Ten years ago, the Audi A3 with a small economical TDI would have been the queen of the market. Now, it is rather gasoline engines that attract the spotlight and buyers. This version reminds us, however, that running on diesel can also provide a certain pleasure ...
In the premium compact segment, the battle rages on. And to stand out, the new A3 takes care of its appearance. The hollowed-out sides, the marked body line, the appearance of some curves and this more stretched grille make it more athletic than ever, and undoubtedly give it a clear surplus of personality.
But it is clearly once the door is open that this A3 impresses the most. Its on-board furniture is inspired by what the manufacturer's top-of-the-range models offer, and displays the same degree of mania in terms of finish. The model therefore plunges you into a very technological atmosphere, where black mixes with touches of shiny metal and where all the assemblies are with millimeter precision.
In front of him, the driver will benefit (as an option) from the Virtual Cockpit Plus, a screen with a customizable display that replaces the good old analog dials. Passengers will appreciate more than adequate roominess for 4 adults and a 380-liter trunk, in the category average. Behind the name 30 TDI of our test car, hides a 2.0 liter diesel engine of 116 horsepower which replaces the old 1.6l. If this increase in cubic capacity does not favor the A3 from a fiscal point of view, it brings on the other hand an undeniable gain in pleasure at the wheel. By its roundness and its availability at low speed, this engine indeed reminds us that a diesel offers this flexible and comfortable driving which small gasoline engines cannot always avail.
Equipment that pays for itself!
This is all the more true as on this engine, Audi has completely erased the low revs of the previous versions, thanks to a generous torque of 300 Nm available from 1,600 rpm! The times are therefore always largely sufficient to fit into the traffic or overtake safely. On the consumption side, under normal traffic conditions, the computer showed surprisingly low averages: between 4.6 and 4.9 l / 100 km! Ideal for long distances, since this is synonymous with a total autonomy close to 1,000 km!
This sense of economy shown by the A3 30 TDI is not without impact on its overall character. This entry-level powertrain is obviously not made for the more sporty drivers, and overall, this car is very wise. The A3 reveals a very comfortable behavior, with perfectly healthy reactions in all circumstances, and great neutrality on the road, precisely what one expects from a compact diesel.
In good Audi, the A3 can receive a technological panoply at the best level of the segment. It will be an understatement to say that for 100 balls, you have nothing, and we will emphasize that the automatic emergency braking, calibrated too "cautiously", played tricks on us by triggering unexpectedly during our test. . Too bad, because at around € 47,000 (for a price excluding options of € 29,200!) In our well-equipped but not yet "full options" test configuration, the customer will have reasons to be intractable!
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The Audi A3 30 TDI in a few figures
- Engine: 4 cyl., Turbo diesel, 1,968 cc; 116hp from 2,750 to 4,250 rpm; 300Nm from 1,600 to 2,500 rpm
- Transmission: to the front wheels
- Gearbox: 6-speed manual
- L / W / H (mm): 4.343 / 1.816 / 1.449
- Empty weight (kg): 1.345
- Boot space (l): 380
- Tank (l): 45
- 0 to 100 km / h (sec.): 10.1
- Max speed (km / h): 206
- Conso. Mixed WLTP (l / 100km): 4.4
- CO2 WLTP (g / km): 115
- Price (€): 27.850
- Fuel
- Diesel
- CO2
- Automotive
- Audi