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2017 Audi A3 facelift review, test drive

What is it?
The A3 sedan is a very commendable entry point into Audi’s line-up and one of the more affordable German luxury cars for those just graduating to this segment.
Audi has updated the car to keep things fresh until the next-gen A3 makes an appearance in 2018. A few visual changes aside, the 2017 A3 features an important mechanical change too – a new petrol engine.


One of the most critical requirements of a luxury car is that it should make an impression in typical Audi understated fashion. Dominating the restyled face is a large diamond grille that Audis of today tend to sport, flanked by sharper, more angular, headlights that link the A3 to the new A4. The tail-lights are also new, composed of brilliant LED detailing, with indicators that swipe in the direction of the turn. The design is not dramatic like the Mercedes-Benz CLA, but it is neat, clean and likeable.

What is it like on the inside?
On the inside, things are much the same as before. One of the most interesting bits, without question, are the front air con vents – jet-turbine-like in design, they look and feel, for a lack of a more polished word, awesome. The pop-up screen is cool too. There is a pervasive sense of quality to every surface and every knob, and the cabin is fantastically put together too; definitely not something you would call ‘entry-level’. Sadly, the Indian A3 does not get Audi’s Virtual Cockpit or Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.


In terms of equipment that it does get, there’s two-zone climate control, a 7.0-inch screen for the MMI infotainment system, electronically-adjustable front seats, a sunroof, a rear view camera, proximity sensors at the front and rear, a wireless phone charging pad in the front armrest and seven airbags.
The front seats are very comfortable and supportive, and offer loads of adjustment too. The rear seats are comfortable, but legroom in the back is not generous and headroom is outright tight.

What is it like to drive?
The new petrol engine is a 1.4-litre, turbocharged, four-cylinder unit. It is the same as the one in the new A4, but with one crucial difference here – it gets cylinder-on-demand technology. When pulling low- to mid-range loads, this engine operates on just two cylinders, putting all four to work only under heavier loads. You would think that the switch from two to four cylinders would be noticeable, but remarkably, it isn’t. This unit produces 150hp at 5,000-6,000rpm and 250Nm at 1,500-3,500rpm. While these numbers are lower than those put forth by the erstwhile 1.8-litre engine, the A3 35 TFSI still manages a respectable claimed 0-100kph time of 8.2sec and top speed of 224kph. Those familiar with the old 1.8 will miss the explosive mid-range here but performance from the small engine is quite good too. What helps is the dual-clutch gearbox that is really quick in shifts and delightfully responsive to manual inputs at the gear lever.


While this new engine is down on power to the older 1.8, claimed efficiency is up from 16.6kpl to 19.2kpl. In a world that is trying to go greener by the day, this is a good upgrade. Also notable are the refinement levels of the 35 TFSI engine – it’s quiet and smooth when driven easy, and only sounds busy when pushed hard.


Ride quality in the petrol variant is, once again, supple. The suspension is set up on the softer side, and tackles crests and ditches well enough, more so at lower than at higher speeds. Commendably, though, it does not compromise on handling. The tight chassis renders this car an impressive agility around corners. The steering is slightly dead around the centre, but it is precise and very likable.
The diesel engine has been carried over unchanged. It's the 2.0-litre turbocharged 35 TDI engine that produces 143hp at 3,500-4,000rpm and 320Nm at 1,750-3,000rpm. It's a torquey engine, pulling eagerly across the rev range. Refinement levels are good by class standards, but it feels a bit last-gen when seen in light of the Audi’s latest diesel that we experienced recently on the new A4.

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