Audi updates the 2017 A3 with changes both inside and out

The A3 is one of Audi’s bestsellers. About one out of every six cars that Audi sells in India is an A3. But, it has been facing stiff competition from new launches at both ends of the price segment in which it is positioned. There is now a plethora of choice available from non-luxury brands that have forayed into the entry luxury segment and these are vehicles that are as loaded if not more than the A3. And its traditional rival the Mercedes-Benz CLA is a strong competitor too.

So, to take on the new competitors and to sweeten the deal for entry-luxury buyers, Audi is now due to roll in the 2017 A3. The new model with its A4-apeing face was launched in Europe last year. The face-lifted A3 comes just at the right time with its predecessor having been in the Indian market for over two years.

The new A3’s design gives it a lot more individual character. And that is key in Audi’s line-up where quite a few of its models just seem to look too much like the others. In fact, I personally only like the A3 and the A7; the latter with its shapely sportsback design. The 2017 A3’s best angle is the front where the optional LED DRLs and projector headlamps, the now wider and sharper bonnet grille and the redesigned front fender together deliver greater visual impact. The headlamps now sport the saber-tooth kink on the outer edges like in the new A4.

But, the India-spec A3 still doesn’t get some of the features like the Matrix LEDs found in the European spec model, nor is all the equipment you see in the pictures here standard. Base variants of the new A3 will still get only Xenon headlamps. The side profile of the new A3 doesn’t throw up any major change except for the new 16-inch alloy wheels. The sharp creases of the beltline and side character line always did catch the light beautifully and enhance the perceived length of the A3… they still do that in the new model.

At the rear, the A3 facelift gets new LED combination tail lamps with the dynamic turn indicators that seem to swipe in the direction of the turn. There is also a new integrated boot lid spoiler.

The facelift to the A3 extends into the cabin as well. The previous A3 had at one point in time also been offered with a fairly stripped down base variant, which is not on offer any more. In contrast, the new 2017 model gets more equipment to subtly push up its luxury quotient.

While the overall layout of the fascia seems to be similar, there are bits and pieces of new trim and some obvious additions like the new three-spoke steering wheel that boost the cabin’s appeal. A new two-zone climate control with the new aircraft inspired chrome ringed vents, a panoramic sunroof, milano leather seats and wireless charging spot in the centre console are the other additions that one notices. Don’t sweat if you have an iPhone, Audi sells an adapter that you can slap on to make the device compatible with the induction charging slot.

What’s missing because of the A3’s price positioning, and the need for differentiation with bigger sibling A4, is the virtual cockpit instrument display. It would have been a ‘fab’ addition. Instead you get a simpler pair of round gauges and an info display in the middle. There is the retracting 7-inch infotainment display at the top of the centre stack combined with the MMI touch version of Audi’s MMI system. In terms of space, the A3 is not a biggie. The cabin offers just enough space for an adult at the rear seat even if the driver at the front is sub-six feet. This is a driver’s car and the rear can also only realistically keep two adults comfortable; three will be a squeeze. The boot offers a fairly generous 425 litres of storage space with the space saver spare wheel strapped in place.

The real change in the new 2017 A3 is the smaller, but peppier 1.4-litre petrol engine. The smaller four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine replaces the earlier A3’s less frugal 1.8L TFSI unit. This new 1.4 is the same engine in the current A4 and is offered in the same state of tune. It delivers the same 150 hp of peak power from 5,000 rpm and peak torque of 250 Nm from 1,500 rpm. The uniqueness of this engine is the new cylinder on demand system, which is basically a cylinder deactivation protocol. At low and medium loads on the engine (essentially in city traffic or while cruising at average speeds on the highway), the system cuts off or deactivates two cylinders. Only during hard acceleration do all the four cylinders fire. The smaller engine with COD system has enabled the new A3 to offer nearly an 18 per cent jump in fuel efficiency.

You would think that this system must show up while driving the compact sedan and must be quite nagging with the way the engine responds. But, on the road there is no perceptible effect of the system with as varied a driving cycle as I could attempt on our test route in Vizag. The engine actually feels peppy in the low and mid rpm range; and the seven-speed automatic gearbox complements the engine performance. The small four-cylinder does feel a little choked when you push it hard past three-digit speeds, but there will be very few opportunities for buyers to do that in real world conditions.

The other engine on offer is the same two-litre TDI diesel unit carried forward from the predecessor in the same state of tune. It produces 143 hp and is a nice torquey engine, which we are familiar with; yet somehow it felt less eager and more strained easily during my test drive. The petrol’s peppier performance possibly cast its shadow on this older diesel mill.

The new Audi A3’s ride quality is another plus. The suspension is a nice balance between a pliant and sporty setting. So, unlike some of the earlier Audis, this one won’t feel too jarring on really bad patches. Audi engineers have chosen a bit of over assistance for the steering based on the city driving cycle bias that is common here. The new A3 will be officially launched in April this year and there should be a variant priced south of ₹30 lakh. Overall, the new model manages to boost its premium feel and makes it a compelling option in the entry-luxury segment.

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