Over the past 60 years we have seen dramatic changes in the way people enjoy, and use their motors. Wheels are all-important to enthusiasts of all ages. But Audi has the ability to introduce the entry engined A3, especially in Sportback form with four passenger doors, five seats, a split seat back that folds down to provide an enormous 1,220 litres of hold capacity, an incredible engine with a capacity of only 1,197 cc four from cylinders with direct fuel injection, turbocharging and indirect intercooling, which happily reaches 100 km/h in a modest 10.5 seconds.
Compare that with your average four or five-seat family car from the early 1950s which would struggle to reach much more than 100 km/h, and would take over 30 seconds to achieve it, and of course, that would be from a two-litre, four cylinder mill probably designed in the 1930s.
We now take for granted all the extras, the magnificent brakes, and believe me, the A3 Sportback comes with powerful, positive, and as far as I could establish, fade-free brakes, even after multi-hard stops. The comfort levels are great, the driver’s ‘perch’ adjusts to almost extreme levels, the steering can be adjusted to provide exactly the right position, and then with head restraints also adjusted to the optimum 7cm from the head, and the seat belts properly done up, the A3 is ready to take on the local roads.
Nothing written about the 1.2 Sportback should come as a surprise because this same car comes with a 1,984 cc four-cylinder Quattro pushing out 221 KW of power, which propels the car to 100 km/h in only 4.9 seconds, peaking out at a very decent 250 km/h.
Experience has taught me that if a manufacturer uses the same body shell for a good selection of engines and drive trains, the basic shape is going to be pretty darn good.
A3 Sportback is a masculine, aggressive-looking car from the front. The narrow headlights are snarling a warning to the dodo mass and the outside mirrors are mounted sports car fashion to highlight the general appeal of the car. I totally agree when it’s said that the new A3 and Sportback look flatter, more masculine and dynamic. “The slim side is defined by the striking Tornado line along the edge of the window and the ‘dynamic’ line above the sills”.
The basic car is always a pleasure to drive
Front, back and from the side the A3 Sportline promises much. Nothing disappoints; the driving experience is one of the best encountered from a small engine in some time. It’s one of those cars that asks to be driven hard and fast, and the roadholding is such that bends, curves, humps and even rumble strips fail to detract from the car’s ability, or rather the chassis and suspension’s ability to soak up what so ever Transport Malta has achieved or failed to achieve in the way of road surfaces.
The six-speed gearbox [manual on our car] can be used in every gear, although for those purists resisting the impulse to go faster than the law permits, 80 km/h and sixth gear are a little mismatched. However, beat the system and get into the low hundreds and the final gear in the box becomes totally sensible to get very decent petrol consumption.
The basic car is always a pleasure to drive, and many hundreds of words could be written about the mass of extras that can be purchased. We are more interested, with the few words allowed in this cameo piece to say: yes, there is a darn good radio to calm the shattered nerves. But on a more serious note, Dynamic suspension is standard which consists of a McPherson spring strut-type axle at the front with aluminium lower wishbones and an aluminium subframe with a tubular stabiliser and a lightweight compound link rear suspension.
ABS brakes are obviously standard, and the car is also fitted with the electronic brake force distribution system, hydraulic brake assist with two-stage brake booster function. The steering is actually electromechanical and there’s an Electronic Differential lock, and of course, Electronic Stabilisation Control.
Side impact protection is great, consisting of impact bend-resistant beams with a reinforced body side structure. Which brings us to the seat belts, which must always be worn, front and rear, and the fact that the electromechanical parking brake automatically releases when the driver’s belt is on and the accelerator pressed rather reinforces the need to wear the restraining belt. And yes, there is a compoundation of airbags that will hopefully never burst into life.
This A3 Sportback really does deliver, especially to happy and confident drivers.
Verdict
Comfort
As expected, the seats were comfortable and decently ‘grippy’
Performance
Even from this small engine the entire journey can be totally invigorating
Cool
Never describes an exquisite gem
Quality
Frankly, Audi is a name synonymous with quality.
At a glance
Top speed
193 km/h
0-100km
10.5 seconds
Economy
in combined mode 115g/km
Engine
1.2 TFSI, 1,197 cc, four cylinders and turbocharged
Power
105 bhp
Maximum torque
175 Nm