Audi A3 Sportback 1.6 5dr Car Review - February 2012

A front-wheel drive powered by a 1595cc, 4-cylinder 8-valve 1.6-litre petrol engine, the A3 Sportback sustains its punch at all speeds and proves its power delivery and speed. The engine produces 102 mph at 5600 rpm. It has a top speed of 115mph and a 0-62 time of 12.1 seconds. Torque figures average 109 lb-ft at 3800 rpm.

Working the 5-spd manual gearbox is not as smooth as we anticipated. Audi has a solution in the DSG automated manual gearbox which is optional. Installing this will help make gear changes smoother. But if you do not mind the little inconvenience of the standard manual gearbox, the whole transmission system is well structured.

The A3 Sportback feels great behind the wheel. The car responds well especially at higher speeds. Handling is superb and the ride is comfortable. If you love the feel of the BMW 1-series though, you will be disappointed with the light steering of the Sportback, as it is not involving at all and does not send feedback to the driver.

Audi’s premium look is evident in the A3 Sportback. Its Hatchback design is streamlined and enhanced with an intense grille work on the exterior. The interiors are just as luxurious. Its long design and slightly lifted rear fit in well with the 5-door layout.

While safety features are comprehensive in the Sportback, standard equipment is wanting, at least for the price. This alone will make you question your choice of this car over the Volkswagen Golf, which is very similar to the Sportback but cheaper.

This is what you get for $17,180: standard power steering (no steering-wheel controls), alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric doors and windows, 6 driver, passenger and front side airbags, alarm, immobilizer, central locking. For your media console, all you get is a CD player.

All other features come at a cost. £385 climate control, £220 cruise control, £305 rear parking sensors, £890 Sat Nav, £1225 leather seats, £510 metallic paint, £225 MP3 settings and £250 Bluetooth will set you back by a few thousand pounds but add that touch of magic that is missing in the Sportback.

The A3 Sportback is perfect as a family car. It is spacious enough for 5 adults and luggage. Rear space is a big improvement from what is offered in the A3 Hatchback, and only those taller than 6’3” may complain a bit at the back. Boot space is also adequate. You get 370 litres standard and 1100 litres with the seats down.

Expect the engine to get noisy when you rev it up. It is quiet at lower speeds though if that’s any consolation. Wind and road noise is minimal. But there is enough grip to make any drive comfortable.

The turning circle is a classic, making parking easy and getting out of tight spaces and turnings even easier.

The A3 Sportback has a high resale value, which can be attributed to its strong family-car image and solid quality.

Running costs are pretty low and the Audi service package is attractive: 3 years service warranty up to 60,000 miles, with a service interval every 9000-19000 miles.

The Sportback has good green credentials. 164g/km CO2 emissions means it is a worse pollutant than both the Volkswagen Golf and BMW 1-series 120d. But it is still a better performer than most other cars. The £165 road tax for band G is proof of this.

The car returns 40.4 mpg (combined), holding a tie with the Volkswagen Golf Fsi. It is not the highest combined mpg return but it is far from being the lowest. You can live with it; for the reliability and prestige the car gives.