2016 Audi A3 2.0T Quattro
The A3 has been a great success for Audi, bringing new buyers to the brand in droves. And while we seem to be going crossover crazy, with sedan and hatchback sales dropping over five percent from early 2015, time spent driving a 2.0-liter, turbocharged model of this sleek sports sedan, equipped with all wheel drive during some snowy days, showed just how much fun—and practical—this kind of car can be.
The Audi certainly looks upmarket in its detailing, though its huge tire clearances undermine stance a bit. Inside the A3 is an abject study in the less-is-more philosophy, with clean shapes and expensive textures, punctuated by beautifully detailed bits of aluminum. Space is certainly not large in the back seat (that’s what the A4 is for) but it is well laid out and the front cockpit very comfortable.
The are certain inherent benefits to a vehicle like this over a jacked up crossover, in particular a lower center of gravity. That pays myriad benefits in both handling and ride quality. Simply put, a taller vehicle needs stiffer springs, dampers and bigger antiroll bars to go around corners without leaning too much; these make the ride worse over typically beaten up roads. Also, many of these CUVs and SUVs have off-road pretensions that, though rarely exploited, mean the vehicle needs extra strength (hence mass) which compromises performance.
The A3 suffers none of that; it is low in CG, but it had enough ground clearance for six-plus inches of snow, and with a set of winter tires strapped around its pretty, multispoke 18-inch rims, it blasted through some of the slipperiest conditions you can get: that compacted stuff that acts like ice in its coefficient of friction. And with its stability control turned off the Audi was fun too, in a way a taller, less maneuverable vehicle wouldn’t be, since it could change tack so quickly.
Once the roads cleared, it was a pleasure to enjoy the potent turbocharged 220hp engine’s torque and the alacrity of acceleration too. Fuel economy in the real world was better than most crossovers, hovering in the low- to mid-20s despite spending so much time foot to the floor. All in all the A3 represents a compelling way to enter the brand of premium German cars.
More info: https://www.audiusa.com/models/audi-a3-sedan
Isaac Bouchard is owner of Bespoke Autos, an auto brokerage that helps people save time, money and hassle when buying or leasing vehicles. Since 1991 he has helped his clients save over $1 million dollars. He has written extensively about getting the best deal possible when buying or leasing a vehicle, arranging financing or trading in a car. Isaac has been a professional automotive journalist as well for over 12 years, having reviewed most all types of car, truck and SUV.
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