LMT Cars: 2017 Audi A3 sedan
Someone said to me recently they think the 2017 Audi A3 sedan is the best looking sedan on the market.
Like, of all the sedans out there – and we were talking proper sedans, not four-door ‘coupes’ – the thing is a pretty good looker, especially considering its compact dimensions. It is hard enough to make smaller three-box models appear attractive, let alone luxurious.
Australian buyers clearly agree with the sentiment, with about 45 per cent of A3 models sold being that body-style. That’s pretty crazy considering how hatchback-heavy sales usually skew in the small car segment.
It’s decently priced, too: you can get yourself behind the wheel of an A3 sedan from as little as $41,500 plus on-road costs – that’s the 1.4TFSI COD Paul tested recently.
The version we have here is the mid-range 2.0TFSI variant, priced from $47,500 plus on-roads. Both it, and the entry model, are front-wheel drive. There is also a quattro all-wheel-drive version with the same 2.0TFSI engine that is the regular model range-topper at $51,100 plus on-roads – then it’s a bit of a step up (in performance and price) to the S3 sedan a $64,500.
Our car was fitted with a couple of option packs – the $2900 Technik pack with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit display, a sports steering wheel and a better version of the navigation system with live maps (and five free map updates), two SD card slots and a 10-gigabyte music storage system. Those extras do add some further flair to the cabin, though the fact the car can’t be had with the latest Audi Connect system with Google Maps is a bit of a shame.
As for standard kit, there’s a bit missing for a car at this price point – no matter how nice it looks. You miss out on push-button start, smart key and entry, electric seat adjustment, seat heaters and adaptive cruise control, all of which can be had in sub-$30,000 sedans from mainstream brands like Subaru.
That’s not to say the vehicle’s equipment list is sparse, with 17-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights, leather-trimmed sports seats, aluminium trim inlays and door sill protectors, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker stereo with a 7.0-inch screen, satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (optional in the base car!).
The interior is a nice place to be, living up to the feel of what you expect from a luxury German brand in a compact, cheaper way. The LED lighting in the cupholders, door grabs and foot-wells makes it feel like a private little room when you’re driving on the highway at night, and the Xenon headlights are pretty darn good, too.
There are soft touch materials on the dashboard, padded sections on all four doors, and the retracting display in the middle of the dash still looks pretty smart, and it is logically controlled by the MMI touch rotary dial with track-pad on top.
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