Audi A3 S Line 2.0 TDi Automatic Road Test Report

Performance

I was impressed with the performance of the Audi A3. In this case I was driving the 2.0 TDi Automatic which is very impressive. Comfortable drive with a lot of power under your foot when needed.

Ride & Handling

This car is definitely a smooth ride until you hit a rough patch of road or a speed bump which I must admit feels very firm and sometimes worrying. Having said that the 2.0 TDi S Line does come with 18” alloys and low profile tyres along with the lowered sport suspension which as a buyer you would expect a firm drive at times. Although the sporty wheels look great I would consider a smaller rim as it doesn’t take much to puncture the low profile tyres and watch them curbs as your alloys can easily become scuffed and tatty looking after a short space of time. The general drive is great and handles extremely well on all roads and especially long distances.

Build Quality & Reliability

Audi applies the same high standards of build to the A3 as it does to it’s more expensive models. You get a real sense of quality with this car which is also very reliable. Audi are renowned for Quality and perception definitely turns to reality once you step into the Audi A3.

Safety & Security

For me Audi are probably one of the safest manufacturers around with a good solid build of car whichever model you choose. Every A3 has deadlocks, central locking and an alarm fitted as standard with twin front, side and curtain airbags.

Space & Practicality

There is a lot of space in the A3 especially in the front. There are deep foot wells and plenty of headroom. In the back you get plenty of leg room for a 3-door hatch but it is lacking head room for the taller person which becomes uncomfortable after a long journey. There is impressive boot space but folding the rear seats leaves a raised platform.

Ownership & Value

A lot of critics say it’s hard to justify the price premium over the Volkswagen Golf, but for me personally you get a lot more with an Audi. Although the Golf is a nice car and VW have similar qualities to Audi, the performance, build and reliability are not comparable.