Audi A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI and
Words - Ken Gratton
Audi A3 new variant is the way to the future, but can pass muster here?
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Local Launch
Kangaroo Island, SA
What we liked
>> Incredibly flexible engine and gearbox good
>> Audi surface quality
>> Respective dynamics to compensate for the economy
Not so much
>> A little 'noisier than expected
>> Car Interior Sombre tested
>> Packaging and Ergonomics
Audi A3 Sportback Overall rating: 3.0/5.0
Engine / Transmission / Chassis: 3.5/5.0
, Packaging and practicality: 3.0/5.0
Safety: 2.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 3.5/5.0
X-Factor: 3.5/5.0
About ratings
REVIEW
Audi began immersing the Australian public buy the new philosophy of "performance" for the A3 1.9 TDI Sportback ('e' is the efficiency).
Eventually, there will be a model of efficiency for each amount of the sale of the collection, the company offers in Australia, including the flagship A8. Audi A3 Sportback to promote the choice of model frugal, but a lot of potential buyers for the A3 is not as serious as proposed. Many people do not necessarily notice - or care - that the car is equipped with steel wheels, for example.
Similarly, we propose that the matter would be an effective part of the model is there for a long time. In time, the effectiveness of the models is likely the norm - volume sellers - rather than some skimpy masochistic device, ascetics and Puritans.
Consumers are increasingly sensitive to the price of fuel for motor vehicles, private cars such as Audi has increasingly supported.
PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
Audi A3 Sportback has a price in the 1.9 TDI and just $ 1,700 more than the basic model class Sportback, 1.6 Attraction. As for the price of diesel goes, the effective model of ischemic stroke, with a low purchase price and lower operating costs. It is $ 9,600 less than the A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI Ambition S tronic - the only diesel in the A3 Sportback range.
Audi claims reduces relatively little price difference between the model of efficiency and the output level of 1.6 within two years of costs.
effective model will be cut as entry-level 1.6 variant, sans aluminum wheels, so the standard features, including: two front airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, side airbags, front occupants, side curtains, ESP, electronic locking differential, traction control, electric adjustable mirrors, power steering, steel wheels 16-inch full hubcaps, tires 205/55 R16 low rolling resistance, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors, central locking, dual zone air conditioning, power windows electrical, steering wheel leather-bound and an MP3-compatible CD audio system with 10 speakers.
Given that the economic model, the A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI and it is not the most popular destinations for the Audi offers an alternative. Prices on some of these options is the state of the economy test machine ($ 5,300 and the MMI / DVD navigation multichanger a box of gloves, cruise control $ 750, $ 1,300 for metallic paint), but the defense of Audi, Most of the listed options are properties, which Aussie buyers usually take or leave (heated front seats and the list of two).
MECHANICS
1.9-liter four-cylinder diesel engine mounted on A3 Sportback effective model for developing 77 kW of power and 250Nm of torque at 1900rpm and 4000rpm. This production is unlikely that more than 2kW gasoline 1.6-liter, but it does not hurt that has the same shape of torque than the 1.8-liter TFSI model. Although this figure is a full 250Nm of 100 nm, less than the A3 2.0-liter TDI engine, it is still convenient for the number of relatively small and compact car, the A3 Sportback.
The best news is that the A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI and radiates a minimum of 119 g / km of CO2 and returns fuel consumption figure of 4.5L/100km kombi. Suffice to say, the acceleration is 11.7 seconds from zero to 100 km / h, but that will cost the economy in those days. Audi is equipped with a diesel particulate filter and electronic engine tuned for optimum fuel economy.
Transversely mounted engine drives through a five-speed manual transmission, Audi says, the characteristics of multi-gear and 3 and 5 - presumably higher than the five-speed box fitted to the A3 three-door 1.6, because the A3 Sportback and Sportback 1.9 TDI is the only model in the window of the range five-speed manual. All other options Sportback drive through automatic, manual or S-Tronic (DSG) six-speeders. Third, it is under-driven gear and 1.250:1 fifth gear is overdrive 0.625:1.
The suspension is independent of the round, with MacPherson struts and wheels in front and four-link IRS rear. Power supply, rack and pinion steering provides a variable speed on different road and can negotiate a circle of 10.7. Braking the role falls to the ventilated discs front and solid rear discs.
PACKING
It 'been a bit' of time, the A3 Sportback. Based on the same platform as the A5, the current Volkswagen Golf, Audi has no right until the moment of the same type of innovative packaging, Peugeot 308 is, to nominate one competitor.
Not much space and legroom in front of the Audi, but along the front of adults, there is no room to talk about the knee behind the average size of adults.
Since the scope of only one foot in front of it is forgiven, but compared to cars like the new Peugeot 308 market - roughly equivalent to the size of the inner packagings (slightly shorter overall length, actually) - Audi is not generous enough legroom for the rear.
But ultimately it is a balancing act. The rear seats of the Audi feel pinched, they must be grown at least an average height of front seat occupants are of average height. Then the rear knee room is at a premium. However, regardless of the position of the front seat behind the maneuver is a borderline case for adults.
Cars tested had some dull aluminum trim and door handles, glove box latch and front panels of the speed command and the doors, but was otherwise cut leather coal (Vienna) and coordinate the plastic furniture of very sad and sweet, but with enough options for buyers to go for something brighter option. Decor was slightly leavened is pale gray tiles to the roof pillars and headliner.
As the air conditioning can be adjusted separately for driver and passenger temperature, fan speed and the flow of exhaust air can be only one-sided, so it's a dual-zone air conditioning system of sorts, but only up now. In other words, the front passenger can not be just hot air on your legs if the driver just wants to cooler air to the face.
SAFETY
With every model of Audi A3 Sportback range function "Backguard," which is the work more or less active head restraints, but the passenger's entire upper body and head. The system works only if the buffer and reduce the chance of injury and return hose. Backguard gives the A3 Sportback a narrow advantage in the safety of some of the competitors in the same segment.
All seats have seat belts and safety belt / safety and headrest. Two-step two soldiers from front and side curtain airbags combined Backguard feature of the A3 Sportback: first among equals status "by the standards of premium hatch below $ 40,000.
active safety, the A3 Sportback is equipped with ABS, Brake Assist, ESP, electronic differential lock and traction control.
COMPETITORS
It is a combination of economy and prestige - a strange combination, because it is - the Audi is a bit 'like competition. Based on the true price of a lot of machines around that offers a diesel alternative A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI e.
Europhiles will cross-shop against the Alfa Romeo 147 JTD Audi, Citroen C4 and Peugeot 308 XTE HDi. Up to approximately $ 10,000 above the price, buyers can also look at the BMW 120d and the Volvo S40 D5, although the Volvo sedan is not the goal.
well below the price of Audi, the buyers may be tempted to Ford Focus and Holden Astra diesel (if distinctive stamp is not important), plus the Renault Megane, Skoda Octavia and Audi's brother, the Volkswagen Golf. In addition, there is also a lower-quality variants of the Peugeot 308 available.
If those competitors do not compete with the Audi is their fuel consumption. Since the counter-argument that they offer much more performance for not using a lot of fuel. Yet despite the style of packaging Audi poverty is not so much against these competitors - cruise control and alloy wheels are probably the major shortcomings of A3 configuration.
ON THE ROAD
Audi resting on a pleasant drive current A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI Australia and motoring media. The economy is South Australia's Kangaroo Island and Adelaide Peninsula Fleurieux also encouraged the press contingent to drive the most economical way possible.
Even if a car is operating normally (ie not a very light gas), the entire press contingent were the average consumption figure 3.86L/100km a "hard driven" A3 yet to return to the average rate of 4.6L per 100 km.
The economy of a key factor A3 is a 1.9 liter diesel engine. It is incredibly engine "great couple, but not in the sense of rotation around the bike to dry at 80 km / h. 250nm only (and is not particularly full load torque at all in itself), the motor is about flexible and appropriate adaptation stall characteristics, to pull high gears a little inactive, without creating.
A3 literally the place up and running (fifth) at 1000 rpm and fall flat on the road about 60 km / h, less than 3.0L/100km design. And 'advisable or a good drive, you can not say, but can be done.
conservation of fuel has increased, leaving the transmission in gear downhill grades, although there balancing act involved, if the driver is facing an uphill grade in the bottom of the hill, you coast in neutral (using 0.9L/100km to keep the the engine idling speed is 80 km / h), the sacrifice of spent fuel to build more momentum to climb the other side. Needless to say it is not advisable to drive in everyday traffic-free.
Another tactic used to improve the fuel economy of the A3 is to switch off air conditioning and cracking the windows down or speeds below 80 km / h - although not recommended, but probably less dangerous to small vessels in crowds.
70 km / h is the optimal speed economy, but would be available in 4.0L/100km constant 100 km / h - as in Sydney, Melbourne run, for example.
The engine proved to be a little 'clattery "wait for the diesel Audi, but settled down when the engine was warmed up to operating temperature. E 'is even more quiet load and a handful of laps. The economic dynamism, it is not easy to get a feel for things like cars in a straight line method or the performance of turbo lag, but what can you say A3 spritely enough, as opposed to 11.7 seconds, 0-100 km / h suggest.
On the road, the ride was decent. Again, there was little opportunity to test the dynamic limits of the car, but the control does not seem weighted more than the other Audi models were carried out in recent times and improved steering feel at higher speeds (above 80 km / h ). However, remember that this car is a standard form of low rolling resistance tires, steel wheels, so it does not leech the corners - but it also sucks.
The riding position was correctly identified a number of different sizes and shapes of the driver - and the seats were comfortable without the sweet, soft and not supportive. Similarly, the layout tool is simple and more or less traditional ease of use. The graphics were very readable, and the steering wheel was in spot is beautiful and legible instruments.
HVAC and audio controls are relatively simple, and the red backlight will accept the majority of potential users.
hand brake lever in a traditional style was closer to the passenger than the driver and was a little damage to the bottle in the center console cup holder.
You can choose the change was not easy, and - without doubt - it would be easy to implement, if we had had Shave split second instead of saving ml.
It 'been a bit' since we last drove a manual for the Audi, because there is no need to commit to the other switch to open one in the past. When the A3-efficient model, the security feature - the insidious enough to argue, but not smart enough to drive manual cars - will lead to one-off on a tangent. It would be such a vehicle is as good as or better than a six-speed S tronic? But then, if we dare to say, the purchase price would not be as strong and decisive amortization schedule will be longer than 1.8 years.
How sad, we are discussing the cost / benefit analysis "on the road" section. In a sense it is an unavoidable part of this car, because the reason for the existence of the economy and the conservation of exhaustible natural resources. Audi has been praised, though, which is an economic car that does not feel like one.
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