|
From YourSITE.com Reviews & Road Tests Audi's A3 is rapidly approaching its first anniversary in the North American market. A lively turbocharged engine, slick-shifting DSG transmission, and cool equipment like a large 'Open Sky’ sunroof have helped establish an enthusiastic following for the small 5-door. Good as it is, it hasn’t stopped any number of these enthusiasts and consumers considering the Audi to utter, “If only it had quattro…”
Our test car was also equipped with Light Silver metallic paint ($450), Open Sky sunroof ($1,100), Bi-Xenon Adaptive Headlights ($800), and a Cold Weather Package ($700) that included a ski sack, heated front seats, heated windshield washer nozzles and heated exterior mirrors. All told, that brought our tester up to $37,750. Opt in for the Navigation Plus system and 18-inch wheels and that’ll knock you into the $40k+ territory. Critics may question Audi's ability to sustain sales of a hatchback in North America at those sorts of prices. Audi staff suggest they’ll do just fine. Few A3 2.0T models actually sold are equipped below $30,000 and the company is selling all of the limited supply that Audi AG has allotted them.
The S-line package, as all A3 3.2s are equipped, includes a distinctive body kit, leather sport seats, an S-line grille with badge and additional S-line badges mounted on each flank just forward the rear wheel. It also features distinctive 17-inch 5-spoke wheels with a machined face and dimpled spoke design reminiscent of the Avus wheel fitted on last year’s S4. The chin spoiler has a noticeable split lip and grimacing-mouthed air inlets, the first of which we’ve seen on a production Audi, but right in line with the recent Roadjet Concept. Sliding into the car, the A3's interior is clearly built to a higher specification than the now out-of-production Volkswagen R32. Soft-touch plastics are not quite on the same level as higher Audi models, but you’d be hard pressed to show exactly where they fall short. Owners of those bigger Audis looking for a runabout will certainly not be let down in the A3.
TT owners will find the dashboard evolved but familiar. Triangular supports on the center console are now plastic, but similar in appearance. The round vents are also surrounded by satin aluminum trim – the same as the Sport package in the 2.0T and still somewhat light and flimsy to the touch in comparison to the honed alloy in the TT. Fire it up and the A3 3.2 is much less raucous than the TT 3.2 or R32. There’s little of the bass-filled bark that emanates from those cars, and the exhaust doesn’t really give you good communication of the extra cylinders until you’re at wide-open throttle – notably more refined than other cars that had this 3.2.
On the road, the A3 3.2 quattro is much more sure-footed than front-wheel drive 2.0T models. Mashing down the accelerator doesn't return the absolutely immediate four-wheel grip of Torsen-based quattro systems, but the Haldex differential does lock up quickly enough to make the only hint of lost composure a quick chirp of the front tires. By contrast, the torquey 2.0T can sit and spin its front wheels, something that’s fun when you’re trying to do it, but frustrating when you just want to get the car moving in a rapid fashion. Not so with the 3.2- it will shove you into your seat immediately, wet pavement or dry. Handling, like the exhaust tone, is good, composed and not as aggressive as the TT 3.2 and R32. It is appreciably firm, much like other recent sport suspension Audis we’ve driven. Owners coming out of softly sprung cars will find this setup either completely refreshing or a bit harsh, depending on perspective.
Audi’s DSG gearbox is actually one incredible piece of equipment, but traditionalists may grumble over the A3 3.2’s lack of manual transmission. Manual shifting in the DSG is lighting quick as we’ve seen in past applications of this unique dual-clutch transmission. The automatic mode is second to no other transmission of this type for feeling like a traditional slushbox, and sport mode is downright cool with its ability to keep the revs in the meat of the power band. If there’s a transmission that will coax those traditionalists away from rowing gears, this is the one. Our one complaint is that we must take the bigger engine to get an A3 with quattro. We loved the throaty 3.2 with its natural torque curve, but it was a bit thirsty averaging just over 22 mpg (only about 1 mpg better than our long-term S4 Cabriolet with thirsty 4.2-liter engine, and a full 10 mpg worse than the Jetta GLI 2.0T with manual transmission also recently tested). We simply wish Audi would offer a more frugal engine, such as the 2.0T or a TDI diesel, with quattro. Until then, we’ll take the 3.2 quattro quite happily.
Naysayers may still critique the A3 3.2 quattro for its high price. Naysayers be damned, we say. The A3 3.2 is a great car for the money and one truly impressive package that Audi should sell quite easily.
© Copyright 2004 by YourSITE.com |
