Driven: Audi A3 2.0 TDI SE

Audi's A3 is a fine car, but does it look a bit too much like its predecessor, wonders James Foxall.

You tend not to see many new Audi A3s on the road. Or at least you think you don’t. Reality is, they’re probably everywhere but you think they’re the old model. It’s fair to say Audi has received a degree of criticism for the A3’s unadventurous styling. Of course no one’s managed to say how it's supposed to design a family hatch…

But it's being on the inside that you get to appreciate the new A3 for what it does best. The quality is of a much bigger car. The doors slam with a satisfying thunk. Materials everywhere you touch are top notch and the dash oozes class.

The MMI controller for the satnav and sound system is down in front of the electric parking brake. It’s so intuitive you'll soon be using it without looking at the buttons, which proves the designers have succeeded in my book. If there is a criticism of the interior it’s that there isn’t anywhere to put any of the addenda accompanying modern life. The result is the cupholders also function as phone, food, wallet and key holders and will soon be be full of crumbs, which somehow doesn’t suit the A3’s premium feel.

The 2.0-litre TDI doesn’t sound too appealing when started from cold but the gutsy 236lb ft of torque makes up for that with strong surges of power whatever the gear.

It’s economical, too. Audi’s claim of 68.9mpg on the EU Combined cycle seems a trifle optimistic but I have managed to get the average up to 55.2mpg on the trip computer, which suits my purposes.

Article source: www.telegraph.co.uk

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