Audi A3

	Audi A3
	Debut: 2020 Maker: Audi Predecessor: A3 Mk3

Published on 5 Mar 2021

Expressive styling hides a good driving manner.

Since its introduction in 1996, Audi A3 has always been seen as the premium version of Volkswagen Golf. Built on the same underpinnings, dressed in more tasteful clothes and finished with an interior more upmarket than even the Volkswagen, the A3 opened up a new segment called “premium hatchbacks” that would be followed by Mercedes A-class, BMW 1-Series, Volvo V40, Lexus CT200h and Infiniti Q30. As the market develops, only the German 3 emerge as the true contender of the segment, but they need to compete with Golf and the high-end trims of mainstream hatchbacks as well because nowadays everybody wants to shift to high-margin products. If the A3 doesn’t feel premium enough, why don’t you choose a Skoda Octavia, Seat Leon, Ford Focus or Hyundai i30 instead? Therefore, maintaining a superficial image is crucial to the success of A3.

Obviously, the fourth generation A3 wants to distinguish from the mainstream by offering more style. However, it is always easier said than done. A series of brain drain to Korea weakened the creativity of the entire Volkswagen group design, causing the second and third generation A3 to adopt a conservative approach. The latest car tries to be more expressive, most notably from the angular design elements at the front end that you might easily mistake with the design language of Lamborghini – although the latter used to be managed by Audi. The massive hexagonal grille is finished in eye-catching honeycomb elements, with the number plate floating in the middle. The angular air vents at either side of the bumpers (both front and rear) are purely styling elements. In addition to the more pronounced fenders and a slot deliberately added between the bonnet and fascia, its designer apparently wants to replicate the sporty aggression of Ur Quattro. Maybe even the rally stage Sport Quattro. To me, it looks unnecessarily aggressive for a premium hatchback. I would rather have the understated elegance of the original A3. The arbitary shape of the headlights is also failure, although its LED matrix does look cool when turned on. Styling at the rear end is more successful, especially the 4-door sedan variant.

Sadly, no engines could give the A3 a performance edge over its Volkswagen group siblings.

Overall, the new A3 is clearly a better looking car than the last 2 generations. Despite very similar dimensions – it is 33mm longer, 31mm wider and 24mm taller for the hatchback, while wheelbase is unchanged – its body has been polished to be smoother, with rounder corners and a curvier bonnet. The windscreen looks a tad faster. These changes undoubtedly help it to lower drag coefficient to a remarkable 0.25 (shutter grille and smooth underbody also help). Meanwhile, the more pronounced fenders improve proportion considerably, making the sideview sportier and 3-dimensional, so that it no longer feels flat and bland.

Expressive styling continues in the cabin. Here, it is used to elevate the avantgarde image as much as to hide the downgraded materials. Yes, in terms of material richness, the new A3 has taken a step backward, just like its VW cousin. You might blame the market trend towards digitalized cabin tech. New age drivers would rather spend time appreciating the standard 10.25-inch TFT instrument and the 10.1-inch center touchscreen. They might even pay extra to upgrade to 12.3-inch instrument so to take advantage of Audi’s “Virtual Cockpit” functionality, which can display satellite navigation map behind the floating dials. While all these gadgets look fancy, they are also costly, so Audi has to cut cost elsewhere. As Ferdinand Piech passed away, interior designers and engineers are no longer afraid of using cheaper plastics and sacrificing Dr. Piech’s reputation for achieving the highest perceived quality. So the use of soft plastics has been reduced to the dash top and the top of door panels, whereas others have turned to hard plastics. To draw your attention away from the cheaper plastics, designers adopt a spaceship-like multi-layer dashboard design, completed with angular air vents, edgy styling blades finished in metallic effect and some glossy black panels. It is fine to look, but perform a “Piech test” with your fingers will find many plastics hollow or brittle, losing the high-quality perception of the old cars. Compare with its German rivals, its cabin falls short of Mercedes A-class in both quality perception and design, while the cabin of BMW 1-Series feels also a tad more solid. It might not be a deal-breaking disadvantage, but the fact that Audi goes from the top to the bottom of the trio is disappointing.

Material richness is sacrificed to upgrade digital tech.

That said, the A3’s cabin is still a nice place to spend time. Like its Volkswagen stablemate, it is spacious enough for both front and rear passengers. Rear head room in the sedan version is not quite as good as the 5-door Sportback (3-door body is no longer available, like all other MQB evo cars), but legroom is quite generous. The driving position is faultless. The multi-function steering wheel is fabulous. The front seats are comfortable yet they use materials recycled from plastic bottles. The digital instrument and touchscreen display crisped and attractive images. The MMI infotainment system is far more intuitive to use than the VW version. Moreover, while Golf has moved virtually all controls to the touchscreen, Audi keeps a row of physical buttons under the touchscreen for controlling air-con etc. While the Golf uses a troublesome touch-sensitive slider to adjust audio volume, in the A3 you use a roller switch on steering wheel to do the same function. In short, the ergonomics problems troubling VW are mostly avoided in the Audi.

As a premium car, safety is also well taken care. The A3 offers standard automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and collision avoidance steering assist.

In the mechanical aspect, there is not much to surprise. The A3 used to catch the attention of automotive journalists because it always made debut before the equivalent Golf, thus previewed the new generation Volkswagen group platform. This is no longer the case now. As we have already seen the new Golf, and we all know the underpinning MQB platform is merely updated to accommodate new technologies like 48V mild-hybrid system, none of the mechanicals aspect in the new A3 is new to us.

Sedan is better proportioned than the Sportback.

As before, MQB is a flexible platform, accommodating petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. In the latter case, all variants in the group share the same hardware: a 1.4-liter TSI engine pairs with an electric motor housed in the 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a 13kWh lithium battery mounted under the rear seat. It offers a combined output of 204hp or 245hp, depending on models, but the chief difference is the availability of battery power rather than the engine and motor themselves. Frankly, the resultant A3 TFSIe is designed to deceive CO2 fleet emission standards rather than benefiting the drivers, because you get an electric range of only 65km, and most likely even less in the real world. The extra weight of 240kg is also an enemy to driving fun.

Comparatively, the 1.5TSI variant is more pleasing. Smooth, gusty enough, works imperceptibly with mild-hybrid boost yet returns good fuel economy. Volkswagen group’s 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox shifts quickly and unobtrusively. Meanwhile, the updated 2.0TDI diesel engine is flexible and refined, a pity that it is falling out of market favour.

Sadly, no engines could give the A3 a performance edge over its Volkswagen group siblings, as fleet emission limit has it handicapped. If you want a quicker A3, you will need to upgrade to S3, but then again, it is no faster than Golf R either.

It needs a stronger, more distinctive character to match its expressive styling.

As before, the A3 models with less than 150hp have to settle with a simple torsion beam rear axle. Fortunately, the best selling 1.5TSI rides on multi-link setup. S line trim gets stiffer and 15mm lower suspension setting, while adaptive dampers are optional.

With multi-link and S line passive suspensions, the A3 strikes a good balance between handling and ride. Low-speed ride on poorer surfaces might catch it out a little, but otherwise it is composed and compliant, eager to steer with its direct steering, stable and quiet in high-speed cruising. It offers plenty of grip and exhibits good body control in corners. All things very similar to the Golf.

However, there is not a single area the Audi impresses. While the steering is quick and precise, it is rather short of feel. The ride is not as supple as Mercedes A-class. The handling not as sporty as BMW 1-Series. The chassis balance not as interactive as Ford Focus. In the end, the driving experience leaves you admired but not impressed. This car is not short of talents, but it needs a stronger, more distinctive character to match its expressive styling.

Verdict:

Published on 16 Mar 2021

Audi S3

Facing more competition, S3 no longer enjoys a superior image, even though it has improved considerably in handling...

Though being famous for “Quattro”, Audi never intended to make the S3 a match for Lancia Delta Integrale, Subaru Impreza or Mitsubishi Evo. Instead, it was designed to be the first ever “premium performance hatchback” on the market, preceding BMW 130i by 6 years and Mercedes A45 by 14 years. While performance isn’t especially strong, it provides an elegant look, a quality interior and all-weather drivability lacking in other hot hatches – only its stablemate VW Golf R32 could match perhaps. However, as the new segment develops, now its German rivals have much sharper weapons to break its dominant – the new BMW M135i and Mercedes-AMG A35, both possess more than 300 horsepower and all-wheel drive capability. You may count also the new Golf R, which has elevated to a higher price point accompanied with upgraded technical specifications. The Audi has never been facing competition so stiff.

As always, the styling changes from lesser A3s are very subtle, so you need to spot the metallic finish on the front splitter and door mirrors, the 3 slots located just under the bonnet or the quad-exhaust to make sure it is an S3. Like the A3, it is not a particularly memorable shape, and its angular features might displease those preferring the understated beautify of the original S3. The interior is equally disappointing, blame to the complicated dashboard design and the increase use of cheaper plastics. Now it falls behind its German rivals in quality perception. What used to be its strength is now its weakness.

The latest evolution of EA888 engine keeps the 2-liter displacement unchanged, predictably, but there is a higher injection pressure and the variable “Valvelift” system has changed from the exhaust side to intake side. The calibration of engine and 7-speed S tronic gearbox aims to cut emission, but output rating remains the same as before, i.e. 310 horsepower and 295 lbft of torque. Ditto the 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds, about the same as M135i and A35. That's faster than any mainstream hot hatches, thanks to the traction of Quattro.

The steering finally gets some feel, not the artificial weight of the old car. Understeer is no longer its default behaviour.

On the road, this powertrain is good enough, if lacking a bit of character. It hesitates a little below 2000 rpm. Once overcome turbo lag, it pulls linearly towards redline with satisfying response and smoothness. What a pity its soundtrack is rather sleepy, while the exhaust pops and crackles on overrun are too subtle. If you want better sound, Audi will point you to the 5-cylinder RS3 to be launched soon, but you might be better served by its German rivals and some mainstream hot hatches as well. Likewise, the S tronic gearbox is smooth in normal driving, but in full-bore acceleration it doesn’t responds quickly enough, while the shift paddles lack tactile feel. In short, the powertrain combo is effective rather than engaging.

The S3 employs the latest, 6th generation Haldex coupler for its Quattro system. It is said to be able to send 100 percent torque to the rear axle in extreme conditions, but frankly, you need really extreme conditions to realize that claim, such as when the front wheels riding on ice. In the real world, it never feels like sending more than half its power to the rear. In fact, the biggest improvement of Haldex 6 is that it can fully decouple the rear axle in normal driving in order to cut fuel consumption (thanks to CO2 limit again). This is made possible by using higher pressure hydraulic to activate the multiplate clutch, so that the coupling is more responsive. Unlike the new Golf R, the S3 relies on brake-based torque vectoring rather than multiplate clutches to direct power between rear wheels, so we don’t expect it able to play drift like the new Golf R or AMG A45 S, let alone the rear-drive BMW M2 Competition.

Compared with lesser A3s, the S3 rides on stiffer and 15mm lower suspension. Adaptive dampers are optional, as are 19-inch wheels and 235/35 tires.

On the road, those bigger wheels and thinner tires provide strong grip and traction, but the downside is a stiff ride on B-roads, making the S3 a less forgiving companion than either its BMW or AMG rivals. However, the Audi does surprises with its new found agility. Its turn-in is sharper than ever. The steering finally gets some feel, not the artificial weight of the old car. Understeer is no longer its default behaviour. In fact, it is remarkably neutral. If the road is wet, you may push it into a little oversteer. On dry roads, it is just neutral, keeps gripping hard, controlling its body movement tightly and turning into the guided path. As the rear-end is more planted, it is not as entertaining as some of the best front-drive hot hatches, nor the 4WD Evo of the past, the new GR Yaris or the AMG A45 S in drift mode. A quick A-to-B car undoubtedly, but like its powertrain, its chassis is effective rather than engaging.

That is quite sad, because the new S3 has a better chassis than ever. It just proves that the competition has moved on a lot in many areas, while Audi has taken a backward step in styling and build quality. At this price, there are a lot of better choices.

Verdict:

Published on 2 Nov 2021

Audi RS3

New 4WD system gives RS3 a new lease of life.

Sitting above S3, the RS3 is a super-hot hatch, or a super compact sport saloon if you opt for 4-door body. Pricing starts at £51,000, but after adding adaptive dampers and other desirable options it can easily cost double the price of a Honda Civic Type R. That’s more expensive than even its arch-rival Mercedes-AMG A45 S. In return, the RS3 gives you immense performance and a very aggressive look, if not a tasteful one.

Since its birth a decade ago, Audi RS3 has been using the firm's unique 5-cylinder engine with 2.5 liters displacement. It produced 340hp in the beginning, then rose to 367hp and 400hp. The latest version keeps the 400hp output, but it is available slightly earlier than before, from 5600 all the way to 7000 rpm. Maximum torque is lifted by 15 lbft to 369 lbft, thanks to an increased turbo boost pressure, and it is available across a wider band (2250-5600 rpm) as well. Although it makes 21 horsepower less than AMG A45 or CLA45 S, the RS3's torque delivery is far broader, thanks to an extra cylinder and 500 c.c. Perhaps this is why Audi claims it takes just 3.7 seconds to sprint from 0-60 mph, a tenth quicker than the AMG. It has an advantage in top speed, too, as you have the choice to lift its speed limit from 155 mph to 174 mph or even 180 mph if you opt for the RS Dynamic pack and ceramic brakes. The AMG? No more than 168 mph.

Saloon body is more beautiful yet carries only an extra 5 kg.

In the chassis side, there are upgrades to suspension (10mm lower than the S3, stiffer, stronger, more negative camber etc.), larger brakes and electronic control systems. However, the biggest news is abandoning the long-serving Haldex-clutch-based Quattro system for a new RS Torque Splitter supplied by Magna. In fact, the same hardware was first used in VW Golf R, and a similar one used even earlier on its AMG arch-rivals. Its design is pretty simple: the prop-shaft drives the rear axle through a bezel gear. There are 2 multi-plate clutches attached the ends of the rear axle, each couples to a rear wheel. When both clutches open, the RS3 runs in FWD mode to save fuel. When both fully engage, 50 percent torque goes to the rear axle. In corner where you need to tame understeer or even introduce some oversteer, the inside clutch opens and the outside clutch engages, so more torque goes to the outside rear wheel. Therefore, by altering the degree of clutch engagement, you can control the balance of the car.

Thanks to the new torque splitting device, the new RS3 can introduce a drift mode called “RS Torque Rear” to thrill its driver. However, unlike the last Ford Focus RS, the Magna device can never deliver more than 50 percent torque to the rear axle (unless the front wheels are running on slippery surfaces while the rears are not). That said, as proved by AMG and Golf R, the ability of directing all that 50 percent torque to the outside rear wheel is already very useful and fun enough.

Torque vectoring is now possible at the rear axle, though it receives no more than 50% torque from the engine.

On the road, 2 things are immediately noticeable. Firstly, it rides well. All previous RS3 used to be stiff and harsh on less than perfect surfaces. The new car might not be as absorbent as a Ford Focus ST or Civic Type R at lower speeds, but when you attack fast B-roads it shows perfect damping and remarkable composure. It doesn’t crash on nasty bumps. Sharp bumps can’t unsettle its balance and composure. It just glides over everything you throw at it. As a result, you can drive harder and enjoy the car more of the time, on a variety of surfaces. With adaptive dampers set in Comfort mode, it even makes a Golf R or AMG A45 S feel like the old RS3. In short, the ride control is transformed. This is perhaps the biggest improvement of the new car.

Another is better balance. RS3 of the past gave us just one word: understeer. While the new car is not totally transformed in this respect, it is certainly more neutral. You still feel the weight of the 5-cylinder motor hanging at its nose, but given the 265/30YR19 front rubbers – 20mm wider than those at the rear – the new car offers more front-end bite to sharpen turn-in and keep the nose pointed. It doesn’t steer as sharply as AMG, but it feels more natural. The steering offers enough feedback and linearity in response. In a fast, long curve, you can feel power shuttles to the rear axle and outside rear wheel to trim understeer. Meanwhile, the stiffer suspension keeps body roll, pitch and dive in check. Not overly hardcore, just work in a linear and natural way.

To access oversteer, you need to learn to trust on it.

In a tighter bend, despite the beefy front tires, the RS3 will run into understeer. If you have learned to trust its new 4WD system, be brutal on throttle will trigger the power shift rearward and to the outside rear wheel, then the car will rotate, swing its nose to the inside of the corner. Problem is, this shift from under to over-steer could feel unnatural or even catch you a surprise. It takes trust rather than basic instinct to keep pushing it. Should you unwind the steering and back off abruptly – as most drivers do to tame oversteer – the power flow will stop immediately and the car will revert to understeer. This means, while powerslide is achievable on the RS3 for the first time, it is not intuitive to access.

What about the “RS Torque Steer” mode? The RS3 is not a rear-drive BMW M2. You absolutely need a track or an empty car park to play drift, which is pointless to a hot hatch. Even on a track, the drift is never going to be as smooth and enjoyable as you can have on an M2 Competition or CS.

What about the rest of the car? The 5-pot engine feels a little dated by now, exhibiting too much turbo lag (it needs 2500-3000 rpm to take off) yet the exhaust is made muted in this incarnation. The 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox downshifts too slowly, failing to live up to the expectation for this performance class. The optional ceramic brakes help improving ride but the pedal response is non-linear.

Overall speaking, the new RS3 is faster, more comfortable and better-balanced than ever, but it is not as enjoyable to drive to the limit due to the limitation of its 4WD system and the laggy powertrain. The AMG A45 S is noisier and feels more exciting. An M2 Competition or CS is more fun. Ditto a Civic Type R that costs half the money.

Verdict: