LOOKING FOR AN impressive small premium hatchback that does everything well, has plenty of kit as standard and masses of kerb appeal? Well, the Audi A3 Sportback may just be the car for you.
The A3 Sportback looks classy – if a little conservative – but it does have some nice exterior design elements in this S Line specification. I’d pick out the taut lines, door mirrors with built-in LED indicators and body-coloured roof spoiler with high-gloss black aerodynamic inserts.
The interior is simple and elegant with a very neat and tidy feel. The materials are top quality and the fit and finish are as you would expect from a premium brand. The cabin is practical with good storage.
For the first time in the A3 you can now have the super cool and easy to use Virtual Cockpit, which displays the most important information in high resolution on a 12-inch screen in front of the driver.
This really is a great piece of tech. It makes the cabin feel bang up to date and viewing maps in widescreen is excellent. At the same time, it is pricey – the test car came with more than €6k of options – and for me, it is not worth the extra money. Maybe if Audi added more features I might change my mind.
As for passengers, well, head and legroom in the back are better than you’ll find in most rivals but fitting three adults across might be a tight squeeze, as the middle seat is a little raised and the tunnel in the middle of the floor is restrictive.
The doors do open nice and wide for good access, which is handy for getting a child seat in and out.
The boot is practical too as it has an adjustable false floor and the lip isn’t that high. It holds 380 litres with the rear seats up and 1,220 litres with the rear seats down. (As a comparison, the BMW 1 Series holds 360 to 1,200 litres, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class holds 341 to 1,157 litres and the Volvo V40 holds 324 to 1,021 litres.)
On the road, the A3 Sportback is very good. It has similar underpinnings to the Volkswagen Golf, which contribute to its mature road manners. The ride is firm but still quite comfortable. It’s worth noting that S Line spec models do get stiffer suspension, but deleting this in favour of the slightly softer standard suspension is a no-cost option.
The car is very easy to manoeuvre and even without the quattro system, the A3 Sportback is surefooted with plenty of grip and corners with confidence. It is very impressive and pleasant to drive. It feels just as at home around town as it does out on the motorway. This is one competent, if slightly predictable, car.
The S Tronic automatic transmission feels smooth and the 150hp 1.4-litre TSFI is super quick, quiet and quite efficient too.
The A3 Sportback is offered with six engines (three petrol and three diesel units) with power output ranging from 110hp to 190hp. It can be had with a six-speed manual, S Tronic automatic or quattro six-speed transmission. It comes in three trim levels; Attraction, SE and S Line.
There is plenty of equipment as standard including Xenon Headlights with LED daytime running lights, a seven-inch electrically extending colour display screen, Bluetooth, three-spoke leather trimmed multi-function steering wheel, leather gear lever and electric windows and mirrors.
Prices start at €27,960 for the 1.0-litre TFSI with the six-speed manual transmission in Attraction trim.
The test car is the 150hp 1.4-litre TFSI S-Tronic S Line version, priced at €37,390 but it has a massive €6,402 worth of options meaning it costs €43,792.
In summary, I found the A3 Sportback to be a great all-rounder. It looks good, has a very smart and practical cabin that is well-built. It impresses out on the road with good driving dynamics and for me, it would be one of the best premium hatchbacks on the market in terms of overall package.
However, if you want something that feels a little sportier, with a rear-wheel drive setup and a more engaging drive then check out the BMW 1 Series five-door hatchback priced from €30,690.
Looking for another premium five-door hatchback that has slightly more room in the back for passengers? Then check out the Volvo V40 priced from €28,045.
There’s also the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which is a handsome, well-built car with decent handling and lovely interior. It is priced from €24,505.
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