Audi A3 Saloon reviewed
Saloon cars have been struggling to stay current as buyers flock to SUVs and crossovers. So why has Audi seen fit to release a saloon version of its A3?
Well, there are two very big reasons that there is now and Audi A3 saloon. These reasons are simply that four door saloon are still very popular in the US and China.
When you step into the cabin you suddenly realise how the design of the seats really affect this car’s interior and along with the rotor grey alcantara it really does stand out. Although it may not be to everyone’s taste they honestly wouldn’t look out of place in an exotic sport car. The same goes for all of the S-Line goodness which includes the flat-bottom steering wheel and bespoke gear lever. A special mention also has to go to the air vents in this car which either fan or jet the air whether you push them in or out.
Being an Audi you would expect plenty of tech and with the A3 Saloon there is no exception. Tech highlights include Android Auto or Apple Car Play integration and in-car WiFi. There’s also adaptive cruise control which coupled together with the automatic gearbox will actually bring you to a halt and then speed you back up again really taking the stress out of driving in motorway traffic.
Four doors instantly gives this car an advantage over the three door hatchback. However, compared to the Sportback you can tell there’s not quite as much space at the back. Not only is there a little bit less head and knee room but you also sit a little bit more upright. You’ll easily get four adults in the back but they may start to feel uncomfortable after a really long journey.
It’s a similar story with the boot. Although the A3 Saloon is also slightly beaten by the CLA Class, which has a 470 litre boot, measuring 425 litres it’s actually bigger than the Sportback’s. However, the smaller aperture does meant that it’s harder to load in larger items. You do get a nice square area to put your stuff into but there’s a bit of a step when you fold the rear seats down.
The way the A3 saloon drives is a bit like the way it looks, so it’s very neat but also a bit sharp edged. Fitted with the S-Line body kit, slightly lower suspension and 19 inch alloys, the S-Line really does look fantastic. Unfortunately you do have to suffer a little for the looks as the ride is pretty firm on British B-roads. Saying that there are two possible ways around this issue. You can either ask Audi to remove the S-Line suspension and go for the Comfort option instead or get the car fitted with magnetic ride dampers. You get three different settings, Comfort, Normal and Dynamic modes and it’s in Comfort mode that you’ll want to stick to on most British roads. That’s because the suspension is still firm enough so that the car handles pretty well.
Being an Audi the A3 has an engine for pretty much every occasion. Aside from the 2.0 diesel we think a lot of buyers will opt for the 1.4 litre turbo charged petrol that actually gets the same 148 bhp as the diesel. There’s no getting away from the fact that the 1.4 isn’t quite as economical as the diesel but you can realistically expect to get around the mid 40s in terms of mpg whereas with the diesel you could get around 50-60 mpg. However, the 1.4 does have some advantages. It’s rather economical for a petrol largely due to the ability of two cylinders being able to shut down on demand. It’s also quite punchy and will get you to 62mpg from a standstill in 8.2 seconds. The A3 is very refined particularly coupled with the S-Tronic automatic gearbox. What you won’t get though are those petrol thrills where you want to really rev it out. That’s because with a small turbo this engine does its best work when in the low to mid revs.
Unlike the Sportback the saloon comes in Sport and S-Line trims. The 1.4 litre starts at around £24k which just about undercuts Merc’s CLA 180 Sport. Of course being an Audi you can easily find yourself throwing some really expensive options at it. For example, you can get a £1400 tech-pack, £1100 wheel upgrades and £1000 for the Audi magnetic ride system!
The Mercedes CLA Sport might be more overtly stylish than this car but there’s no denying that the A3 Saloon does look fantastically good for a car with four doors and a boot. If the added practically of a hatchback is absolutely essential for you then this car does everything that the regular A3 does and it does it remarkably well. Not only will this car be a little more exclusive but it will easily be mistaken for the A4 model above. If you’re on the lookout for a new or used Audi A3 then search for your ideal match with DesperateSeller.co.uk today!
