The outgoing car had a certain cuteness to its lines, dare I say it was almost cuddly! So what about the replacement? The new Audi A3 is a really solid car but first impressions suggest that the designers were too conservative.
Yes there is lots of little detail to the exterior that please the eye, but it reminds me more of a mid-nineties Honda Civic hatchback than the outgoing model.
Inside the A3 is a class act combining the look of an Alfa with Germanic build and materials. The A3 is a hatchback and as such is versatile. There are no real innovations to the interior just a general quality feel that sums up the 'Audi' experience.
The A3 isn't a car to set the pulses racing in 1.6 guise as it is under powered (102 bhp) and only adequate if you wish to drive with any enthusiasm.
I found one thing that could cause problems down the line when it rains. If you lower the window, rain will spill in from the roof and drop in around the electric windows switch. So when you have to operate the windows, your fingers get dipped in water.
In recent Euro NCAP tests, the new A3 scored four out of five for occupant safety and three out of five for the new 'Child' protection safety rating. Pedestrian safety scores a poor one out of five.
The A3 gets you on the Audi ladder but to be honest, unless it's a big diesel, I would spend my money on a second-hand A4. AUDI A3 1.6 sells at €25,950.
- Michael Sheridan
RTÉ Guide
