Audi A3 Sportback

Out to be much more than a golf in a flash suit

- Gregor Messer

Diamonds, as we know, are formed under pressure. As VW’s Golf becomes even more mature and sophisticated in forthcoming Mk8 guise, the pressure has increased on Audi to make its fourth-generation A3 appreciably more than ‘just’ a Golf with a sharper cut of its jib.

The two share a platform, naturally, and there will be a level of commonality with engines. So is the new A3 a carat heavyweight? Our preview drive didn’t allow a definitive verdict, but it did reveal a compact premium hatch with plenty of polish.

Audi Australia hasn’t yet locked down the engine line-up, spec, or pricing, as the car won’t arrive until the end of this year or beginning of next, but it would seem a safe bet that the 1.0-litre three-pot which previously opened the outgoing range will exit, given the increase in size and maturity of the A1 with this engine.

So expect the range opener to be the 35 TFSI, powered by the VW Group’s 1.5-litre four. This engine will be available with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, providing a torque boost under heavy throttle, and to support ICE-free coasting.