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Audi does things different in the C-segment. Not a 3door and 4 door with the same body.
No, first a 3-door and then a bigger 5-doors. Not quite a station, but big nontheless. Sportback, they called it.
Of course, nothing new, and here faster then with the previosu generation: the new A3 Sportback.
So what do we think? looks are personal, the 3door looked a lot like the previous one.
This one, not that much, but the balance is not as good as with the 3 door.
The rear, I don't like this bit right here. Lets look at the boot while we're here.
380 liters, not to bad for this segment. More than a Ford Focus.
The side then. Looks a lot like the previous A4 Avant, but shorter. Looks more like it than before.
The real gain is here, the back. more legroom because the longer wheelbase.
No real surpirse in the drive, basically the same as the 3 door. I cannot notive a difference.
Maybe it is there, but then i should drive them back2back.
About the engine, this is the 1.4 TSFI with cilinder on demand. it has 140 PS.
We saw it once before on the VW Polo Blue GT. If you don't need much power, the engine runs on 2 cilinders.
Can you notice it? yes, but only if you really pay attention. You hear a little resonation.
Little more power and it is gone. Nothing disturbing.
And look manual gear in this DSG-driven age.
It has really long gear ranges. I can do 105 kph in 2nd gear!
because of that you can drive using the torque of the engine. Way down you may need to shift back on occasion.
The good part: low revs at longs distance driving. Very nice.
So the drive than. A difficult story. In short like a Golf, the perfect balance between sport and comfrot, but even better.
The suspension is just really, really good. the damping how it maintains control of the car if you push it. Nicely done.
it is very comfortable on long distance, but in dynamic you can really push hard through corners without understeer.
So great? well now. you cannot call it sporty. You miss feedback in the steering and the body moves to much for that.
And even more important, I miss some kind of X-factor. So why. It is unfair, I cannot really explain.
because it DOES peform very well on dynamic roads. But is never is really fun to drive.
The fun is killed by the perfection of the car. Maybe you should regard it a compliment.
I would never buy it myself. I miss the fun. And then we still have the price to discuss.
Cause we all know what happens with full option Audi's... the become crazy expensive.
So isn't the golf VII a far better car to buy then? this car is great. Nothing less. the perfect Audi.
I cannot think of any objective complaint about this A3. But for this money you can buy a lot of other cars.
+great drivetrains, terrific suspension - lacks character, expensive.