Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI FL - even more technology
We know the Audi A3 very well. It belongs to a constant arsenal of young Poles who, after obtaining a driver's license, sit in their four wheels on four wheels. The new A3 is a much less explored area, especially after the recent facelift. What changed?
Audi A3 long ago flooded the Polish roads. Around 3 million vehicles of the previous two generations were sold worldwide. We have no reason not to believe that the trio's population will continue to grow. A million units have already rolled off the assembly line.
Why is A3 so popular in the aftermarket? The first generation was powered by a 1.9 TDi engine that needs no introduction. The second question is the availability of the model - you can choose anything in the configurator of the new model - these 3 million have not evaporated anywhere, they just wander around. This high availability also means relatively low purchase prices.
And since the new A3 is on sale in such a large number of copies, its future may be similar. Let's see what our children will drive when they get a driver's license in a few years. Let’s say “take a facelift son” or maybe “facelift hasn’t changed anything, we’ll buy you an older one, but in leather”?
Let's check.
Cosmetology
Changes in appearance Audi A3 this is pure cosmetics. We have new headlights that are hardly prettier or uglier. They differ from the pre-styling version, but their assessment is a matter of taste. The bumpers have also been redesigned, with a sharpened Singleframe grille and LED matrix headlights. This is an additional PLN 8700 in the configurator.
We will not see such cosmetic changes in the interior, if we talk about its performance. However, technology has changed.
Virtual cockpit acquires segments
The biggest novelty of the VAG group this year is the virtual cockpit. Turns out it didn't take long for this technology to get to the bottom of the line. It appeared in Q7 and R8, then A4, TT and finally A3. We've also seen it in the Passat and Tiguan, and it'll soon make its way to the facelifted Golf.
Also new is the MMI system, the control knob and the logic that connects the two systems. The buttons on the steering wheel are responsible for controlling the virtual cockpit, those on the central tunnel slide out of the MMI dashboard. The number of selection buttons has also been reduced from four to two. Previously, working with this system was very intuitive, now it has become a little easier. Although - looking for whom. If this is an Audi for you, it will first take time to understand the new operation.
Even though the interior looks a bit "plastic", it's not quite true. Of course it is Audi A3 it's built quite differently from the A8, but the trim level still matches those four wheels on the hood. Many manufacturers are increasingly opting for materials that can be beautiful but can sometimes produce a squeaky sound. Audi is (so far) one of those who don't want to compromise on trim.
liter up
New is the engine that will open the A3 offer - 1.0 TFSI with 115 hp. Perhaps it will be of interest to those who prefer to spend more of their budget on equipment than on an engine. 1.4 TFSI costs about 7 thousand. PLN is more expensive.
One of the most intelligent trim levels came to our test - a 2.0 TDI with a power of 150 hp. The engine is well known and fairly free from the shortcomings that the 2.0 TDI had at the start of production. It develops 340 Nm between 1750 and 3000 rpm and accelerates from 100 to 8,3 km/h in 214 seconds, also thanks to the quattro drive. Maximum speed - XNUMX km / h.
Audi fans love to get attached to the word "quattro". However, not everyone knows that not all quattros work the same way. In smaller vehicles, where there would be no room for a center differential with a ring gear, a Haldex clutch is used, which connects the rear axle drive. It does this very quickly and allows you to feel confident behind the wheel. The clutch of an A3 with such a drive is huge. Sometimes you can forget that this is just a CD with a 150-horsepower diesel. The driving experience is quite sporty.
However, this is not ideal. While the 2.0 TDI knock is mastered, when the car is moving, the sound is really annoying at idle. The engine croaks loudly and our premium shell fades to its full brilliance.
However, this engine can be very economical. On the road, according to the manufacturer, a fuel consumption of 4,4 l / 100 km is enough. In the city up to 5,9 l / 100 km, and an average of 5 l / 100 km. Although these results are quite real, still - at least in the city - we need about 8 l / 100 km.
A little metamorphosis.
A buyer looking at the updated A3 in a car showroom will want to taste the achievements of 98th century technology, this is quite understandable. Those interested in viewing the map next to the tachometer will look at the price list and see the entry threshold of PLN 200 1.0 for the version with the 2.0 TFSI engine. In the end, he will see such a sport 150 TDI with 138 hp. for PLN 100 – this is the most expensive basic model, which is not yet called “S” or “RS”.
The list of accessories, especially for the CD, is so long that the final price can be idiotic. The test model has most of the options, so we can test them all. As a result, the price was PLN 247. Behind the hatchback with a 610-liter TDI!. This amount would fit S2 and allowances for 3 50. zł. For an additional fee of 20 thousand. pln, we would even rs! Madness.
From the point of view of a driver who will drive a car in a few years, the changes have not gone too far. The biggest change inside is the addition of a virtual cockpit, which is highly functional yet still cute. We can do without it. If we want an aggressive, modern look, the updated one actually looks a little better.
So, back to the question asked earlier. Should a young driver think about a version before or after restyling in 15 years? It really doesn't matter. The model before the facelift is just as good as after.
