2013 Audi A3 Sportback Review
2013 AUDI A3 REVIEW
What's Hot: Stellar interior, generous equipment list in mid-grade models, grippy in corners.
What's Not: No rear cupholders, options can get expensive
X-Factor: Stylish, smooth drive and excellent value, the A3 Sportback is one of the best small luxos around.
Vehicle style: Small luxury hatchback
Engine/trans: 90kW/200Nm (1.4 TFSI), 132kW/250Nm (1.8 TFSI), 77kW/250Nm (1.6 TDI)
Price: $35,600 (A3 Attraction 1.4 TFSI) to $42,500 (A3 Attraction 2.0 TDI)
Fuel consumption (listed): 5.0 l/100km (1.4 TFSI), 5.6 l/100km (1.8 TFSI), 3.9 l/100km (1.6 TDI)
More equipment, more luxury, more performance, more efficiency and, most importantly, more affordable. That's the promise Audi Australia is making with the launch of its all-new, third generation A3 Sportback.
And more affordable it most certainly is.
The price of entry to the A3 range has dropped substantially, resting at $35,600 for the A3 Attraction 1.4 TFSI - line ball with the cheapest variant of the A3's chief rival, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
That's $4600 less than the previous base-model A3, and the new one comes with a twin-clutch automatic transmission and leather upholstery as standard.
Is it good enough to take on the A-Class, which is currently dominating the small luxury segment? After our first taste of the new A3 Sportback range at its local launch in Cairns, it's definitely got the right stuff.
THE INTERIOR
In terms of design, quality and choice of materials, the A3’s interior is very hard to fault.
Sure, the entry-level Attraction grade misses out on a smattering of chrome highlights around the cabin, but it’s all bolted together solidly and virtually every surface has a premium feel.
There’s no shortage of soft-touch plastics, however if we had to single out something to complain about, it’d be the silver-painted dash and door trim on the base models - piano-black might have looked a bit more high-end than matte silver.
Audi’s MMI system has come in for a major overhaul, and every A3 variant now has a 5.8-inch retractable infotainment screen that sprouts from the dashboard.
The MMI controls themselves have also undergone an ergonomic re-work, with the major shortcut buttons for phone, radio, media etc. now being controlled by toggle switches. It all falls easily to hand, and is intuitive to use.
The software is also the latest version of MMI, and it’s ultra-slick in both appearance and function.
Opt for the MMI Navigation plus system ($2990), and you get three-dimensional maps as well as Audi’s MMI touch interface, cleverly integrated into the control wheel on the centre console.