Limousine Audi A3 2.0TFSI 2017 em tested (2023)

Someone recently told me they think soAudi A3 sed 2017It's the most attractive sedan on the market.

Of all the sedans out there - and we were talking actual sedans, not four-door "coupes" - the thing is quite attractive, especially given its compact dimensions. It's hard enough to make the smaller three-box models look attractive, let alone luxurious.

Australian buyers are a clear reflection of sentiment at around 45%A3Models sold with this body style. That's pretty crazy considering how strong hatchback sales often skew the small car segment.

It's also reasonably priced - you can get behind the wheel of an A3 sedan for just $41,500 plus road expenses, that's it.the 1.4TFSI COD that Paul recently tested.

The version we have here is the mid-range 2.0 TFSI variant, which costs $47,500 more on the highways. Both it and the entry-level model have front-wheel drive. There's also an all-wheel-drive quattro version with the same 2.0 TFSI engine that outperforms the regular lineup for $51,100 more on highways, an increase (in performance and price) over the $64,500 S3 sedan .

Our car came with a few option packages: the $2,900 Engineering package withAudiVirtual cockpit, a sports steering wheel and an updated version of the navigation system with live maps (and five free map updates), two SD card slots and a 10 gigabyte music storage system. Those extras add extra flair to the cabin, although the fact the car can't get the latest Audi Connect system with Google Maps is a shame.

As for the standard kit, no matter how good it looks, it's a bit lacking for a car in this price range. You lose push-button start, smart key and entry, power seats, seat warmers, and adaptive cruise control, all of which are available on sedans under $30,000 from popular brands likeSubaru.

That's not to say the vehicle's equipment list is sparse, with 17-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, leather-trimmed sport seats, aluminum accent strips and door sill plates, dual-zone climate control, 8-speaker stereo with 7.0-inch screen. , satellite navigation as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (optional for the base vehicle!).

The interior is a comfortable place to stay that matches what you'd expect from a German luxury brand in a compact and cost-effective way. LED lighting in the cup holders, doors, and footwells makes it feel like a little private room when cruising the freeway at night, and the xenon headlights are pretty good too.

There are soft-touch materials on the dash, padded sections on all four ports, and the retractable screen in the center of the dash still looks pretty snazzy and is logically controlled by the MMI thumbwheel at the top of the trackpad.

The manually adjustable supportive leather seats are comfortable and there is an extendable seat up front for those with longer limbs. Taller occupants may feel they are sitting too high, even in the lowest seating position.

The rear seat is about as roomy as you'd expect from a small sedan, given that it's not huge: legroom and headroom are tight for tall occupants, and while footroom is good, feet do feel a bit cramped. indoors, and those with big clods may have to flex their ankles to get in and out - the doorways aren't huge and the sills get in the way a bit.

The rear seat lacks practicality, too: There's no center armrest or cup holders, but there are mesh card pockets, bottle holders in the doors, and the rear seat has its own 12-volt outlet and air vents.

Up front are larger door pockets with bottle holders, two cup holders and a covered center console compartment with two USB ports and an auxiliary plug. There is a dual SIM and a dual SD CD slot in the glove compartment, which takes up a lot of space.

The rear seat folds down 60:40 to increase the trunk and with the seat backs the trunk has a capacity of 425 litres, which is good for the car's size, and has a boxy shape to make loading easier . luggage storage. If you have odd-shaped items, there's mesh netting to keep things secure, and there's a spare under the boot floor to save space.

In terms of safety, the A3 sedan has seven airbags (dual front, front, curtain and knee), in addition to autonomous emergency braking, driver drowsiness control, rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors, tire pressure and automatic headlights and wipers. . Spend on this spec and you'll also get rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring.

The A3 2.0TFSI is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an output of 140 kW (4,200-6,000 rpm) and 320 Nm of torque (1,500-4,200 rpm). Gear shifting is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters. Fuel consumption is estimated at 5.8 liters per 100 km and we saw 6.6 l/100 km in our test regime, including highway, city stop-start.

It's also a very nimble thing, offering excellent in-gear roll: a sudden stomp on the accelerator in fourth gear and shifting from 50km/h to 80km/h becomes a snap (or two, if that's the case) mastered. . something like that) speed really gets your blood pumping).

Remember: just a few years ago, a 0-60 time of 6.9 seconds was considered the hot hatch benchmark, and that's what Audi claims for this compact luxury sedan. If you opt for the quattro version, it's even faster: 6.2 seconds.

For most people, this powertrain will give them the excitement they need without spending more on the AWD version or the S3. Our beloved founder, Tony, even said he could imagine "driving down a freeway at 200 km/h without stopping or hesitation".

While you're not shoving those gears here, the thing is properly grounded to the highway rhythm, with the engine slipping into seventh gear just under 2,000 rpm. Not as noisy as some competitors on thick, chipped surfaces.

There can be a little lag when you flatten the throttle, whether you're coming from a standstill or going into overtaking. This is mostly the gearbox trying to figure out which gear it needs in that situation, but in most other cases it's sharp and graceful. Unlike the base model, this version does not feature cylinder deactivation technology that deactivates two cylinders at low loads.

One element you get on this model but not on the base car is the Audi Drive Select system, with Dynamic, Comfort, Efficiency, Auto and Individual modes, which changes engine, transmission and steering settings. We left it on Auto most of the time because that's where it seemed to do its best work.

In Sport mode, for example, the engine stays in gear longer, allowing it to accelerate well past its maximum torque zone, and the steering becomes so heavy that it becomes a bit uncomfortable in the off-road corners.

In Auto mode, the steering is lighter and more flexible, and doesn't seem to want to understeer unless you push too hard. In dynamic mode, the added weight in the steering accentuates seemingly twisty turn-in and understeer.

Regardless of mode, car brakes can be finicky: when you hit the pedal on the freeway, you might surprise your fellow passengers with how quickly they respond, but they hold up well under harder driving.

There is a lot of grip and the suspension is very well resolved. It maintains a nice flat line in corners, and while the wheels on our test car might seem a little small compared to the S-Line's optional exterior styling kit, they play a big part in keeping things under control in terms of driveability hold and comfort.

Like many cars, the suspension doesn't like crossings, but it doesn't get too confused by such things, and while it's not what you'd call plush, it delivers, particularly over ruts and bubble marks. Surfaces.

Audi has a three-year/unlimited mile warranty and the brand offers a three-year/28,000-mile pre-sales service plan (with maintenance every 12 months or 15,000 km, whichever comes first) and costs $1,680.

So we found it to be an attractive car that drives well and is very nice inside. What lets the 2017 Audi A3 sedan down is the fact that there are some really great little sedans with no prestige badges out there these days, many of which are packed with gear this thing doesn't have. That's $20,000 more than some of these cars too...

Our advice? If you're looking for a luxury small car, look for in-stock vehicles that have a few options included in the price.

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2017 Audi A3 2.0TFSI Limousine im Test

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