Is it possible to be too good at something? Sitting at the traffic lights after a long day of driving, I admitted to my passenger that the Audi A3 2.0 TDI Sport was so competent that I wasn’t sure what could be said about it.
Tellingly he replied, “No, you almost don’t notice it, do you?”
So, I think the Audi A3 may be almost too good. It does exactly what you expect and it does it with such subtlety that it doesn’t get the credit it deserves. If it were more like the Volkswagen Golf, it would cleverly disappoint, very slightly, on really minor items so that you recognise how good it really is.
Instead, it gets it all right. The trim is an individual combination of leather and suede. It looks expensive, like leather in other cars, but is different – one of the many things that justify the price and set the Audi apart as a genuinely premium car.
The dashboard lights up in an elegant, clear fashion. Controls are easy to find and instinctive to use. Four adults can contentedly fit in – even to the three door version – without problem, even when the driver is over 6’3”. The boot is actually really big – deep and tall, without being difficult to load.
If you head out on a motorway or dual carriage way, it will glide up to cruising speed rapidly and without the engine note disturbing anyone. The gear change is light but firm. The clutch weighty but springy. Both deliver just the right amount of feel to make driving enjoyable but stop short of making it tiring over a prolonged journey.
The seats are firm and supportive, but after two hours of motorway cruising, my circulation was normal and nothing had gone numb.
Miss a turn, as I did when looking for the A41, and its no problem. Well, missing a turn is actually a problem and its unfair to expect the car to be able to fix that. But nearly missing a turn, as I did when looking for the A41, is not a problem. “Hang on” I called to the passengers, then just turned in. The car – despite the absence of four wheel drive – just gripped the road and remained poised as we smoothly turned more or less 90 degrees.
Out on twisting B-roads, or in town on potholed tarmac, the ride remains quiet. Firm but not hard. There is no drone from the wheels and despite the 17inch alloys the wheels stay true and straight, resisting the ruts in the road that so many sports cars follow.
So, there you have it. Automotive perfection. But, then again, you don’t.
There were, if I’m honest a few tiny niggles. The 2.0 turbo engine is arguably a bit too big for a 3-door car. It can create under steer, if you push too hard coming off a round about. It can make it hard to get the power down too, which is a bit frustrating.
And then there is the very light steering feel. It mainly works, on B-roads and sweeping A-road corners, you know what the car is going to do and it feels pleasant to drive. It makes parking easy too. But there is something that just doesn’t feel right when cruising along the motorway and all your car needs for input is the weight of your little finger. And in those few moments when there is under steer, you really need a bit more feedback from the steering wheel.
Plus in order for an averagely built adult to get into the back, you need to slide the seat right forward. Which is fine, but then it re-sets itself right at the front of its travel. So the driver or front passenger have to take a deep breath, squeeze in and slide the chair back.
But these things are not really my problem; very occasional under steer and a seat that re-sets is trivial in the extreme. My problem is that it does those things when brand new it costs over £20,000. Even a used one with 15 – 20,000 miles will be over £14,000. Which is both a lot of money and a lot of depreciation.
If you are going to spend that kind of money on a 3-door hatchback, you may want it to feel a bit more than subtle and competent. You might want a bit of personality? You certainly don’t want any silly little seat niggles.
I can see why people buy the Audi A3, especially with the 2.0 diesel. It is very nearly perfect, but I bet they wince a bit when they sign the cheque.
Summary
A handsome, capable all rounder: Spacious, sporty, refined, economical. Plus the highest levels of build quality. The only thing not to like is the price.
Road test car details:
Audi A3 2.0 TDCI
OTR: £20,520
MPG: 55.4
BHP: 140
0-62: 9.4 secs
Co2 / Km: 134
Words: Matthew Tumbridge