Audi A3: A luxurious hatchback

If you like to scamper around and need room to take the dog to the vet, this Audi A3 might be the perfect ticket, and I do mean ticket, because it is a fast rascal. Priced more than we expected starting in the mid- $20,000 (US) range, the A3 was powered by a 2.0 four-cylinder engine pressed by a turbocharger that articulated an automatic transmission.

Two problems immediately emerged when we received the Audi A3. The first was the pricing. If you are not careful with your options it can quickly cost more than the larger, and nearly as agile, A4 with the same engine and more room. The second was torque steer. Under normal driving conditions this was not a problem, but when challenged there was both a small turbo lag and a notable tug on the well-padded steering wheel.

The brakes are very impressive and the feel more BMW than BMW. The engine should give you over 25 mpg, but look for wide variations as it can get over 30 on the highway and under 20 mpg in heavy traffic.

Dad’s view: I didn’t really get the A3. I would much prefer the less feisty and similarly priced A4. I can’t help but wonder what the market is going to be for this car. The Mazda 3 is priced several thousand dollars less, has essentially the same warranty, although 40 fewer horsepower, but weighs 400 pounds less. They get identical gas mileage and have similar luggage and people room, but the Mazda doesn’t need premium fuel. But honestly, who is going to really cross-shop these two hatchbacks. The Audi crowd wants the more luxurious German car and the Mazda buyers like value and the sporty handling the 3 offers. And for those who think the Mini Cooper is a competitor they would have to ignore the Cooper’s superior handling, lower pricing, and limited interior space. The Audi is much more upscale, and if they bring over the V6 powered version with all wheel drive you are no doubt many veteran rally drivers are going to see this A3 as the reincarnation of the long lamented Audi Quattro Coupe from the 1980s.

Driving the 2.0 liter four cylinder Audi with its 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque is quite entertaining because the power comes on low in the power range with constant acceleration from 1800 rpm up to just above 5000 rpm in a very linear fashion. The automatic transmission isn’t bad, but the front wheel drive A3 we tested did have torque steer. It wasn’t as bad as on some turbocharged cars such as the Saab Viggen, but it does get your attention when cornering. If this bothers you certainly consider waiting until next year when the Quattro all wheel driver option is said to be available.

When I first saw the Audi 3 in Europe it was a price leader and less adorned with features. As it now stands, this Audi is more expensive than the competition and does not offer much in terms of handling or capacity that the others don’t. Thus Audi is relying on its substantial build quality as well as unique options such as a large sunroof, a hill holder, and superior interior design to win over consumers. There is no question it conveys a much richer and more luxurious feel than the competition.

All of these insights really beg the question of why do people buy hatchbacks? Is it utility, price, looks, handling, or just to be different? In the case of the Audi A3 this question is further masked by the fact that a fully loaded version costs just a few dollars less a month than a base A4 Avant wagon. So the buyer who is looking at the A3 must favor looks or handling as the Avant has more utility and is not priced that differently. As for handling, this is not the Audi you want wait for the Quattro. If it is looks, you are not going to be alone as this car gets plenty of positive attention.

College going male’s view: You must decide if you want a better ride or handling with this Audi. The A3 straddles the fence on this issue. I would change the tires for less aggressive ones if I wanted a better ride and go with larger rims and tires if I was interested in pushing the limits. The standard tires are a compromise, and a noisy one at that.

This is no lightweight at 3300 pounds, and there is significant lean on turns when pushed despite the fact the firm ride seems to promise more cornering power. It is certainly trim, and with a turning radius just a foot larger than the smallest compact car, it is easy to park and maneuver. Personally, I loved the Mazda 3. It was just the right size for commuting, although I would have liked better fuel mileage and an engine that didn’t require premium fuel, and was equally at home hauling around my musical equipment or sneaking into the smallest space in the university parking lot. The ladies loved its looks and were drawn to its understated interior. Don’t even think of comparing it to the Mazda 3 or the Pontiac Matrix. They simply don’t have the looks and the quality feel of the Audi. Make mine black, with dark rims, blackout windows, and a more aggressive exhaust.

Young working woman’s view: The Audi’s sunroof screen was translucent. It gives a better look to the dark interior, but the major downside is that it gets very hot inside and
the A 3’s air-conditioning has its hands-full on hot days. I would definitely tint all the windows and put a much darker tint on the sunroof. Speaking of the air-conditioning, the controls were way too complicated. They are also difficult to see when driving. Yes, there is an automatic temperature setting, but I don’t like those as they can come on too strong at times and I don’t like my just cut hair to be blown awry by an overreacting ventilation fan. I want to manually control the situation. If I want a window open I don’t want the automatic setting too see this as a call for a higher fan setting and more heat or air conditioning.

I was also not impressed with the stereo and would rank the radio reception as below average. I can imagine many an after market unit going into the car with a portion of that hatch back area giving way to more sophisticated speaker systems.

Visibility should be noted. The low position of the seats and the low roofline makes it difficult to see stop lights. You definitely feel like you are sitting low in this Audi, and this makes it a bit difficult to use post office and fast food drive throughs without having to lift yourself off the seat to reach out. Indeed, when I couldn’t reach the mail drop I had to pull the car forward, exit, and hand drop the letters much to the chagrin of the numerous gas hoggish SUV owners lined up behind me. Of course, they should be upset. Having to sit in a Hummer H2, Lincoln Navigator, or Ford Expedition for 30 seconds could cost them a couple dollars for fuel. You could drive three Audi A3’s on the fuel one of those used.

Also of note with the Audi is the fact that you might as well leave the rear seats folded flat all the time because almost everything you are going to carry requires the extra room this feature provides. By the way, the seats really don’t fold totally flat, but it isn’t too bad.

I was quite at home in the Audi on the road and in town. It was accommodating, and only grieved me when I tried to push it as the responsive engine output was neutered by the automatic transmission. I would definitely get the manual transmission. My friends also liked the looks of the Audi A3, but when told of the price looked askance. As for me, I would go with the A4 wagon.

Mom’s view: Loved it looks, but wasn’t attracted to its handling or off the line performance. The car is undeniably attractive for a hatchback, making most of its competitors appear almost ancient with its smooth lines and low silhouette. However, the car does nose plow when being pushed and there is also enough torque steer to make you wary when setting a line through a corner. I never like small turbocharged engines when attached to an automatic transmission for that reason as the power can come online when you least expect it. Order the V6 option with the A3 when it becomes available if you want the automatic. You can probably get to 60 in 7 seconds with the 2.0 and look for 6.5 times with the V6 with very little, if any, gas mileage penalty.

The brakes were excellent and the feel was sweet, with only a touch of softness as you begin to demand stopping power from the four-wheel discs with ASB. The large tires do impart a fair amount of noise inside the cabin and the engine is not as silent as the A4.

Seating was comfortable for four, but five would be a real test of a friendship. The seats are not easy to adjust with the manual knobs. I found the center armrest in the way. It is adjustable, but in the upper position I hit my arm when shifting and in the lower position the parking brake was nearly impossible to reach. Audi needs to rethink the position of their parking brakes on all their vehicles. The cupholders are not particularly handy, bordering on unacceptable. The switchgear has a nice feel, and the gauges are fairly easy to read, but the controls for the air-conditioning and radio could easily be simplified. Night lighting was superior, although the interior could have used a more powerful unit. The xenon headlights truly turned night into day. Order them and don’t forget the side airbags. Safety testing results have not yet been reported for this car, but it does have a fairly full array of air bags either standard or as options.

Getting in and of such a low car is not easy when wearing a dress. The doors also have a quirk. They hold open in three positions with the final one being nearly perpendicular to the car. This makes it very easy to load objects and is an advantage when you are exiting with a large purse. Overall, I was impressed with the Audi A3. If you watch your options you could have yourself a useful and solid vehicle for about $26,000.

Family conference: An attractive vehicle with quality construction, but the handling does not match its looks and power plant. There is enough passenger room, comfortable seats, and lots of utility here, but Audi has produced a vehicle priced awkwardly as it comes too close to the A4. Thus, our recommendation is too wait for the Quattro version or just buy one of our favorites, the Audi A4. Competitors include the Mazda 3 and Subaru Legacy both of which have either a price of performance advantage, but not nearly the luxurious feel of the A3.
 

Written by the Car Family