2014 Audi A3 Saloon preview
It could be argued that car manufactures are trying to fill every niche you can think of. A prime example of this is the compact, executive saloon, hatchback BMW 3 Series GT. Well, the Audi A3 Saloon is the latest niche busting model from Audi.
Ok, it may be a bit cruel to call it a “niche” model as even though it may sell in small numbers in the UK its popularity in China and the US means that Audi expects this model to be the most popular Audi A3 model worldwide in 2 to 3 years.
The A3 Saloon is very much based on the same wheel base as the 5-door Sportback and offers the same range of engines and from the front it looks the same too. The surprising thing is that every single body panel has been changed but you might only notice this when you walk around to the back. At the rear you get really smart narrow looking tail-lights and a nice looking three-quarter view with great squat proportions. Although the standard A3 isn’t the most inspirational design, we reckon this is the best looking A3 in the line-up.
From behind the wheel the A3 saloon feels a lot like any other A3 but what does that mean? Well, it means that you’ve got a really great cabin which feels as though it could be pulled straight out of and A5 or an A6, certainly something a lot more expensive than this car. You also get a driving experience that matches a much more expensive car too. The refinement at 70mph is fantastic where there’s barely any wind or engine noise. Audi has also thrown every type of gizmo into it so you’ll find things like adaptive dampers, progressive steering and their infamous Quattro all wheel drive. However, even with all the gadgets and extra functionality the A3 doesn’t seem all that sporty. It’s certainly a very capable car but there’s a neutrality to everything especially with the steering which can feel a little numb. Unfortunately, you won’t find this car all that exciting, certainly not as exciting as you’d feel in a BMW 1 Series Coupe for example.
From launch the A3 Saloon is available with a 2.0ltr TDi offering 68.9mpg and there are a couple of petrol options too. The 1.4 TFSi has some clever cylinder deactivation technology so it manages an impressive 60.1mpg despite having 138bhp. There’s also a 1.8 TFSi and 1.6 TDi.
The great thing about the new Audi A3 Saloon body shape is that it has the biggest boot than any other A3. It’s a healthy 425 litres which is 45 litres larger than the Audi Sportback and only 55 litres less than the standard A4. If you want to make the boot space even bigger you can fold down the rear seats which frees up 880 litres of space. Despite having the same wheel base and the Sportback, the A3 Saloon does have a slightly lower roofline. What this means is that if you jump in the back seats you’ll notice that, although the leg room is pretty generous, if you’re 6.2ft or taller your head will touch the roofline when sitting straight.
In conclusion, the A3 may be a big success in markets like China and the US but it’s probably not going to be such a big sales hit in the UK where everyone loves hatchbacks. This isn’t to say that the Audi A4 isn’t a car without merit. It looks great and it’s great to drive too. Also, it probably makes a good alternative to the Audi A4 because it will cost considerably less. You may have to sacrifice a tiny bit of headroom in the back but it still look good value. Feel free to take a look at the Audi A3 Saloon cars we have for sale.
