Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The 2.0 petrol engine gives the car a good power boost of 917 bhp at 5100-6000 rpm with torque figures of 206 lb-ft at 1700-5000 rpm. It delivers lower mileage than the 1.4, 1.2 and 1.8 engines at just 39.2 mpg but performance is higher than these three models as the car reaches a top speed of 148 mph, accelerating from 0-62 mph in 7.1 seconds.

However, the car still suffers from light steering which does not make control of the car comfortable. Gear changes can sometimes be very notchy which detracts away from the good body control and strong road grip found in the A3 Sportback range.

The car’s front seats are comfortable, fully adjustable and supportive and noise from the wind and the road while driving are audible but not excessive. The dashboard is not systematically arranged making it a little difficult for some drivers to clearly understand the function of instruments and tell some of the buttons apart at a glance.

The Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TFSI looks very stylish for a medium family car with an attractive exterior and a well crafted and comfortable cabin. The car comes fitted with the same standard driving technology as the 1.2 TFSI including stability control, alloy wheels, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, an advanced stereo system and an alarm and immobiliser to deter theft.

The Sportsback model comes fitted with five seats. As compared to the regular A1 and A3 models, Sportsback models have ample room in both the front and back seats making long drives comfortable for children as well as adults passengers. The models are also equipped with a large boot size making it ideal for long travel purposes - be it road trips or holidays.

Essential for family cars, the 2.0 TFSI Sport comes equipped with a top of the range safety kit with 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.

The car also comes with a three year warranty with 60,000 miles. The 2.0 TFSI Sport has very high running costs falling under road tax band H and insurance bracket 29. Moreover, the car has poor green credentials with a heavy carbon footprint of 168 g/km whilst fuel consumption is a lowly 39.2 mpg - the lowest for the A3 Sportback series.

The Sportback 2.0 TFSI is priced at £22,060. The car gives good performance in an attractive body and has a well-crafted, reliable engine which gives years of trouble-free service. It is a safe and proficient car for first time buyers and families looking for long term ownership and can be used comfortably for day to day tasks from school runs and grocery shopping to long road trips and holidays.

The car continues to pay for itself as it enjoys good dealer services as well as Audi’s excellent quality and reliability record. The combination of the car’s popularity, performance and the Audi brand give it excellent resale values.

However, the car’s higher price is unjustified by a lack of exclusive driving technology or superior fuel economy. There appearance does not go beyond the standard 1.2 Sportback and in-car technology is fairly uniform.

Whilst the 2.0 litre engine provides a powerful drive it does so at the sacrifice of fuel economy and green credentials. This means the car incurs high running costs as regular refuelling is needed and there are fairly high costs for both road tax and insurance premiums.

This makes the 2.0 TFSI an uneconomical car for families with the 1.2 TFSI and the 1.4 TFSI SE S tronic offering a better mix of low running costs and good performance at more attractive prices.