Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI

Audi has first proposed a diesel engine for the U.S. market in spring of this year. It was a big Audi Q7 TDI. This big seven-seat SUV has turned out to be the most economical in its class. And while buyers are increasingly consider purchasing a diesel Audi has just presented another compact hatchback A3.

Until now, Audi A3 was available to the United States buyers with only two engines: a2.0 liter V4 turbo engine and V6 3.2 liter one. Both engines work on gasoline. At the Detroit motor show the company has announced that the Audi A3 TDI will go on sale later this year, but we already had the opportunity to try it in motion.

Before the Audi A1, and possibly A2, will be widely available Audi A3 would conquer the world. Like the TT coupe and roadster, A3 shared some details with the Volkswagen, in particular with Golf and Jetta. Thus, Audi A3 is a C-segment car with transverse engine layout and a front or full drive.

Audi A3 bar is much better and stronger than that of the fellow Volkswagen. The interior of the cabin is dominated by black with aluminum inserts. All control systems are intuitive and easy to remember. But there appears to be a problem with the rear seats of the vehicle. While Audi declares that there will be enough space for two adult passengers, people with taller than average will be somewhat restrained by the drop-down roof of the car.

A car with the sports features should have an appropriate management system. And the Audi A3 TDI has it. The seats with excellent lateral support are made of Alcantara, appliances are well read, and a thick steering wheel fits perfectly in a driver’s hands.

The turbo-diesel engine of the car has already been tested by the company for Volkswagen Jetta and the Golf VI, so that it is not so new. But it was not in vain that it has been installed at the Audi A3 TDI as it is well-proven. The power of the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine makes 140 hp and torque of 320 Nm at 1750 rpm. The Europeans could choose a strong version of the 170 engine. But that is a surplus, as 140 power is enough for sport riding. As for the transmission, the car uses 6-speed automatic gearbox S-Tronic DSG. Ther are switches are on the handlebars to control the transmission.

When driving, we try to fully test the car. In the end, it passed the test with excellent results. The car is well-balanced, and even with sharp turns at high speed sticks to the road all four wheels. If we compare it with the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, Audi is clearly ahead with its sustainability. Electronics intervenes only as much, as much it needs and gives the driver an opportunity to enjoy driving. When driving in the dark adaptive xenon headlights illuminate the road well, and we have no difficulty moving with a fairly high speed.

During our testing we tried to go not only for the polygon and included highways and city streets to our itinerary. As a result, the average fuel consumption was 6.9 liters per 100 kilometers. But if you do not press gas permanently you can reduce costs up to 5.9 liters per hundred km. By the way, during the demonstration Marathon Audi A3 TDI has spent only 4.7 liters.

Audi did not announce prices yet. Most likely, they will be available closer to the beginning of sales.