Getting yourself an A3 Sportback is like acquiring a Hugo Boss dinner jacket. That is one of the best ways to describe the car to someone new to the Audi brand.
The A3 Sportback offers handsome styling, generous equipment, and a nicely built interior that’s user-friendly as well. When it arrived here in 2021, it was a Cat B model. However, with rising COEs, it was replaced barely a year later by a Cat A model with less power
Compared to the A3 1.5, the A3 1.0 was like a “blazer”. It also looks good, but somehow doesn’t have the same panache. But now that it’s been updated, does it have the flair its predecessor lacked?
A SUBTLE APPROACH
The A3 Sportback still looks very similar to the pre-facelift model, but this is done on purpose. Audi doesn’t make radical changes to its models, so spotting the differences isn’t easy.
Up front, the A3 has a new flatter, frameless grille. This is complemented by a pair of new LED headlights, which allow you to choose from one of three daytime running light signatures. The air intakes at the bottom have also been enlarged.
The rear bumper has been redesigned, with the reflectors now vertical instead of horizontal. Even the tail-lights are new – instead of vertical lines, the light signature is now a series of chevrons.
Inside, you’ll need keen eyes to spot the detailed changes. The air-con vents, for instance, have chrome trim in the shape of a blade, making them look slimmer, which was supposedly done to emphasise the cabin’s width.
This is likely why the gear selector is now completely flat. Perhaps designers wanted this to make the cabin feel more open. To further enhance the “mood”, contour lighting now extends around the centre console, and the cupholders are illuminated as well.
All these additions are nice to have, but frankly, only the most eagle-eyed or perhaps owners of the pre-facelift A3, will probably notice the differences. That said, the cabin remains well-made, and the controls possess a good, tactile feel.
The A3 Sportback is once more powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine, just like it was when it arrived. It produces 114hp and 220Nm of torque, or 5hp and 20Nm of torque more than the turbocharged 1-litre 3-cylinder in the preceding model.
The added oomph has resulted in zippier performance, with the benchmark century sprint now taking 9.9 seconds instead of 10.6 seconds. Audi claims a combined fuel economy of 16.1km/L, but achieving this or coming close to it requires a commitment to efficiency.
Over three days of driving in mixed conditions, I averaged 13.9km/L. Since I clocked 14km/L in the 1-litre A3 Sportback in 2022, so you can either view it as the 1.5-litre unit being relatively efficient, or the 1-litre being thirstier than expected.
A “DESIGNER” HATCH
The A3 Sportback remains a handsome and well-equipped hatchback that doesn’t just offer buyers a glimpse of what else they can expect from the four-ring brand. It gives them an actual slice of the ingredients that created loyal customers.
The only question for would-be buyers is the car’s asking price. Even in today’s context of sky-high COE premiums, $200,000 is still a lot of money that can buy a lot more than a five-door hatchback, even if it is a premium one.
However, if the newfound pizzazz of the A3 Sportback has drawn your attention, and its many improvements prove convincing, then there’s one thing left to ponder: This “blazer” is more stylish than before, but will it eventually go out of style? Or do you see it becoming a wardrobe staple?
This story was first published on Sgcarmart.
Audi A3 Sportback 1.5 (A)
ENGINE 1498cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbocharged, 48-volt mild hybrid
MAX POWER 114hp at 5000-6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 220Nm at 1500-3000rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 86.7hp per tonne
GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutch with manual select
0-100KM/H 9.9 seconds
TOP SPEED 205km/h
CONSUMPTION 16.1km/L
PRICE INCL. COE From $205,999
AGENT Audi Singapore
Audi A3 Sportback 1.0 review: Cut from the same designer cloth
