Audi A3 (Typ 8Y)

The Audi A3 is basically a poshed-up Volkswagen Golf with all of the luxury stuff you'd expect from Audi with the price that makes it a welcoming committee to Audi. Although more expensive than the Golf it was based on, the A3 wasn't really a bad car to start with unless you had some issues with the way it behaves on the road. For the fourth-generation A3, let's find out if the new model is better than the previous model as most would want to say but because this is the A3, it must have the three A's as its name implies; ACT! ADDICT! ACTORS!

2021 Audi A3 Sportback

2021 Audi A3 Sedan

ACT! ADDICT! ACTORS! This is what the A3 really means and for the fourth-generation model, the all-new Audi A3 tries to get its act together with its pricing, design, interior, tech, performance, and safety, the ideal recipe of a modern vehicle of today. To understand more about the all-new A3, let's start with its first A: ACT!

2021 Audi A3 Sportback

2021 Audi A3 Sedan

To ACT means how will customers act when they see the fourth-generation A3 in person. With the starting price of 26,800 Euros (plus OTR) for the Sportback and 27,700 Euros (plus OTR) for the sedan, it's way over reasonably priced by "Reasonably Priced Car" standards but with such price, some people may act quickly to get their fat paychecks ready and then drive home by all means.

2021 Audi A3 Sedan interior

2021 Audi A3 Sportback interior

The second A is ADDICT! What the ADDICT in the A3 tagline means just how addicting is the new model is in terms of design and interior. Judging by the design, it borrows the look from today's Audi Q3 crossover, meaning there are some resemblances between them but unlike the Q3, the new A3's styling is very addictive to stare than its rivals from BMW and Mercedes. 

Whether if its a hatchback or a sedan, the styling really fits the ADDICT term for keeps but that's just the start because the interior is the latter part of this term. On the inside, you are greeted by its addicting tech such as the Audi virtual cockpit, the HUD, online connectivity, the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System, and many others.

On the back, the new A3 is surprisingly more spacious than the previous A3 in terms of rear passenger space and boot space and that's good news for those who are planning to use it for whatever means necessary; be it for family use, for road trips with pals, deliveries, or TNVS purposes although the latter one is not worth it because this is an Audi and it's too obvious for someone using this as a TNVS car.

2021 Audi A3 Sportback

2021 Audi A3 Sedan

And now we get to the third and final A of the A3 mantra; ACTORS! If by ACTORS, they really mean just how much of an ACTOR the A3 is. Under the hood, the new A3 is offered with a choice of 1.5 TFSi and 2.0 TDi engine at launch, although the latter choice is the one to avoid like most Europeans of today should. Anyway, the 1.5L TFSi engine features a cylinder shutoff system which automatically shuts off the second and third cylinders while driving in an efficient manner. Apart from that, it comes with a 12-volt electrical system for mHEV capability that results to 5.5L/100km of combined WLTP fuel economy. Nice job, Audi.

Both of these engines are mated to either a brand-new 6-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed S tronic gearbox, which most say it drives quicker than the manual, but anyway, while continuing on the ACTORS story, let's get to know more about its dynamics and being front-wheel drive only at launch, it feels very civilized on the road but in the middle of a Sunday drive, the lowered suspension setups, Audi drive select and ESC, the modular dynamic handling control, and many other updates to its dynamics really means big business. Sporty as it means but it feels like its a snuggle with a struggle if you try to poke it hard at the bends. To put it in broad context, it behaves just like today's Mercedes A-Class and the now-FF BMW 1-Series but who cares.

As for safety, the new Audi features a wide range of Driver Assist Systems with the optional assist package for a more safer experience, which is too dubious for some who might think it can outsmart its driver with its AI inside. Scary but this is the ACTOR's way.

The fourth-generation A3 has all the three As it implies; a price to act for, addicting features, and the performance of the ideal actor. ACT! ADDICT! ACTORS! Now that's the A3 everybody's talking about and looks like Audi's on the roll with this one, well sort of. Anyway, let's wish the new A3 the best of luck on the road!

Photo: Audi AG