section rubber is that of grip. Despite no assistance from Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system, the A3 Sedan 1.8 TFSI is capable of cornering at an impressive rate. The Audi Drive Select system allows the throttle, transmission and steering to be placed on ‘high alert’ in response to driver inputs, yet the results are more ‘sweet’ than ‘satisfying’.

Fitted with the optional variable ratio steering rack, which Audi call ‘Progressive Steering’, the A3 Sedan turns tighter the further you turn the wheel. At high speeds the system feels vague within one’s hands, forcing you to rely on the suspension movement and weight transfer to have a feel for the car’s attitude. Even so, there is no denying that the variable ratio demands far less effort around town than a conventional fixed-ratio rack, that it affords a precise command of the front wheels and is an option worth checking on the list.

The 7-speed S-tronic transmission remains a well-oiled piece of kit, going about its duties in a near faultless manner. The transmission will take direction from the driver via shift paddles or a sequential mode of the gear selector. In addition, the default drive mode will make maximum use of the engine’s torque to balance acceleration and fuel efficiency, while an Economy mode enables the coasting function, which disengages the transmission when lifting off the accelerator. Sport mode will have the A3 racing through the gears after reaching maximum revs in each, and is responsible for the car’s 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 7.3 seconds.

The Audi A3 Sedan is another comprehensive package from Ingolstadt. Subjectively, its got the better of its Mercedes-Benz CLA rival when it comes to styling. Practically, its got a larger boot than the A3 Sportback when four passengers are inside. Economically, it’s cheaper than the A4 and thereby affords room for a higher specification. Ultimately the A3 Sedan 1.8 TFSI is hard not to like.

What we like…

• Executive sedan quality in compact sedan package.
• Handsome styling (enhanced with optional S-Line package).
• More space than meets the eye for four adults plus luggage.

What we would like…

• Park-distance control as standard.
• Electro-chromatic and auto-dimming mirrors as standard.
• The choice of a slightly more powerful (and vocal) engine to bridge the gap between the S3.

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