A3 Audi S3 Sedans Convertibles Compact Tests

New Audi A3 range, presentation and road test in Málaga

Diego G. Moreira 6 October 2013 5 min.

New Audi A3 range, presentation and road test in Málaga

The Audi A3 is a sales benchmark for Audi, a premium compact that was born in 1996. That year no premium brand had yet launched a similar model, so the A3 was the first of a segment that is now a sales pillar for these brands.

Three doors, Sportback, Sedan, Cabrio or even hybrid? With this third generation of the Audi A3, the brand has opted for variety, with three versions already on the market (three-door, Sportback and Sedan) and two more coming (first the Cabrio in early 2014, and later the 200 CV hybrid). At the national presentation held near Málaga we were able to try all the variants on the market and one very special one: the Audi S3 with 300 CV.

Audi A3 Sedan

We told you everything about the third-generation Audi A3 when it was presented last year, but some details remained about the new Sedan body, which plays an important role for the brand and in the new trend of three-box vehicles.

The new A3 Sedan is longer (146 mm), lower and wider than the short version. The exterior design also stands out for its more pronounced bonnet lines and larger wheel arches (they can take wheels up to 19 inches).

Inside there are no changes compared with the rest of the range, at least not in the dashboard or front seats. The changes are noticeable in the rear seats, with less headroom than a Sportback (due to its design), and a boot that grows in size.

Behind the wheel of the Audi A3 Sedan 1.8 TFSI 180 CV and 1.4 TFSI 140 CV

Our first contact with the Audi A3 Sedan was with a very performance-oriented petrol engine, the 1.8 TFSI with 180 CV. Outside, the sporty design stood out thanks to the S-Line exterior pack (the red A3 Sedan in the photos).

The engine is very performance-oriented, and the road where we tested it, through the mountains with constant bends, served to put the stability and dynamism of this saloon to the test, and it responded well. We really liked the suspension: it could cross a dip or speed bumps without reducing interior comfort, and it kept the car under control in the corners.

Our unit came very well equipped, with the Bang & Olufsen sound system and the new navigation system, which offers excellent connectivity between our smartphone and the satnav. We can also type the letters of an address or move around the map with a finger directly from the touch controller.

The other Audi A3 saloon we tried had the 140 CV petrol engine, and we didn’t notice much difference in power compared with the same 1.4 TFSI block at 122 CV. In both cases, it is a very smooth engine, with good response and enough to move the Audi A3 Sedan with some ease.

Our test of this engine was mainly on motorways. It uses cylinder deactivation technology: when conditions allow and we don’t need much power, the engine switches to two-cylinder mode. The Audi calls this technology “Cylinder on Demand”, and for the cylinders to deactivate, the cabin temperature must have been reached, power demand must be low, and the engine speed must be between 1,300 and 3,900 rpm. In our test, with the air conditioning on and the temperature difference between outside and inside the car, we never managed to get them to deactivate on the motorway.

Audi S3 with 300 CV

The Audi S3 was the car that topped off our test day in southern lands. Specifically, the new S3 raises its power to 300 CV, although the block is still a 2.0-litre four-cylinder.

Add the powerful engine to Quattro all-wheel drive and the dual-clutch gearbox (S-Tronic), and the result almost reaches perfection, whether in response and traction or in the sportiness it conveys when driven. We liked the acceleration and the sound that accompanies it, showing that 300 CV hide under the bonnet.

The response is forceful from low revs; above 2,000 rpm you already notice the S3 wake up and start pushing hard. During the short route we took on mountain roads full of bends, the car’s behaviour was very composed, with good reactions and always within what you’d expect from a car like this.

What’s best about the new Audi S3 is that it is now available in all body styles: we can have a three-door Audi S3, an S3 Sportback, an S3 Sedan or an S3 Cabrio.

Audi A3 engine range

The engine range available for every Audi A3 runs from 105 to 300 CV in petrol, and from 90 to 184 CV in diesel. In petrol, the entry engine is the 1.2 TFSI with 105 CV, followed by the 1.4 TFSI with 122 or 140 CV, then the 1.8 TFSI with 180 CV, and finally the 2.0 with 300 CV fitted to the S3.

In diesel, the range starts with the small, performance-oriented 1.6 TDI with 90 or 110 CV, followed by the 2.0 TDI in two variants: 150 CV or 184 CV. We were able to have a brief test with a Audi A3 Sportback 184 CV diesel with Quattro all-wheel drive, and the response was very good, without sacrificing consumption.