2024 Audi A3 assessment | PerthNow

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You will have seen there’s a facelifted model of the Audi A3 coming to Australia by the tip of this 12 months.

Not Supplied — 2024 Audi A3 Credit score: CarExpert

However what for those who want a automobile sooner, and also you’ve noticed an A3 Sedan that you simply just like the look of? Must you go for the present mannequin, or look ahead to the brand new one?

On this assessment I’ll cowl off the present Audi A3, specifically this base 35 TFSI sedan, and also you’ll see why it nonetheless stacks up nicely – and why you would possibly not likely have to pay extra for the next grade.

How a lot does the Audi A3 value?

Rising prices are a relentless in at this time’s market, and the Audi A3 vary shouldn’t be immune from will increase to checklist pricing.

2024 Audi A3 pricing:

2024 Audi A3 35 TFSI Sportback: $50,600
2024 Audi A3 35 TFSI Sedan: $53,100
2024 Audi A3 40 TFSI S line quattro Sportback: $57,700
2024 Audi A3 40 TFSI S line quattro Sedan: $60,200

Costs exclude on-road prices

To see how the A3 compares with its rivals, use our comparability device.

What’s the Audi A3 like on the within?

I’m an enormous fan of the design of the cabin within the current-generation A3 lineup, because it blends the Teutonic expectation of subtlety in type with glorious performance.

From the polished silver-look finishes throughout the dashboard to the angular design components, and the colorful and easy-to-use screens on this automobile, it exudes a simple classiness but in addition understated opulence.

You may learn between the traces there, nevertheless it’s definitely not as flashy as a few of its opponents on this section, and to me, that’s to its profit.

The ten.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system is simple to get your head round with intuitive menus. It has wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and I had no points with connecting and reconnecting my cellphone throughout my time within the automobile.

Maybe the one draw back about that display is there aren’t any bodily buttons down the aspect, nor are there dials for quantity management or tuning. However there’s a small rotary wheel-style dial down close to the gear selector, which takes a bit of little bit of studying and isn’t for individuals who would possibly want to make use of a dialling wand (shoutout to all of the OG Simpsons followers).

There’s a transparent and easy array of local weather management buttons for easy changes. If it’s worthwhile to rapidly flip up the fan velocity or down the temperature, there are buttons for that. There are additionally heated seat controls as buttons too, however these are optioned right here – you don’t get them commonplace.

The ten.5-inch driver’s information display is intuitive and crisp. There’s no head-up show, however you possibly can configure the principle show to indicate your velocity clearly.

Storage within the cabin is excellent, with respectable bottle holders within the doorways (sadly not lined, although), cupholders between the entrance seats, a wi-fi cellphone charging dock, and also you’ll additionally discover two USB ports in that very same space. There’s a small centre console bin beneath the armrest.

One factor that’s peculiar is the driving force’s footwell has one thing in the best way. There’s a black field intruding from beneath the seat, and for those who’re somebody who likes to stretch their legs or transfer their toes round on longer journeys, you would possibly discover that it’s a little bit squishy within the driver’s foot zone. I’ve requested Audi what it’s – will replace if I hear again!

This automobile additionally has an elective opening glass sunroof and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror – imagine it or not, that’s not commonplace.

There’s leather-based seat trim and the seats are snug, however they’re not as supportive as for those who have been to step as much as the subsequent mannequin up, which will get sports activities entrance seats.

With the driving force’s seat set for my place (at 182cm/6’0”) my knees have been touching the arduous plastic-backed seat forward of me, however I had a good quantity of toe room, and my head was simply brushing the liner as nicely.

So when you have a household of six-footers, this received’t be the perfect car on your wants – any tall or occupants would possibly want to look at their head getting out and in of the backseat. Should you simply have some kids nonetheless, or for those who don’t have youngsters, it might be completely tremendous on your wants.

There’s no storage on the seatbacks, and there’s additionally no charging choices for second-row riders both. However you do get bottle holders within the doorways and a flip down armrest with cupholders. You can too fold the centre a part of the seat right down to act as a ski-port.

There are ISOFIX factors within the window seats and three prime tethers as nicely, in addition to directional air vents – a win for all back-seat bandits.

The boot house is beneficiant for the dimensions of automobile, with 425 litres of capability for this spec (the higher-grade A3 Sedan 40 TFSI quattro has much less house). It’s a deep cargo space, however whereas there are some eyelets, there aren’t any nets or pockets on both aspect.

Surprisingly, there’s additionally no space-saver spare wheel beneath the boot flooring, even supposing there may be house for one. You simply get a tyre restore equipment.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

I’m focusing primarily on the Audi A3 35 TFSI right here, and it comes powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system producing complete outputs of 110kW of energy (5000-6000rpm) and 250Nm of torque (1500-3500rpm).

It has a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automated transmission, and is front-wheel drive. Audi claims the A3 35 TFSI can do the 0-100km/h dash in 8.4 seconds.

Should you want extra grunt and all-wheel drive, there are three decisions at larger costs that may get you that within the A3/S3/RS3 lineup. However until you’re an fanatic, you won’t truly have to spend up.

The official mixed cycle gasoline consumption determine for the A3 35 TFSI sedan is simply 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres. I didn’t fairly obtain that in my testing, however a displayed return of 5.9L/100km nonetheless impressed me throughout a mixture of totally different driving conditions.

There’s a 50-litre gasoline tank, and it wants 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.

How does the Audi A3 drive?

I don’t truthfully suppose that most individuals will want extra grunt than what’s on supply within the 35 TFSI mannequin.

There’s ample energy and torque from this 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, and the torque is the true candy level with it. There’s a very good quantity of urge from a standstill that pushes you away from a line with assertiveness, relatively than screaming at you to attempt to get the job completed.

Nevertheless, the entrance tyres could be overwhelmed by the torque at occasions, and tyre squeal is one thing you’ll expertise in numerous eventualities – and never simply within the moist.

Whenever you take off from a standstill and turning a nook it’s one thing you would possibly encounter. That wouldn’t essentially be sufficient of a priority for me to say ‘it’s worthwhile to purchase the quattro model as an alternative!’… until you’re a leadfoot, then it is likely to be the smarter selection.

What can also be spectacular is the best way the 48-volt mild-hybrid expertise has been built-in into this automobile, the place it primarily works to help in visitors conditions – the place the engine start-stop expertise does its factor.

In these conditions, it helps smoothen issues out once you’re getting away from the standstill – far smoother than in years passed by the place a dual-clutch automated and downsized turbo engine would have felt a bit of bit sluggish or laggy.

It does get away fairly rapidly – as fast as a standard auto transmission would – and the gearshifts are snappy as you progress up the rev vary as nicely.

I’ve seen, although, that this automobile does generally tend to engine brake excessively, and in these conditions, the revs can rise to less-than-luxurious ranges for an extended intervals of time – it sounds such as you’re revving the center out of the automobile when it’s simply attempting to gradual you down through the use of the engine exhaust braking.

It’s an effectivity factor, and the automobile additionally has cylinder-on-demand tech, which might run it on two cylinders as an alternative of 4 in light-throttle or coasting conditions. It’ll additionally coast, the place the revs will drop to idle velocity once you carry off.

The experience consolation is exceptionally good. You by no means really feel such as you’re getting bumped round or jostled in your seat on this automobile, even over wretched surfaces on again suburban streets and lumpy bumpy high-speed roads.

Even over sharp edges, the automobile maintains a degree of poise, and in reality, it feels very properly tied down and handles corners superbly. All with out all-wheel drive.

The steering has a pleasant heft to it on centre and whereas it’s not the final phrase in driver involvement, it’s completely suited to this type of utility when it comes to the responsiveness, and in addition the enjoyable think about corners. Sure it’s enjoyable sufficient, I’d say, nevertheless it additionally nails the temporary for parking duties as a result of it’s not too heavy and really straightforward to control.

Maybe the largest query mark over this automobile is the refinement ranges – the noise intrusion definitely might be lessened.

There’s notable engine noise emanating into the cabin in combined eventualities, and whereas the noise isn’t annoying it simply isn’t fairly as hushed as you would possibly anticipate for a luxurious automobile. Likewise there may be loud tyre roar on rougher surfaces like coarse-chip roads, which makes up nearly all of Australian open street driving conditions.

So my recommendation is to be sure you take a look at it within the eventualities through which you’ll be driving it earlier than you signal a sale contract.

What do you get?

I all the time like to think about what you get in a base mannequin like this, and what you’d get for those who may justify including a bit to your repayments… like, is it value sacrificing a take-away espresso or two a day to rise up to the subsequent degree.

A3 35 TFSI highlights:

18-inch alloy wheels
Adaptive LED headlights
Rain-sensing window wipers
Arms-free energy boot lid (Sedan)
10.5-inch digital instrument cluster
10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wired, wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Satellite tv for pc navigation
DAB+ digital radio
6-speaker sound system
Wi-fi cellphone charger
Twin-zone local weather management
Rear USB-C ports
Keyless entry and begin
Paddle shifters
Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
Leather-based upholstery

A3 40 TFSI quattro provides:

All-wheel drive
S line exterior bundle
Heated, power-folding aspect mirrors
Selectable drive modes
Inside ambient lighting
Frameless auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Entrance sport seats

Is the Audi A3 secure?

Solely the front-wheel drive variations of the Audi A3 have a five-star ANCAP security ranking primarily based on Euro NCAP testing carried out in 2020.

In that testing it acquired an grownup occupant safety rating of 89 per cent, youngster occupant safety rating of 81 per cent, weak street person safety rating of 68 per cent, and a security help rating of 73 per cent.

Customary security tools consists of:

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
Audi pre-sense fundamental
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
Protected exit warning
Lane departure warning
Lane maintain help
Energetic lane help
Adaptive cruise management with cease and go
Semi-autonomous parking help
Reversing digicam
Entrance, rear parking sensors

A surround-view digicam is accessible, however not commonplace, throughout the lineup. You do get it commonplace on the flagship RS3, although. Seven airbags are fitted – twin entrance, entrance aspect, entrance centre, and full-length curtains.

How a lot does the Audi A3 value to run?

The Audi A3 is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

Logbook servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever happens first.

Audi presents a five-year service pay as you go plan, and for this grade it prices $2520, or a mean of $404 per 12 months for upkeep. That’s not unhealthy, contemplating a 2.0L petrol Kia Cerato is costlier over a five-year interval ($406 per 12 months!).

Should you service with Audi, you additionally get your roadside help topped up every time.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi A3

The Audi A3 has a decrease buy-in worth, however wants some choices to make it really feel a bit extra particular.

Even so, I believe for lower than $60,000 earlier than on-road prices, an optioned-up A3 35 TFSI Sedan like this one makes a robust argument for individuals who wish to get into one thing fashionable and sensible trying.

Whether or not it’s value leaping now or ready for the refreshed mannequin? Properly personally, I believe I just like the look of the present yet another… however you inform me your ideas within the feedback part.

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