2017 Audi A3 Sedan launched for INR 34.4 lakhs (on-road, New Delhi)

The 2017 Audi A3 has just been launched.

The previous 1.8-litre petrol has been discontinued and it now gets a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine. What is more, the petrol engine has cylinder on demand, so when the engine is cruising, it doesn’t use all the four cylinders, thus enhancing the efficiency. The 2.0-litre diesel engine continues to power the A3. The ARAI mileage for the diesel engine is 20.38km/l, while for the petrol is 19.2km/l. On the other hand, the pricing for the petrol engine is INR 34.3 lakhs and for the diesel is INR 36.8 lakhs (on-road, New Delhi). Read our detailed review on this new sedan.

2017 Audi A3 Design 

The 2017 Audi A3 is a facelift and it gets certain upgrades and new elements on the design front. While most of the car remains the same, there are few tweaks that enhance its appeal. To start with , the 2017 Audi A3 now gets a new front grille, which Audi calls ‘diamond inspired’. This grille is now wider and looks more premium as well.  The car gets sharper lies this time. The headlamps are also new and have a cut on the lower portion that give it a dynamic look.

It also gets aggressive looking front and rear bumpers. The 2017 Audi A3 also gets new sporty looking 16-inch alloy wheels . The car also sees new taillamps which are 3 dimensional and have dynamic indicators. There is a rear spoiler which is integrated in the boot.The 2017 Audi A3 has got looks similar to a fastback and has a coupe like roof which slopes downwards.

Also Read: Mercedes-Benz CLA Review

2017 Audi A3 Interiors 

The interiors of the 2017 Audi A3 also see an upgrade. The dashboard has horizontal design lines.

There is a new three-spoke steering wheel which now makes the car  look very sporty. It has a seven-inch retractable screen. We have always liked this retractable feature that Audi offers. The AC vent are circular in a jet-engine fashion. The 2017 Audi A3 gets Milano leather seats. The interiors are pleasing and the best part is they are uncluttered.

The car is fairly spacious one. The seats are comfortable and the driver as well as the co-passenger seats get electric adjustments. This is a thoughtful feature. Rest of the things remain the same as the earlier version. It now also gets Panoramic sunroof, dual zone airconditioning and LED lights inside.

Also Read: 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review

2017 Audi A3 Engine

This is an area where the 2017 Audi A3 sees a major change. The petrol engine gets a replacement. It now gets a 1.4-litre TFSI engine. This engine churns out 150 bhp of power at 5000-6000rpm and max torque of 250Nm at 1500-3500rpm. This car is fast and can reach 0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds. The new engine, though down on power as compared to the earlier one, has the same torque figures. It is only in the top end performance that it feels lacking as compared to the earlier one. However, this new engine is more efficient, frugal and lower on emissions. It has a fuel efficiency figure of 19.2 km/l, as claimed by the company.

Another interesting feature is the ‘2-cylinder mode’. Whit it does is cut off two cylinders when car is operating on part load and on a very light foot. This helps in getting better efficiency. The moment you dab the throttle, it comes back to the normal mode. This engine comes mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic transmission.

The second engine is a 2.0-litre diesel engine that churns out 143bhp at 3500-4000rpm and a torque of 320Nm at 1750-3000rpm.

This engine is punchy and enjoyable to drive. This engine comes mated to a six-speed S-Tronic transmission. 0-100 in this comes at 8.7 seconds. So there is not a major difference in the acceleration figures of the petrol and diesel. The Diesel engine has a mileage of 20.36 km/l. What we sorely missed in this car are pedal shifts. The 2017 Audi A3 definitely needs paddle shifters to make it more appealing to enthusiasts.

2017 Audi A3 Ride and Handling

The 2017 Audi A3 is right up there when it comes to dynamics. The car is a perfect entry level one into the luxury segment. The 2017 Audi A3 is compact and crisp. This aides in its handling too. The suspension setup is perfectly balanced and though it stays planted at high speed cornerings, the setup in not harsh, It irons out most bad surfaces with ease, keeping you very comfortable. The handling of  the 2017 Audi A3 puts a smile on the face.  The car stays composed and is very agile around sharp corners.

Also Read: BMW 3 Series Review

2017 Audi A3 Competition

The 2017 Audi A3 competes mainly with the Mercedes-Benz CLA. It comes across as a more complete vehicle and is definitely the best buy as an entry level luxury car.

Verdict

The 2017 Audi A3 is a perfect blend of style, sophistication, performance, handling and snob value. This is a perfect car for those looking to enter the luxury car segment. It has great performance and also very good fuel efficiency. We recommend the Audi A3 strongly if you want a good performer with decent features and good looks.