Audi A3 Saloon 2.0 TDI Sport (150 PS) manual review | New Release - Car News Apr 2014

16:37 Friday 11 Apr 2014

When it comes to small family cars, we Brits have always favoured hatchbacks over traditional three-box saloons. You only have to look at the tremendous success enjoyed by cars such as the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra in the UK market, compared to the much weaker sales achieved by their booted brethren to realise that, in the UK at least, the hatchback is king.

The A3 Saloon's primary purpose is to increase the car's popularity in global markets, including China and North America, where hatchbacks are treated with the same derision which we pour upon small saloons. So why, I hear you ask, is Audi bothering to sell the car in the UK?

Well, we suspect that the reason for this lies in its looks. Take a long, hard look at the car in the picture above. It could almost be an A4, couldn't it? In fact, by sticking a boot onto the back of the A3, Audi has crafted one of the most stylish offerings in its segment, a car which looks infinitely more grown-up and purposeful than its hatchback stablemate. Buy an A3 Sportback and you have a family hatch; buy an A3 Saloon and you have an (admittedly small) executive saloon.

Audi is quick to point out that the A3 saloon is not a baby A4. Nor, does it seem, is it purely a saloon version of the A3 Sportback, given that the saloon shares none of its body panels with the five-door.

So what is it then? And, crucially, what's it like? Well, let's find out.

Let's start with the big differences between the saloon and the hatch. The Saloon is 15cm longer than the Sportback, with a 2cm wider track. It also has a bigger boot, boasting 425-litres of luggage space compared to the Sportback's 380-litres. Of course, while the load space is bigger, the Saloon isn't as practical as the hatch, with a higher load lip and narrower opening space to the boot. And if you lower the rear seats, the saloon boasts just 880-litres of carrying capacity, compared to the hatchback's vast 1,220-litres.

Audi A3 saloon review

The Saloon's sloping roof also has negative implication on rear passenger space, with headroom slightly compromised compared to the hatchback. However, leg room is more than sufficient for a car of this size and, truth be told, you'd be hard pressed to call the A3's rear quarters cramped.

Up front, the cabin is typically Audi-esque thanks to a surfeit of quality materials which make the A3 saloon feel like a honed, polished product. The dashboard too is ergonomically superb, with all of the major controls falling easily to hand. On the car we tested, you also get part-leather/part-alcantara seats with lumbar support, which make the A3 saloon a very comfortable car in which to spend long periods of time.

On the road, the A3 saloon drives in much the same way as the hatchback, offering a competent, if conservative driving experience. The steering, while precise, lacks any sort of feel, and the car never really eggs you on to enjoy yourself through the bends. Of course, this isn't a criticism per se; however, keen drivers will almost certainly be better served by the BMW 1 Series.

Things are improved by the fitment of Audi's Drive Select system, which allows you to alter things like the throttle response and suspension by choosing one of three settings: Comfort, Economy and Dynamic. Choose the last of these options and the driving experience is beefed up considerably, but it does have a detrimental effect on the ride, which is a little firm at the best of times.

Audi A3 saloon review

But while the A3 saloon may be a bit of a mixed bag in the ride and handling stakes, we have no complaints when it comes to the engine. The 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine fitted to our test car is nothing short of superb. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, 0-62mph arrives in 8.7 seconds and, thanks to 236lb-t of torque, it pulls effortlessly from low revs, with just the merest hint of turbo lag. And apart from a slight but noticeable clatter at tickover, it's a smooth, refined engine which suits the A3 saloon's cosseting nature perfectly.

It's also an economical engine, return an impressive 68.9mpg and emitting just 107g/km of CO2, which should, of course, make it cheap to run.

One thing which the A3 saloon will not be, however, is cheap to buy, with prices across the range around £1,000 higher than the A3 Sportback. Prices for the saloon start from just under £23k, for which you'll get an entry-level model with a 1.4-litre petrol engine; however, the car we tested, inclusive of options, will set you back an eye-watering £35,600.

Audi A3 saloon review

Of course, for this you get a surfeit of equipment, including 19-inch alloys, adaptive cruise control, LED lights, a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats and a Bang & Olufsen sound system; however, we can't help feeling that the A3 Saloon range is just a little bit too expensive for what it is.

So, should you buy the A3 Saloon? Well, that really depends on how you look at it. If you're looking to buy an Audi A3, we'd recommend you steer clear of the saloon and buy a Sportback. After all, it's cheaper, more practical and just as well made and nice to drive. If, however, you're looking for a small executive car, the A3 Saloon looks good value compared to the likes of the A4 and the BMW 3 Series.

If you can justify the price though, you'll find that the A3 saloon is a competent, stylish and comfortable mini execu-barge which, while struggling to justify its price tag to the majority of small family car buyers, will provide a tempting proposition to those wanting a slightly more premium small car.