Yahoo Autos Performance and Driving Impressions
Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:
The A3’s cornering and braking test results leave something to be desired, but on the road it is unflappable. Still, the BMW 2-series delivers both performance and highway stability, so if driving enjoyment is paramount for you, the A3 may not be the best choice.
What’s New for 2018?
Zip. Zero. Nada. The A3 lineup carries on for 2018 with no changes to its suspension, steering, braking, or powertrain.
2017 Audi A3
Acceleration
The all-wheel-drive A3 sedan we tested turned in a zero-to-60-mph run of 5.5 seconds, making it plenty quick enough for all but the hottest of hot-shoe drivers. It’s a shade slower than an all-wheel-drive BMW 230i, which boasts 28 more horsepower.
Test Results: Acceleration
The A3’s engine is quick, despite having less power than some of the competition. It’s the second quickest in this set and delivers consistent acceleration. All of our recent tests have been in all-wheel-drive models with the six-speed automatic. That transmission is a little too willing to shift into high gears at low speeds, which can lead to some engine roughness as the revs dip below 2000 rpm. This is easily solved by throwing the gear selector into manual mode and shifting for yourself.
Ride, Handling, and Steering
It will come as no surprise to those familiar with Audi that the A3 feels solid and composed at speed. The ride is smooth, with the wheels rebounding quickly from impacts without much jostling in the cabin. The A3 steers easily and accurately. It delivered 0.87 g of grip on our skidpad, in a test designed to measure a car’s ability to hold the road when cornering. That result would be feted in plenty of lesser cars, but in this segment, it’s merely okay. In a test of a 2015 Audi A3 with all-wheel drive and summer tires (our more recent test car had all-season tires), the A3 put up 0.94 g on the skidpad. That’s a closer match to the BMW 230i and Volkswagen GTI tested here, but neither of those cars needed summer tires to do the deed.
Test Results: Maximum Cornering Capability
Braking
The A3’s brakes are firm and predictable, but our test car-a sedan with all-season tires-needed more than 20 feet of extra stopping space compared with a BMW 230i xDrive and a Volkswagen GTI. In a 2015 test of an A3 with summer tires, that stopping distance was shaved to 156 feet, putting it in the mix with the BMW and Volkswagen. Since most drivers likely won’t put summer tires on their entry-level Audi, the longer effort is important to note.
Test Results: Maximum Braking Capability
You Might Also Like
