What Car? has called the Audi A3 hatchback ‘one of the best premium hatchbacks you can buy’.
Audi A3
The difficulty in reviewing this German gem is knowing how best to navigate the sea of 5 star ratings it has received for its ‘gorgeous’ cabin, ‘exceptional’ running costs and top quality precision ride.
The A3 provides everything you would expect from the badge – beautiful design, quality interiors and ‘punchy, silky-smooth’ performance according to BBC’s Top Gear – high praise indeed.
Perhaps more surprising are this hatchback’s green credentials. Much of the body is made from aluminium, which makes for a lighter, more efficient machine and cuts fuel consumption.
The “start-stop” system switches off the engine when the car is stationary and out of gear. This saves on fuel and cuts CO2 emissions.
The car also runs a Driver’s Information Program that offers handy hints on how to improve your fuel efficiency by altering your driving style.
Possibly the neatest gadget is the recuperation system, which takes kinetic energy generated while braking and channels it through the car’s alternator to generate battery power, ensuring that even that energy is put to good use.
The A3 is well-outfitted with the usual safety features and also comes with the Audi Pre-Sense system, which uses a variety of sensors and integrates the car’s safety equipment.
This means that, should the worst happen, the seatbelts will automatically tighten, the windows will close and the car will apply the brakes in differing amounts to individual wheels depending on the data received.
The A3 also comes with ESP (Electronic Safety Program) which helps maintain stability in icy conditions, again by applying brakes to individual wheels as needed. These safety features are in danger of becoming cool.
Audi’s UK finance package means that you can drive one of these away for £245 per month and a deposit of £3,952.41. If that’s too rich for your blood, there’s a whole range of used Audi A3s available at Vcars.co.uk.
