Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDi 184 CV S-Tronic Quattro, road test (Equipment, prices and opinion)

For a week we have had a German star on our test track, specifically the Audi A3 Sportback equipped with the 184 CV 2.0 TDI diesel engine, that is, one of the most powerful diesel variants. Our unit also had Quattro all-wheel drive, a real guarantee of safety behind the wheel and of fun with its 184 CV, and the icing on the cake was the S-Tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

In the first part we analysed the engine, performance, handling and consumption; in the second part design was the protagonist, both the exterior and interior of the Audi A3 Sportback, and in this third part we will talk about the equipment, safety and our opinion of the car and the prices of the Audi A3 Sportback.

Equipment

Standard safety equipment on any Audi A3 includes: driver and passenger airbags with knee airbag, side and curtain airbags, hold assist, brake pad wear control, electronic stability programme (ESP), sideguard, among other features.

As for the EuroNCAP crash tests, the Audi A3 achieved five stars in the tests carried out in 2012 (the criteria for five stars were changed in 2014), although it is certain they would still hold under the current criteria. Specifically, it scored 95% for adult occupant protection and 87% for child occupant protection.

The Audi A3 Sportback comes in three trim levels: Attraction, Ambition and Ambiente. From the base trim it has manual air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, a Audi radio with four speakers, electric mirrors, front fog lights, halogen headlights, bulb daytime running lights, among other features.

Features such as the dashboard screen are only available from the second trim level, while in our unit some equipment items stood out and we liked them.

First, the lights: full-LED (1,985 euros) with all LED lighting functions and excellent night-time brightness. Another highlight is the complete navigation system, which includes internet connection or hard drive and touch control from the centre console controller (even for writing letters). The MMI navigation plus with MMI touch costs 2,350 euros (although it is relatively cheap compared with this type of extra on other premium compacts).

Another feature of our unit was the excellent sound of the Bang & Olufsen Sound System (930 euros), an option that comes in combination with the navigation system, but again we do not think its price is very high, given that a system of this quality used to cost much more.

As for design, the S-Line Exterior Package costs 1,715 euros, to which must be added the S-Line trim, which brings sports seats, 18-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, among other elements (2,235 euros).

As for the optional safety equipment, there is no shortage of systems such as blind spot warning (Audi side assist 590 euros), unintentional lane change warning (Audi active lane assist 680 euros) or adaptive cruise control (660 euros), among others.

Audi A3 Sportback prices

>Petrol range

-A3 Sportback 1.2 TFSI 6-speed ATTRACTION 24,240 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.2 TFSI 6-speed AMBITION 26,720 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.2 TFSI 6-speed AMBIENTE 26,720 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.2 TFSI S tronic 7-speed ATTRACTION 26,390 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.2 TFSI S tronic 7-speed AMBITION 28,870 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.2 TFSI S tronic 7-speed AMBIENTE 28,870 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 6-speed ATTRACTION 25,160 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 6-speed AMBITION 27,640 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 6-speed AMBIENTE 27,640 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI S tronic 7-speed ATTRACTION 27,310 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI S tronic 7-speed AMBITION 29,790 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI S tronic 7-speed AMBIENTE 29,790 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI COD 6-speed ATTRACTION ultra 27,420 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI COD 6-speed AMBITION ultra 29,900 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI COD 6-speed AMBIENTE ultra 29,900 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI COD S tronic 7-speed ATTRACTION ultra 29,570 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI COD S tronic 7-speed AMBITION ultra 32,050 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI COD S tronic 7-speed AMBIENTE ultra 32,050 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI 6-speed ATTRACTION 29,680 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI 6-speed AMBITION 32,260 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI 6-speed AMBIENTE 32,260 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI S tronic 7-speed ATTRACTION 31,910 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI S tronic 7-speed AMBITION 34,490 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI S tronic 7-speed AMBIENTE 34,490 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI S tronic 7-speed quattro ATTRACTION 34,150 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI S tronic 7-speed quattro AMBITION 36,730 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI S tronic 7-speed quattro AMBIENTE 36,730 euros
-S3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI 6-speed quattro 44,860 euros
-S3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI S tronic 6-speed quattro 45,380 euros



>Diesel range

-A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI ultra 6-speed ATTRACTION 25,970 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI 6-speed ATTRACTION clean diesel 25,970 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI 6-speed AMBITION clean diesel 28,450 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI 6-speed AMBIENTE clean diesel 28,450 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI S tronic 7-speed ATTRACTION clean diesel 28,120 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI S tronic 7-speed AMBITION clean diesel 30,600 euros
-A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI S tronic 7-speed AMBIENTE clean diesel 30,600 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 150 CV 6-speed ATTRACTION clean diesel 27,810 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 150 CV 6-speed AMBITION clean diesel 30,290 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 150 CV 6-speed AMBIENTE clean diesel 30,290 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 150 CV S tronic 6-speed ATTRACTION clean diesel 29,960 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 150 CV S tronic 6-speed AMBITION clean diesel 32,440 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 150 CV S tronic 6-speed AMBIENTE clean diesel 32,440 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 150 CV quattro 6-speed ATTRACTION clean diesel 31,140 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 150 CV quattro 6-speed AMBITION clean diesel 33,720 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 150 CV quattro 6-speed AMBIENTE clean diesel 33,390 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 184 CV 6-speed ATTRACTION clean diesel 31,710 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 184 CV 6-speed AMBITION clean diesel 34,190 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 184 CV 6-speed AMBIENTE clean diesel 34,190 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 184 CV S tronic 6-speed quattro ATTRACTION clean diesel 37,420 euros
–A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 184 CV S tronic 6-speed quattro AMBITION clean diesel 40,000 euros
-A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI 184 CV S tronic 6-speed quattro AMBIENTE clean diesel 40,000 euros

Assessment and personal opinion

The Audi A3 Sportback with this combination of the most powerful diesel with all-wheel drive and the S-Tronic automatic gearbox is the most fun and the safest the diesel range of the A3 has to offer. On the one hand, it combines the performance engine, the speed of the gearbox and the good traction response in any condition and terrain.

Is all-wheel drive recommended for everyone? It depends, because since it is the most powerful engine with all-wheel drive, the price of the car is high. All-wheel drive is worthwhile if we are going to use it, whether because of a hostile climate or because we enjoy driving with all-wheel traction as an ally. Otherwise, we can save more than 6,000 euros by not opting for Quattro traction.

As for exterior design, the S-Line trim is not very expensive and gives the car a different, very sporty look, as well as completing the interior equipment and a sporty suspension. As for interior quality, it is beyond any doubt, and in terms of space, the Audi A3 Sportback is probably the roomiest in the rear seats, since the saloon loses headroom and the three-door has poorer access.

The standard equipment is not very complete. In that respect, rivals such as the Mercedes A-Class have a more complete base equipment at a very similar starting price. True, you can choose from a range of extras to equip your Audi A3, but the final bill will not be cheap.

Despite the price list, the Audi A3 is available from 19,510 euros when financed with Audi Financial Services with 4 years of maintenance or 60,000 km.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira

Technical specifications of this car

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