2014 Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI Cylinder on Demand Review
2014 AUDI A3 REVIEW
What’s hot: Exceptional powertrain refinement; extra power and torque
What’s not: Suspension a bit soft for lumpy corners
X-FACTOR: More power than the base model A3 petrol, but less thirst: a perfect win-win.
Price: $37,900 (plus on-roads), $46,040 as-tested
Engine/transmission: 103kW/250Nm; 1.4 litre petrol/7sp twin-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 4.7l/100km | Tested: 7.0 l/100km (on a hard workout)
OVERVIEW
“What about now?”
“Nope...”
“Now?”
“Still nothing...”
That was the internal dialogue the whole time I was driving Audi’s latest addition to the A3 fleet, the entry-level A3 1.4 TFSI with Cylinder on Demand.
Able to shut down two of its four cylinders while cruising, the A3 1.4 TFSI Cylinder on Demand (lets shorten that to CoD, shall we?) is incredibly hard to pick when it crosses over from four-cylinder mode to two-cylinders.
I couldn't pick it.
Audi claims it to be the least polluting car in its segment, and with a hybrid-rivalling thirst.
With a combined fuel consumption of just 4.7 l/100km and average emissions of 110g/km the A3 CoD is certainly frugal on paper, but it’s not, as Audi concedes, the least-thirsty petrol-powered small luxury car - that honour remains with the Lexus CT 200h.
But that small detail aside, the A3 1.4 TFSI CoD has plenty of things in its favour. Not the least of which is the incredible drivetrain refinement that allows it to run on half an engine without you ever knowing the difference.
THE INTERIOR
The “imperceptible efficiency” theme extends to the rest of the car. There’s no 'Cylinder on Demand' badges on the back, no special interior trim, not even a light in the instrument cluster to inform you that the CoD system is operating.
As an overt statement of the owner’s eco-friendliness, the A3 1.4 TFSI CoD isn’t all that great (but some might find this more appealing).