New Audi A3 exclusive ride

The latest A3 is crucial not only for Audi, but for the entire VW Group. Its all-new platform will underpin a host of models – including the next Golf – that will make or break VW’s bid to become the world’s top car company.

Auto Express got the chance to experience the new A3 as a passenger in a lightly disguised pre-production prototype with Audi board member for technical development, Michael Dick, behind the wheel.

On paper, the A3’s numbers look good. It weighs up to 80kg less than before, thanks to the lighter platform and aluminium bonnet and wings, and this cuts fuel consumption by an average of 12 per cent. This also means lower CO2 and running costs, plus more performance for the hot S and RS models when they arrive.

Sitting in the supportive front passenger seat, it’s immediately obvious that the longer wheelbase means more legroom. There’s a lot of space, even for passengers over six feet tall, while there’s slightly more room in the rear as well. Visibility is good, even though the waistline tapers up to create a smaller back screen.

The cabin has a less cluttered dash housing a new, thinner centre screen and A8-inspired touchwheel with handwriting recognition. There’s a familiar steering wheel – this is part of Audi’s branding philosophy that applies the same rim to all models, from the A1 to the R8. Plus, high-end driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control.

The design inside and out is more smart than revolutionary, yet the A3 has clearly matured on the road. That longer wheelbase not only increases interior space, it gives the car a more comfortable ride. The smallest 16-inch wheels absorb bumps more effectively, but even on the larger alloys the A3 will offer a less jarring ride.

This means improved cornering stability and more predictability when changing direction quickly. From where we’re sitting the car definitely feels as though it handles better, and thanks to the lower ride height it’s more stable on the motorway, too.

For those who want the best of both worlds, the new A3 will be offered for the first time with magnetic adaptive suspension, complete with comfort and sport settings. While our car didn’t have this, the system should allow performance models like the RS3 to be just as responsive in corners but more usable everyday, too.

Yet what struck us most was the A3’s refinement and comfort. It feels bigger and more grown-up, but more agile. It’s a step forward, and should help Audi continue its golden run.

Verdict

From our brief ride it’s clear the A3 has matured significantly. Refinement and comfort have taken a step up, although we’ll have to wait until we get behind the wheel to deliver a definitive handling verdict. There’s great attention to detail in the cabin for a car of this size and price, while the exterior design is sharper, but reserved when compared to the A3’s main rival: Mercedes’ new A-Class. Add better efficiency, performance and cutting-edge technology, and the Audi is shaping up to be another runaway success.