Audi A3 Sportback (2012 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

At first glance, this latest Audi A3 Sportback doesn’t appear to have changed much over its predecessor – some might even call it conservative. That said, though, the styling is certainly taut and clean, from the ‘tornado line’ along each side to the ornate headlamps. The lines on the body are sharp and precise, and the wheelbase has grown at the same time, not only reducing the overhangs at the front and rear, but also improving interior space and handling.

Our rating: 4

2. Interior

If you were to pick three words to sum up the A3 Sportback’s interior, they would be “quality, simplicity and technology”. Materials are soft to the touch, but solid in their construction, and everything is laid out just as you’d expect. Every model in the range has a central screen that pops up from the dashboard and a rotating controller between the front seats, allowing menu-driven access to all the major functions. Not only are the on-screen graphics pin-sharp and smooth, this operating system means the ‘wing’ dashboard is remarkably free from clutter, all adding to the car’s premium feel. Even the air vents – which can diffuse air or channel it into a jet with a push or pull of the central control – have a high-quality feel. Overall, the A3 is in a class of its own. The Volvo V40 is the A3’s closest competitor in terms of style and comfort, but the Swedish car feels more cluttered.

Our rating: 5

3. Practicality

Although the A3 Sportback and three-door hatchback are pretty much identical in the front seats – very comfortable, with impressive head- and legroom and a wide range of adjustment on the driver’s seat and steering wheel – this version of the Sportback feels more distinct from the equivalent hatchback than any previous model did. To a large extent, that’s down to the longer wheelbase, which translates into more room for rear-seat passengers. A couple of six-foot adults will fit in comfort, although the large transmission tunnel in the floor severely limits the foot space for anyone in the middle seat.

The boot, too, is impressive, expanding from 380 to 1220 litres when the 60/40 split rear seats are folded down. They don’t sit completely flat, but at least there’s no lip in the floor, and the boot’s wide opening, square shape and low sill make it easy to load and unload. There are also some neat touches, such as the cargo floor that can be installed at two heights, the way you can prop the floor upright when putting items in the cubbies underneath, and the lights built into the sides of the boot to illuminate it.

Our rating: 4

4. Ride and Handling

Audi has gone to great lengths to make the A3 as light as possible, and that class-leading low weight shows on the road, making the Sportback very agile. It’s quick to change direction, with light and accurate steering, yet it still feels perfectly composed at the same time. Push hard and the A3 feels unflappable, but it won’t appeal to keen drivers as much as the rear-wheel drive 1 Series, which has a sportier feel through the steering wheel. Standard, Sport and S line suspensions are available, and each step increases the stiffness of the car to improve road holding and handling. However, Audi will also allow Sport and S line buyers to delete the firmer suspension in favour of a softer setting, and we’d recommend it. The standard suspension has a more relaxed nature that suits the A3 well, and our experience in the hatchback suggests that the sportier suspensions and larger wheels give a more uncomfortable ride.

Our rating: 4

5. Performance

There’s a wide range of engines to choose from, but none of them will leave you feeling short-changed. Even the least powerful, the 1.2 TFSI (which arrives a little later than the rest of the range), gives decent performance and pulls well from low revs, although the 1.4 is appreciably stronger and the 1.8 gives near-hot hatch pace. The low-emission, high-economy diesels will doubtless be extremely popular in the UK, and it’s easy to see why: their extra torque is immediately obvious, making them easier to drive than the petrol models. The basic 1.6 will be perfectly adequate for most people, but there’s no denying the attraction of the beautifully smooth 2.0-litre units. The 150PS engine gives a fine blend of performance and economy, while the 184PS version will give hot hatches a run for their money, although it does make more noise while doing so.

Our rating: 4

6. Running costs

Given the extra practicality it provides, the Sportback looks good value, only a few hundred pounds dearer than the equivalent three-door. And, as in the smaller car, Audi’s weight-saving measures have a real benefit, producing excellent fuel economy. The 1.4 and 1.8-litre petrol models average 53.3 and 50.4mpg and emit 123 and 130g/km of CO2 respectively – almost as good as many diesel models. The 150PS 2.0-litre TDI is even better, returning 67.3mpg and emitting just 108g/km of CO2, but company drivers may well be tempted by the 1.6 TDI, with its sub-100g/km emissions. On top of that, the A3 should hold its value well, at least on a par with most of its rivals, keeping whole-life costs down and helping towards attractive lease rates. Finally, retail buyers can also keep their costs down by choosing a fixed-price servicing plan that covers the first three years/30,000 miles.

Our rating: 5

7. Reliability

Audi’s engineers appear to have an obsessive attention to detail, and both the build quality and choice of materials in this latest A3seem top notch. The engines and gearboxes are evolutions of existing products too, so we’d be highly surprised if many faults were to come about.

Our rating: 4

8. Safety

Although the A3 Sportback has not been tested, the three-door Audi A3 received a maximum five-star score from Euro NCAP. It was given a particularly impressive 95 per cent rating in the adult occupant protection category, 87 per cent for child occupants, 74 per cent for pedestrian safety and 86 per cent for its level of active safety equipment. Every model has six airbags, ABS and stability control, while the options include adaptive cruise control, lane assist and side assist, which warns the driver if another car is in his blind spot.

Our rating: 4

9. Equipment

In line with the three-door model, the Sportback has a choice of SE, Sport and S line trims, all offering high levels of standard equipment. Even the most basic – SE – has alloy wheels, air-conditioning, Bluetooth, voice control and a 5.8-inch colour pop-up display as standard. Sport gives you larger alloys and upgrades the air-con to climate control, as well as adding Audi Drive Select (which lets you tailor the way the car drives to your liking), sports seats, lowered suspension, and extra chrome trim. Range-topping sporty S line models have 18-inch alloys, cloth/leather upholstery, a body kit, xenon headlights with LED running lights and a sports steering wheel. Among the options are Comfort and Technology Packages, sat-nav and DAB radio, as well as Audi Park Assist and cruise control. However, be warned: it’s easy to get carried away ticking boxes on the options list and end up with a very expensive car.

Our rating: 4

10 Why buy?

The three-door A3 hatchback is already a fine car in its own right, with low running costs and excellent quality. However, on top of that, the Sportback adds some very welcome extra practicality without any great loss of style or driving appeal.

Our rating: 4