Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £15,265 to £26,525
Looks smart, nice cabin, well-built, economical.
Expensive, poor rearward visibility, small boot, not terribly sporting.
Desirable but pricey. Justified by its good road manners and strong resale values.
The A3 1.4 TFSI has the latest version of the six-speed manual gearbox, which seems to be slicker-shifting and easier to use than in earlier A3 models. The gear ratios are well-set for speedy progress, and while the engine is relatively small, with its turbo assistance it's certainly not slow: the A3 1.4 TFSI pulls away swiftly from a standstill, proceeds nippily at urban speeds and can then cruise comfortably and quietly on the motorway.
As with other A3 models, the cabin is nicely laid-out, with a good driving position, but rearward visibility is severely hampered by the large rear pillars and sloped roof - order those parking sensors.
This model isn't meant to be a hot hatch, but should be satisfying enough for most drivers; it's safe, predictable and competent in its handling, though like the mainstream Golf models, it feels a bit too heavy and stodgy to be properly sporting.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Audi A3
wrote on 18 05 2007
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wrote on 09 06 2006