One up

What we like:

Punchy acceleration

updated interior to match its premium underpinnings

What we dislike:

Noticeable turbo lag

manual passenger seat adjustments

no sports or adaptive suspension

It is without surprise that the larger-engined variant delivers more punch, but just how much are we talking about? It produces 58 bhp more and 50 Nm more of torque – enough to shave 2 seconds off the century sprint to accomplish it in a scant 7.3 seconds. But it’s worth noting that the max power is achieved further up the revband at between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm. In contrast, the smaller engine runs out of puff at 5,000 rpm.

The engine is also very flexible thanks to the meaty torque that Audi claims is delivered from as low as 1,250 all the way to 5,000 rpm. While this contributes to usable in-gear acceleration, the gearbox appears to be lazy, preferring to leave the acceleration duties entirely to the engine – until you floor the accelerator or manually downshift.

There also appears to be a noticeable turbo lag. From the seat-of-the-pants feel, the real poke doesn’t come before the tachometer needle passes 2,000 rpm mark.

If you prefer a comfortable and relaxed drive, you could simply leave everything to the transmission and it does its job well. On the other hand, if you want to reap the full benefits of the larger engine, you’ll find yourself pulling back on the wheel-mounted shifters very often to keep the action right smack in the heart of the power (and torque) band.

Meanwhile, the new A3 chassis is a very capable one and offers a very comfortable ride. Never mind that the A3 1.8 TFSI does not come with a sports suspension or the adaptive option, because its current setup absorbs road imperfections respectably – and I dare say one of the best for the smaller Audis. However, I suspect that if the car came with the standard 17-inch wheels, instead of the 18-inch options, the ride would have improved just a little more.

Cosmetically, the 1.8-litre A3 Sportback is almost similar to its 1.4-litre brethren. What sets it apart is its stellar performance on the go. It is a tough call to say if the $16,000 premium is worth the upgrade. For the same money, you can also get another stellar performer within the Volkswagen group known as the GTI, which is based on the same platform. However, the A3 Sportback offers a totally proposition: it is more relaxed, more luxuriously appointed and the fit and finish is solid. If you are looking for a premium hatchback and like a more casual drive most of the time, but have the occasional hoon-moment to fend off a A200, then the 1.8 TFSI engine will make a lot of cents, erm, I mean, sense.

Credits: John Toh