Audi A3 Sportback 1.5 Facelift Review: Bedazzling and Understated
The Sportback is a more classic and recognisable A3, although it drives similarly to the Sedan.
Having driven the A3 Sedan (we recommend you to read the Sedan review if you want the technical information), the A3 Sportback is broadly similar.
The main draw of the Sportback is its more classic hatchback shape, which is what the A3 has been since its inception until the Sedan version came along. Admittedly, although sedans in general are getting less and less popular, small versions like the A3 Sedan found fans for its well proportioned design.
Practically speaking, the A3 Sportback also has a more usable boot with its wider opening for ease of loading and unloading. It’s a tad easier to place on the road too.
Aside from this, the Sportback is virtually indiscernible to the Sedan in the way it drives, handles and rides. That is to say, it’s an excellent little Audi.
Shooting the A3 Sportback at night does peel away at some of the subtle upgrades of the facelift versus the previous car. In this A3 generation, Audi has introduced LED headlights that have three different daytime running light (DRL) signatures. The headlights utilise a matrix of LED elements, arranged in three rows on the top of the lighting housing, to create these light patterns. They also have an alluring ‘coming home’ and ‘leaving home’ sequence. It’s such an Audi thing to do. Not but the keenest of enthusiasts would notice which signature is selected, but it’s a cool feature nonetheless.
On the inside, subtle use of LED ambient lighting creates a cosy atmosphere. The careful placement of the lighting shows the contours of the interior in a totally different way compared to how they look in the day. In contrast, ambient lighting in other more flamboyant brands can make the interior feel a bit like Marquee at MBS.
And this is the very reason why you would buy an A3 - for its effortless class and understated cool. I’d argue that the Sportback embodies more of this than the Sedan, which is a more recent invention.
Photos by James Wong
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