Audi A3 sedan review, road test

Read the Audi A3 sedan review, road test from Autocar India; The first of the compact luxury sedans to hit the Indian market, the Audi A3 gets our road-test treatment.

Published on Nov 17, 2014 01:22:00 PM

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Audi A3 sedan.

At 4,456mm long, the A3 sedan is a full 245mm shorter than an A4. In fact, in terms of length, it’s more comparable to a Honda City. But relatively compact as it is, the A3 still looks as taut and muscular as any of the larger Audi sedans. The wide body and low roofline, in particular, give the A3 its attractive squat stance. This apart, the large grille, sharply cut headlamps, LED running lamps and minimalist ‘V’ on the bonnet are elements we’ve come to expect on a car from Ingolstadt. Other bits of interest include the very A6-like glasshouse, the bold belt line and mildly flared wheel arches that house 16- or 17-inch wheels, depending on which variant you buy. At the rear, the tapering tail-lamps and a pronounced lip atop the boot help distinguish the A3 from the other Audis. But smart as this car is, it does look a tad understated and won’t draw attention in the way its upcoming and very extroverted rival, the Mercedes-Benz CLA, will.

As for the technicals, the Audi A3 is built on the VW Group’s flexible MQB platform, positions its engines transversely and, for India, will be sold in front-wheel-drive form only. In addition to electronic differential lock that helps traction, traction control, electronic stability control, ABS and front and side airbags are part of the A3’s safety suite.

Unlike bigger, aluminium-intensive Audis, the A3’s body is predominantly made of steel with the bonnet being the only aluminium bit. For the record, the A3 diesel weighs in at 1,340kg while the petrol car weighs 1,295kg. The weight is distributed 60:40 (front:rear) and is supported by MacPherson struts up front and a four-link setup at the rear, but Audi has stiffened the front suspension on the diesel on account of the heavier engine. In fact, on the whole, all Indian A3s are set up a little stiffer than the standard European model to deliver what Audi says is the
optimal ride in our conditions.