Image by Matt Vosper
If you want to spend wisely when selecting a new C-segment five-door hatchback, it’s going to be hard to better the “real deal” that is the Audi A3 Sportback, says David Miles.
In his presentation of the all new longer wheelbase car to the UK media this week, Jon Zammett Head of PR for Audi UK said, “The new A3 Sportback is designed for technology literate people, the iPad generation, new-money professionals where whatever they purchase has to be the real-deal.”
Before technology luddites switch off reading this story thinking the new A3 Sportback isn’t for them, well it is because despite the ‘marketing-speak’ in real-life it is the real-deal and a very good car.
Around 20,000 A3 Sportbacks will be sold in the UK this year and another 10,000 units of the new three-door A3 hatchback versions launched at the end of last year as well.
The A3 is Audi’s best selling range in the UK and deliveries of the Sportback to customers start from 16 March. Advance orders for the A3 Sportback have increased the brand’s advance order bank by 19% for the new registration plate month of March.
Already this year Audi UK sales are up 2% over last year’s all time record year when 123,622 new Audi cars were registered, an increase of 8.6% over the previous record year of 2011, and 2,060 were sold in Wales.
It is not just in the UK that Audi sales are increasing despite the global economic climate in 2012 the brand sold a record 1.45 million new cars worldwide, an increase of 11% over 2011. China is the brand’s largest market with close to 406,000 deliveries. Germany is the second largest market, the US third and the UK fourth. Much of the brand’s growth has come from the addition of new model ranges in expanding market segments. In 2001 the Audi brand had 17 models, now – 12 years later it has 44.
The five-door A3 Sportback costs £620 more than the comparable model in the A3 three door hatchback range and Sportback prices start from £19,825 rising to £27,180, but more versions and engine options will be added including quattro drive. The additional engines will include a 1.2-litre TFSI petrol unit, a 1.4-litre TFSI cylinder on demand petrol engine and a 1.6-litre TDI diesel unit. A four-door saloon A3 range will also arrive this year to capture down-sizing drivers potentially saving on tax charges by moving from Audi A4s.
At launch the A3 Sportback is available with a 2.0-litre TDI 150PS turbodiesel engine, a 1.4-litre TFSI 122PS petrol unit and a 1.8-litre TFSI 180PS petrol unit. The 1.8-litre engine has 7-speed S tronic automatic transmission as standard and the other two units have 6-speed manual and S tronic auto transmission options.
There is the choice of SE, Sport and S line levels of trim and equipment depending on which engine is chosen. S Line is expected to be the most popular taking 40% of sales with SE and Sport talking 30 per cent each.
The 2.0-litre TDI engine is expected to be the best selling unit taking 40% of sales followed by the 1.4-litre TFSI petrol with 20% of sales and the 1.8 TFSI 10%. The forthcoming 1.6 TDI should account for 30% of UK sales.
But these are predicted sales as 65% of Sportback UK registrations will go to fleet and business user-chooser customers and much will depend on what changes the Government makes in the forthcoming Budget to VED road tax and Benefit-in-Kind tax charges.
Despite being better equipped and larger than the outgoing A3 Sportback, the new third generation range is up to 90kg lighter and the revised Volkswagen Group engines are 10.25% more fuel efficient and CO2 emissions have been reduced by an average 11% across the range.
The A3 Sportback uses the new Volkswagen Group MQB platform shared with the new VW Golf 2013 European Car of the Year, the new SEAT Leon and the latest Skoda Octavia.
Priced from £19,825 the new third generation Audi A3 Sportback five-door hatchback range is bigger, better equipped and lighter. Not only is there more space for passengers and luggage there are better equipment levels and the latest range of Volkswagen Group engines are over 10% more fuel efficient and with 11% less CO2 emissions.
Knowing that it is most probable that the Budget will see increases in road tax and company car tax costs these efficiencies will soften the financial blow a bit for UK drivers.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The longer wheelbase of the new A3 5dr not only makes this a completely different model to the sister A3 3dr but it really produces a vastly better ride and comes with more room for rear seat passengers, writes Robin Roberts.
The refinement usually associated with Audi has been redefined for the A3 with the arrival of the A3 Sportback because it better matches a dynamic ability with a decent absorption of our deteriorating road surfaces.
Our first test run in a 1.4 TFSI SE with its 122ps four cylinder engine and six-speed manual box produced a creditable 44.5mpg over most A-class and B-class country roads but more surprising was the car’s ability to get up and go when an overtaking opportunity arose.
This engine is one of the newest in the range and covers the 0-62mph increment in 9.5sec while it is taxed at 123gkm/ VED band D before the Budget. Maximum speed is 126mph.
Not only is it pleasing on the pocket and to me makes more sense than a diesel even for fleet buyers as well as the private buyers expected to account for most sales, but its sharp handling with well weighted steering and reassuringly strong brakes underfoot. An electric parking brake is standard.
I thought there was a slightly heavier feel through the steering of the 150ps 2.0 TDI SE we also briefly tested and its longer gearing also encouraged more changes on undulating roads but even so it reached 51.4mpg on our circuit or country roads.
It emits a remarkably low 108gkm and before the Budget was in VED band B. Top speed is 134mph and it goes from rest to 62mph in 8.7sec.
There was slightly more wind noise with the 2.0 diesel over that noticed in the 1.4 petrol but otherwise the shared a very refined character with hardly any mechanical intrusion or irritating road rumbles.
The longer roofline of the Sportback has allowed the designers to add a third window to the side, improving light for those in the back but also helping the driver by reducing the thickness of the D-pillar when pulling into traffic from a parking spot or side-road. In fact, the three rear-seat passengers now have more room than in the shorter 3dr and that makes it a better proposition for families.
Even so, the boot holds between 380 and 1220 litres of items, with a 75:25 offset split so you can have two in the back and a longer item beside them, which is particularly useful.
Built on the Volkswagen Group’s latest chassis engineering, the new Audi A3 Sportback is a big step forward for the range, which is its best selling in the UK, and it has a very extensive options’ list to please the most discerning of drivers who may have, up to now, considered they needed a larger car or who were put off the less practical Audi A3 3dr. Audi expect to sell about 30,000 A3 models this year in Britain, and two-thirds will be the Sportback. That could be selling short a longer car which will make a bigger impression.
Fast facts:
Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI SE manual £19,825.
Engine/transmission: 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder, DOHC, direct injection petrol with turbocharger and intercooler, 120bhp, 147lb ft of torque from 1,400rpm, 6-speed manual.
Performance: 126mph, 0-62mph 9.5 seconds, 53.3mpg, (44.5mpg on test), CO2 123g/km, VED road tax (currently) £0 First Year rate and £100 per annum for the second year onwards, BIK company car tax 15%.
Insurance group: 16.
Dimensions/capacities: L 4,310mm, W 1,785mm, H 1,425mm, boot/load space 380 to 1,220-litres. Warranty: 3-years/60,000 miles.
For: Versatile, classy, premium desirable brand, beautifully built, gem of a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine, comfortable ride and impeccable handling.
Against: Choose the specification level and engine needed very carefully – remember it costs to be seen as posh.
