Audi A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI quattro 2013 Review

A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI CoD and 1.8 TFSI quattro

What we liked:
>> Sensational CoD engine
>> Great interior presentation
>> Ride comfort

The frugal A3 is the 1.4-litre TFSI CoD Attraction, which refers to its clever engine ('Cylinder on Demand') and the level of trim. A turbocharged four-cylinder, the engine switches seamlessly from four to two-cylinder mode to conserve fuel in light-load situations.

The other model is the A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI quattro Ambition, which identifies the car as an all-wheel drive model trimmed to a high level and powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged engine that inducts fuel by means of both direct and port injection.

Both cars round out the new A3 Sportback range, which is selling well in Australia, according to Audi MD Andrew Doyle, who says the prestige brand is on track for its ninth consecutive year of sales growth in this country. Doyle's forecast of 16,000 units in 2013 is predicated in part on the introduction of the new A3, with this third generation of the popular small car raising sales by 69 per cent in year to date figures.

Yet, from having driven the car, there's punchier performance available, and no loss of refinement. Add to that, if running costs are such a concern, the new CoD model should extend its fuel lead over the 90kW base model on longer journeys or spending more time in the suburbs.

As for the 1.8-litre TFSI quattro variant, priced at $47,990 as it is, it's cheaper than the current Volkswagen Golf R (see COMPETITORS below), although the Golf is due for replacement soon and delivers more performance than the Audi anyway. Irrespective of how it's perceived, the 1.8 quattro looks a little expensive up against its front-wheel drive counterpart with the same engine.

The CoD model is trimmed to the Attraction level and comes as standard with 16-inch alloys and 205/55 tyres, tyre pressure monitor, reverse parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, auto-on/off headlights, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, multi-function leather steering wheel with shift paddles, leather upholstery, MMI infotainment system with eight-speaker MP3-compatible CD audio system and electric windows/mirrors.

Offered in upmarket Ambition trim, the 1.8 quattro comes equipped with the following features in addition to those offered in the Attraction-grade model: 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 tyres, leather-trimmed sports seats, high-gloss decorative trim, front fog lights, full colour infotainment system, Audi Drive Select and multi-function leather-bound three-spoke sports steering wheel with shift paddles.

While the driving position was fine -- and the graphics in both the infotainment display and the instrument binnacle were very nice -- the firmly-cushioned seats were not as comfortable as those of the Volvo V40 Cross Country driven recently. Granted the A3 is priced lower than the Volvo and the Audi's seats held occupants in place very snugly during harder cornering, but after around 250km of driving I was pleased to step out of the car and stretch.

Producing 132kW and 280Nm, the 1.8-litre engine is the third-generation of EA888 four-cylinder, shared with the front-wheel drive A3 Sportback 1.8 TFSI. Changes from the second-generation engine include thin-walled cylinders, an integrated exhaust manifold, a new crankshaft, revised balancer shafts and a plastic sump that is 8kg lighter than before.

By combining port and direct injection systems, Audi has created a turbocharged and intercooled engine that is never caught napping by demands from the driver -- but runs lean when performance isn't needed. The intercooler is built into the inlet manifold, located at the front of the car, and the port injectors operate at lower engine operating speeds to deliver better fuel charge formation when the fuel and air charge is created in the inlet ports. Direct injection is employed on start-up and under higher loads, with both systems working together for ultimate high performance. With both systems operating, the quattro will sprint to 100km/h from a standing start in 6.8 seconds. Audi's combined-cycle fuel consumption figure for the quattro variant is 6.6L/100km.

When slip is detected drive is transferred to the rear wheels by an oil pump-driven clutch system, and the standard transmission is a six-speed S tronic (dual-clutch) unit, although Audi offers a manual transmission at no extra cost.

The CoD ('Cylinder on Demand') engine develops 103kW and 250Nm -- 13kW and 50Nm more than the engine in the entry-level A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI Attraction. That added performance reduces the time spent accelerating from launch to 100km/h by 0.9 seconds (8.4 versus 9.3 seconds). Fuel consumption has naturally been reduced also, with the CoD model posting a combined-cycle figure of just 4.7L/100km.

Two-cylinder mode operation takes place with virtually none of the NVH tell-tales encountered in other cars with similar technology. Cylinders 2 and 3 shut down under light loads, leaving cylinders 1 and 4 operating -- but firing just once each for every two revolutions of the crankshaft.

The frugal engine drives through a seven-speed S tronic (dual-clutch) transmission to the front wheels, but as with the quattro model, manual transmission is also available at no extra charge.

Active safety is enhanced in the case of the 1.8-litre TFSI quattro model by its all-wheel drive, which is not only singular in the A3 Sportback range, but unmatched by any of the car's competitors.

The other car on the market that rivals the A3 Sportback is BMW's 1 Series, which can't match the Audi's quattro drivetrain system with the 1.8-litre engine, but its rear-wheel drive means it will appeal more to those who like driving. And BMW will be bringing in front-wheel drive small hatches with roomy interiors to combat both the Audi and Benz's B-Class model -- as well as the A-Class. They're some way off yet, however.

For the money -- and leaving aside prestige branding -- you could possibly pick up the last of the Mark 6 Golf R from a nearby Volkswagen dealer. It's actually more expensive than the A3 1.8 quattro, but provides the same all-wheel drive potential and significantly more performance.

ON THE ROAD

Over SA's country roads the tyres of the A3 Sportback in both variants were loud indeed, but the rest of the car was very quiet and refined. For the first leg from Adelaide airport, the 1.4-litre COD model idled so quietly it was necessary to check the tacho and blip the accelerator to ensure it was actually running. And it was a similar story for the 1.8-litre quattro model sampled later in the day.

Both engines were smooth performers, but different in nature. The 1.4 delivered strong, exploitable torque from low speeds up to around 5000rpm. After that point the power tailed off and a higher gear became an appropriate call. In contrast the 1.8 was only too willing to rev to the redline and beyond, but still provided good torque for around-town duties.

The seven-speed S tronic (dual-clutch) transmission in the 1.4 shifted faultlessly, but the six-speed box (also an S tronic dual-clutch unit) did clunk as the car came to a halt. But the two transmissions were equally adept at handing the driver the right gear for any occasion -- not least of all when the two cars were being hurried along winding roads at speed and the driver was grabbing the shift paddle for a lower gear. Sometimes, if anything, the shift paddles and transmission sport mode were providing a gear that was too low, in hindsight -- but that was down to the driver's initial lack of familiarity with the car more so than any problem with the car itself.

Fuel consumption for the 1.4 was something like 8.7L/100km, which was not very much better than the 9.1L/100km figure posted by the 1.8 quattro's trip computer -- but it must be said that the 1.4 was not exactly being driven for optimal economy. In fact, once it was apparent that the shift from two-cylinder to four-cylinder mode was imperceptible -- either by ear or through the seat and wheel -- all bets were off. Keeping up with the 1.8 quattro became the main game. It has to be said too that the 1.4 was mostly up to the challenge. It was driveable and lively when being driven without due concern for fuel economy, but there's very little doubt that the 1.4 could be quite frugal given the opportunity.

Ride comfort for both cars was noteworthy, especially in the 1.8 quattro with its Drive Select system set to Dynamic mode. The 1.4-litre variant driven was riding on optional 17-inch alloys, so its ride comfort was all the more laudable in the circumstances. Grip suffered a little however against its quattro sibling, although neither car has been designed ultimately to carve up corners -- that will be the task of the S3 Sportback, due here in December. Steering was satisfying, however, providing enough feedback and decent turn-in, to the credit of both cars.

While the fit and finish for the A3 Sportback does deserve praise -- especially in the case of the 1.4, which is priced below $38,000 after all -- the 1.8 quattro did suffer from persistent squeaks and rattles in the dash. One was traced back to the pop-up infotainment touch screen, and the other was somewhere deeper in the dash.

It's pleasing to see that both models came with heating and climate control vents for the rear-seat occupants (something not always a given at this sort of price position) and accommodation in the back seat was adequate for adults. There was plenty of knee room and enough space under the front seats to slip the feet, but the A3 remains a small car -- with all that says about length to stretch out, despite the extra couple of inches (58mm) in the wheelbase, which now measures 2636mm. Some of that wheelbase stretch will have contributed to the enhanced luggage capacity, which Audi describes as 'best in class'.

While both cars lived up to their promise, the A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI CoD is a real surprise package. It rides really well, is quiet to a fault (on better roads at least) and is highly driveable. At $37,900 it's right in the sweet spot for this hotly contested market segment.

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