By Otsile Kadiege

The much anticipated fourth generation Audi A3 Sportback and second generation Audi A3 Sedan have landed in South Africa. The Ingolstadt based automaker’s local arm promises a sporty looking premium compact car with a driver focused interior crammed with the latest technology and powerful yet frugal TFSI engines. 

Sporty exterior design

The new Audi A3 range boasts a wide singleframe grille which is flanked by redesigned headlights including optional Matrix LED with pixel animation and large air inlets at the front end. Highlights for the side profile are concave side surface which is a new element of Audi design. As standard, the A3 range is fitted with 16-inch wheels and 17-ich wheels on the Advanced and S line grades.

 The rear-end features LED tail lights with sequential turning lights, a roof spoiler on the A3 Sportback, sporty air outlets, trapezoidal exhaust trims and rear diffuser.

The new A3 models measure at 4.34 metres in length and 1.82 metres in width. The A3 Sportback has grown by just over 3 centimetres compared with its predecessor. The height of 1.43 metres and the wheelbase of 2.64 metres remained unchanged. Depending on the position of the rear bench seat, the luggage compartment holds between 380 and 1,200 litres. The new Audi A3 Sedan is just over 15 centimetres longer than the A3 Sportback. All other dimensions are identical. At 425 litres, the luggage capacity is the same as in the predecessor model.

S3 exterior design

The hot hatchback S3 also boasts a singleframe grille with a large rhombus-patterned and large air inlets, while the housings of the exterior mirrors have an aluminium look. At the rear end, the large diffuser and the four exhaust tailpipes accentuate the vehicle’s sportiness. Other differentiating features include, 19-inch wheels, red brake calipers and S model specific bumpers, and other S details. Customers can opt for a black exterior package which blacks-out the grill surrounds, air inlets, mirror caps and door frames.

Digital interior

The new Audi A3 range has a modern and driver-focused interior thanks to hockey stick shaped door handles, trapezoidal air vents, a 10.1-inch touchscreen angled towards the driver as well as a standard digital instrument cluster. The optional Audi virtual cockpit plus (as part of the Technology Package) provides additional functions such as the large display of the navigation map. It measures 12.3 inches and enables 3 different views, including graphics with a sporty look. The S3 gets model specific graphics.

Performance

The new Audi A3 and S3 models are offered with the below mentioned engines:

Audi says that the suspension of the new A3 models – with a four-link rear axle for engines from 110 kW – is sporty and balanced, combining pleasant ride comfort with good dynamics. In combination with the Audi drive select dynamic handling system, the suspension is available with adaptive damper control (optional for the S3 models), which simultaneously lowers the body by 10 millimetres. Each damper permanently adapts to the road condition, the driving situation, and the settings in Audi drive select, creating a wide spread between highly comfortable roll motion and agile handling.

Driver assistance systems

When equipped with the optional Audi pre sense front, the parking assist, and the lane departure warning, the new A3 models help prevent accidents with other road users and offer a high level of safety. Further assist systems, such as the lane change and exit warnings as well as the cross traffic altert, are also available.

Local availability and pricing

The new Audi A3 range will officially go on sale in South Africa from 1 August 2021 and is priced as follows (inclusive of all taxes) and comes standard with a five year Audi Freeway Plan:

Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI                               R561,000

Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI Advanced             R586,000

Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI S line                     R601,000

Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI S line                     R641,000

Audi S3 Sportback TFSI quattro                       R795,000

Audi A3 Sedan 35 TFSI                                     R576,000

Audi A3 Sedan 35 TFSI Advanced                    R601,000

Audi A3 Sedan 35 TFSI S line                           R616,000

Audi A3 Sedan 40 TFSI S line                           R656,000

Audi S3 Sedan TFSI Quattro                            R810,000

The 40 TFSI powerplant will only be available from November 2021.