Audi A3 1.8 TFSI 3dr Car Review - February 2012

The 1.8 petrol engine gives the car a significant power boost of 158 bhp at 5000-6200 rpm with torque figures of 184 lb-ft at 1500-4200 rpm. The car delivers decent mileage at 42.8 mpg along with excellent performance and a top speed of 138 mph, going from 0-62 mph in 7.6 seconds.

Control behind the wheel is firm and comfortable and its body control and grip are strong. However, its light steering lacks confidence and gear changes can sometimes be very resistant. Wind and road noises while driving are audible but not excessive.

The front seats are comfortable, fully adjustable and supportive but taller drivers can find the strut on the centre console uncomfortable as it digs into their knees.

The 1.8 TFSI looks very stylish for a medium family car with an attractive exterior and a well crafted and comfortable cabin. While the dashboard looks advanced it can be difficult to operate with many of the controls being indistinguishable from one another. The car comes fitted with standard tech including stability control, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and an advanced stereo system.

Whilst the front seats have ample room for average sized adults the rear seats have limited room making them uncomfortable for adult passengers on long drives. However, families find the rear seating more than ample for small children and the car is equipped with a decent sized boot that provides sufficient storage when the seats are in place – making it ideal for family trips. Folding down the rear seats creates a stepped load-bay for additional storage space when there are no rear passengers.

An essential for family cars, the 1.8 TFSI comes equipped with a top of the range safety kit which attained a five out of five NCAP rating. It consists of standard twin front, side and curtain airbags along with electronic stability control and electronic brake force distribution. Additionally, all A3 models come fitted with deadlocks, central locking and a theft alarm.

The 1.8 TFSI comes with a three year warranty with 60,000 miles. It incurs very high running costs coming under the road tax band G and also has high insurance premiums falling under the insurance bracket 26. Despite a decent fuel economy the car has poor green credentials with a heavy carbon footprint of 152 g/m.

The 1.8 TFSI is priced at £20,065. Whilst it delivers good speed through its 1.8 engine, the car has high running costs and fails to deliver any additional driving technology that could help justify the high market price which is undercut by similar performance models in this sector.

That being said, the 1.8 TFSI is a stylish, safe and proficient car for families looking for a reliable vehicle and can be used comfortably for day to day tasks to long road trips and holidays as long as the restrictions in the rear seats are taken into account.

The car has a well-crafted and reliable engine which gives years of trouble-free service. It continues to pay for itself as it enjoys good dealer services so customers can enjoy the car for longer. The combination of the car’s popularity and the Audi brand helps it to retain its value over longer periods.