The new Audi A3 Saloon isn’t the first of the new breed of premium compact saloons – that honour has to go to the Mercedes CLA. But Audi has big plans for this newcomer, predicting it’ll go on to become the best-selling A3 within two to three years.
That explains why the saloon is changed so comprehensively from the three-door hatch and Sportback models – every single body panel has been updated to help create this new design.
In our eyes, it’s the most attractive member of the A3 family yet, and while the front end could be more adventurous, the sharp tail-lights are a really eye-catching addition.
As you’d expect, the saloon is extremely refined. Even on a cold start, this 2.0-litre engine is smooth and quiet, and provides really flexible performance. Its maximum torque of 320Nm arrives between 1,750 and 3,000rpm, providing a nice, progressive punch of acceleration in the mid-range and launching the car from 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds – a tenth of a second slower than the three-door, and identical to the Sportback.
Cabin quality is higher than you’ll find in the A4 and even gets close to the A5. The level of refinement on the motorway isn’t far off what those models can achieve, either, so A3 saloon buyers only need to be concerned with the amount of space on offer.
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