“Hot and very white” — this phrase from “Kidnapping, Caucasian Style” is what we want to use to describe our Audi A3 White Edition. But if the color is fine, then there’s a miss with the “temperature.” Under the hood of the stylish white Sportback with a black glass roof and the same radiator grille hides a 150-horsepower engine that, alas, doesn’t ignite. The herd of horses under the hood doesn’t stir the imagination, and the dynamics can only be called confident. In terms of interior dimensions, the A3 almost reaches family models like the BMW 3 Series, so the weight is considerable — quality plastic and excellent sound insulation weigh a lot.
But on the highway, the A3 is a true Aryan. On smooth asphalt, the car seems glued to the road, and you can only understand the real speed by the speedometer or radar readings. Up to 180 km/h, the cabin maintains a fairly low noise level. Even with the gas pedal fully pressed, the engine only nominally reminds you of itself — this is what masks the sensation of acceleration. However, the wide tires on S-Line wheels make the A3 react to ruts, which slightly spoils the picture. By the way, I didn’t notice the promised savings from direct FSI injection: fuel consumption, depending on driving style, stays within 11–13 liters. The recently tested Honda CR-V with the same 2.0-liter engine of similar power consumes the same, although it’s heavier and all-wheel drive.
But how the A3 handles! It can be strict and straightforward, but sometimes it allows itself liberties and little tricks. Just release the gas or wiggle the steering wheel — and the “three” willingly goes into a slight, well-controlled drift. With a calm entry into a turn, the car doesn’t resist, willingly lays into the arc, and at the limit of the turn, it finely balances on the edge of drift and understeer. With ESP on, it’s a calm and dynamic car, but if you turn off the electronic “collar,” on a winding road the Audi can give the driver a lot of positive emotions. The main thing is not to get confused in the 6-speed “automatic” and choose the right gear in advance. For those who like manual shifting, it’s worth ordering optional paddle shifters — with them, driving becomes even more exciting. You don’t need to take your hands off the very responsive and light steering wheel, and during engine braking, the “three” growls eagerly.
The combined S-Line sports seats from Recaro match the handling. Germans know how to make excellent seats, that’s a fact. And the steering wheel fits perfectly in your hands. The interior balances between luxury and sportiness: some inserts are real aluminum, the rest is generously decorated with soft and expensive grades of plastic. However, the Audi Concert stereo still disappoints — how do Germans manage to put such a mediocre audio system in good cars? The front seats and steering wheel have huge adjustment ranges, and at any position, there’s enough space behind the driver in the back seat. The ceiling is high, the cabin is spacious — you can sit very freely. Only the backrest angle adjustment is missing, like in compact vans, and then four people could go to the ends of the earth. The third passenger in the back is not expected: the large central tunnel, designed for all-wheel drive, forces the middle occupant into an uncomfortable position. But the trunk didn’t let us down: the 5-door Sportback version is 84 mm longer than the three-door and its predecessor, the Volkswagen Golf V. Under the floor hides a narrow spare wheel, but the trunk volume has grown from 350 to 370 liters — a little more, and it would be a wagon.
Nevertheless, even in the new version, the Audi A3 — whether white or any other color — remains a good but still somewhat boring car. If it could shed the burden of contrived solidity and a couple of hundred kilograms — maybe the temperature would rise, and the driver’s eyes would sparkle. An alternative to losing weight is to replace the naturally aspirated engine with a 2.0-liter turbo motor with 200 hp. Then the hatchback would play with all the colors of the rainbow.
As for the price, the tested A3 with a 2.0-liter engine, “automatic,” and a rich set of options costs $40,000 — comparable to a well-known Japanese crossover or mid-size sedans. Prices for the A3 with the 200-horsepower turbo engine start at $43–45,000, but about the same is asked for the more stylish and dynamic Lexus IS250 sedan. The truth is somewhere nearby, but the ideal is unattainable…
Text: Leonid Pavlov.