Audi A3 Sportback – timeless quality

THE car-buying British public is being inexorably drawn towards SUVs – but even the most impressionable of us won’t be totally consumed so long as models like the Audi A3 remain in production.

Now into its fourth generation and given a timely revamp last year, the A3 is available as a saloon or Sportback (hatchback to most of us) and with a choice of petrol or diesel engines plus a plug-in hybrid.

And as a premium compact family car it remains hard to beat given its all-round blend of superior engineering, upmarket interior and cutting edge technology.

In similar mode to its close relative the Volkswagen Golf, both models sharing the same mechanicals, the A3 is a car that’s stood the test of time without being too flashy or over the top.

Of the two 1.5-litre petrol engines in the latest line-up – designated as 30 TFSI and 35 TFSI – our tested model was the more powerful of the pair developing 148bhp for a 0-62mph time of 8.1 seconds, a good bit quicker than the 9.7 seconds of the 114bhp ‘30’ unit.

It’s a smooth and refined car to drive too, quiet at all speeds, nicely composed, well balanced and sporty yet also quite restrained – altogether a well mannered and mature driving experience free of any spine jarring if you drive over speed bumps.

You really notice the difference between the A3 and some cheaper rivals that lack the degree of damping and dynamics.

The 35 TFSI’s average fuel consumption figure is 48.7 miles per gallon with the 19-inch wheels and our own return over 250 miles of mixed suburban and motorway driving was within that parish at  46.8mpg.

Move inside and the cabin is trademark Audi – comfortable, functional and reasonably spacious, particularly up front where both driver and passenger have ample legroom thanks to seats that slide sufficiently far back.

And the leather sports seats also have four-way lumbar support with all the adjustment needed to ensure the optimum driving position.

Two adults can also travel unimpeded in the back, though a centre rear passenger’s legroom is hampered by the A3’s transmission tunnel and rear visibility restricted by the tall, single piece front seats and headrests.

Otherwise you can fit plenty of clobber in the 380-litre boot, which also has some extra space beneath the load floor, and flipping down the 60:40 split/fold rear seats boosts the storage capacity to 1,200 litres.

Oddments space comes courtesy of a lidded central container, glovebox, door bins and cup holders all round, a few slots and a smartphone charging pad.

Most significant among the A3 revamp was an upgrade in digital and infotainment courtesy of various connect services, functions on demand and an app store.

So standard kit includes DAB+ digital radio and a 10.1‑inch touch display (there’s also a 12.3-inch panel behind the steering wheel) along with Audi’s virtual cockpit plus and a smartphone charger, plus a pair of USB‑C charging ports in the front centre console and two additional ports in the rear.

You also get MMI navigation plus, along with access to the app store, which allows the driver to use applications via the vehicle’s display and via voice commands. Amazon Alexa can be used to stream music and operate smart home devices.

Meanwhile, functions on demand feature two individual infotainment and comfort elements which can be added online via the myAudi app and include adaptive cruise control and high-beam assist, bookable for periods from one month to permanently.

Models like the BMW 1 Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class push it close but the A3 is a mid-size cracker of a car and one that ticks all the boxes a premium compact buyer would wish for.

And having the optional District Green metallic paint makes it look different, distinguished and is worth the extra £595.