| First Drive | Ascot, England | Audi A3 2.0 TDI SE |
Key Facts
Pricing: £21,505 on-the-road (£25,540 as tested)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Transmission: front-wheel drive, six-speed manual
Body style: three-door hatchback
Rivals: BMW 1 Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Volkswagen Golf
CO2 emissions: 106g/km
Combined economy: 68.9mpg
Top speed: 134mph
0-62mph: 8.6 seconds
Power: 150hp at 3,500- to 4,000rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750- to 3,000rpm
In the Metal: 
Neat, progressive but perhaps a little bit too conservative given the A3's closest competition, Audi's strict adherence to its current look has created a smart A3, though not a remarkable one. With the Mercedes-Benz A-Class now bold and sporty and the 1 Series awkward but daring (not the mention the new Volvo V40) the A3's smart conservatism could play one of two ways, though given the former car's record it's likely to be a big hit.
You can see why inside. While Mercedes-Benz has found its interior styling mojo with the A-Class the A3 exemplifies Audi's brilliance at interiors. It's a supremely high quality environment, the instrumentation clear, the switches on the centre console very stylish; so too are the jet exhaust-like air vents. They are finished in a fine rubberised material that exudes quality and attention to detail that's obvious throughout the entire cabin.
Driving it:
That interior goes a long way to compensating for the drive. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with how the Audi A3 goes about getting down the road, but then there's also nothing remarkable about it either. The 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine is reasonably hushed, while it's brisk enough to haul the premium hatch to 62mph in 8.6 seconds and onto a 134mph top speed. The steering steers with enough accuracy, though the weighting feels artificial and there's very little in the way of feel beyond the fine perforated leather and stitching on the rim itself. The gear change is unremarkable, shifting cleanly and accurately enough. The entire driving experience feels like it has been honed with Audi's obsessive eye to perfection without ever really considering the driver.
That's entirely fine if your premium hatchback choice is based purely on how it looks inside and out; though if you're looking for anything more than competence on the driving front you'll not find it here. Audi's premium rivals offer more entertainment behind the wheel, even if they can't quite offer the A3's interior quality.
What is noteworthy with the new A3 though is what Audi is calling its 'suspension menu'. The new car comes with three choices, but unless you've an appetite for an unsettled ride then the standard set up - which can even be had on range-topping S Line models - is the only option. Sure, your A3 will look better sitting 15mm lower on the Sport suspension, or 25mm lower on S Line Sports suspension, but you'd be mad to go for either though, as the ride compromises are too great on our poor road surfaces.
What you get for your Money:
In standard form this 2.0 TDI model will cost £21,505, but expect to dip into the options list for a few crucial extras. Do so, and like this car you'll be looking at around £25,000, the options added including satnav, alloy wheels, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors and dual-zone climate control among some other extras. You could spend the best part of £21,000 on a Ford Focus TDCi, before options, and the A3 will hold its value significantly better.
Worth Noting
This A3 2.0 TDI might not be able to slip under the 100g/km CO2 barrier for free road tax, but its 106g/km figure puts it in the lowest payment bracket so won't hit you harder than £20 a year. Audi quotes 68.9mpg on the official combined consumption cycle, and the reality is likely to be closer to 50mpg, which is still respectable.
Summary
By every conventional measure the A3 is something of a triumph. It's neatly styled, impeccably built and feels every inch the premium machine inside and out. It's just unremarkable to drive, which puts it at something of a disadvantage against some of its premium rivals. Not that most buyers will care, but if you want fun behind the wheel look elsewhere. For everything else the new Audi A3 has it covered - comprehensively.
