Audi A3 S-Line Range
The criticism has been levelled at Audis A3 that it isnt sporty enough. To some extent you can see what the snipers are getting at. This may be Audis entry-level offering but when you get behind the wheel, that big car feel is very much in evidence. Even for drivers of the sportier derivatives in the range, the styling is understated while the overriding impression is of something much more substantial and sensible than a mere hot hatch.
Mind you, thats not to say the range cant accommodate models that display their performance car qualities more flamboyantly. Models like the S-Line - the A3 with additional attitude.
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Whereas availability was previously limited to cars with quattro four-wheel-drive and/or the ground-breaking S Tronic direct shift gearbox, now almost everyone can get in on the act. The only proviso is that you must order your car with the Sport trim level before you can upgrade to S-Line. This means that eligibility now extends from the 1.6-litre FSI engine right up to the 3.
2-litre quattro models. The S-Line package costs an extra £1,550 on top of the Sport trim level, which means that the cheapest S-Line youll be able to lay your hands on is the 3-door 1.4-litre TFSI model at £20,165 or as a five-door Sportback for £20,665. Of course, the 125PS 1.
4 TFSI cant really live up to the S-Line packs sporty billing and buyers with the means would be much better going for the 200PS 2.0 TFSI models. These start at £23,155 (or £500 more for the Sportback version) but there is a 160PS 1.8-litre TFSI unit starting at £21,885.
The 3.2-litre quattro with the 6-speed manual box costs from £26,235 (with £1,400 more for the S Tronic gearbox and £500 more for five doors). The prospect of paying these sums for a performance hatchback is a sobering one but, as weve already indicated, the A3 is not what youd term Max Power fodder.
"The S-Line pack does nothing to actually enhance the cars handling or performance but it makes the A3 look meaner from most of the angles that matter"
The impact of the basic S-Line kit is mainly felt on the inside of the car. Theres a three-spoke perforated leather steering wheel, a perforated leather gearknob and illuminated vanity mirrors for A3 buyers who need to check on their elaborate fly-away hairstyles. Buyers also benefit from touches of brushed aluminium dotted around the cabin and black headlining adding to the moody interior ambiance. The sports seats are suitably plush in full Vienna leather.
All of this comes on top of whats offered in Sport trim, namely electronic climate control, a Concert II CD stereo and, perhaps most saliently, sports suspension. The S-Line models get an upgraded external appearance with a set of 18" 5 arm alloy wheels and S-Line badging tastefully positioned around the car as well as the fog lights and side sills that come with the Sport. Theres also a spoiler mounted on the roof at the back, an S-Line radiator grille and deeper, more aggressive-looking bumpers front and rear. For the £1,550 price premium, youve got an A3 that will have everyone rubbernecking. The 2.
0-litre TDI 140 diesel and 3.2-litre petrol powerplants that many S-Line buyers choose offer a stark choice between rational, cost-effective motoring and pedal to the metal insanity. See if you can guess which is which. The 2.
0-litre TDI 140 has 140PS and with the S Tronic gearbox it can reach 62mph in 9.2 seconds. Thats some 3 tenths of a second faster than the 2.0-litre TDI manual model.
This gives you a poignant insight into just how good Audis S Tronic set-up is. The TDI 140 S Tronic can also manage a creditable 38.1mpg on the combined cycle, so once youve shelled out the initial asking price, your wallet wont take another pummelling at the pumps. Compare the TDI models fuel consumption with the 18.
9mpg average posted by the 250PS 3.2-litre manual car and youll begin to appreciate why the diesel is the penny pinchers choice. The S Tronic system actually improves the petrol engines typical economy figure to 20.3mpg (what a gearbox!) but these arent the numbers that serve as the 3.
2-litres trump card. Put your foot to the floor, where conditions allow, in an Audi A3 S-Line 3.2-litre manual and youll reach the 62mph barrier in 6.5s but youll still be a solitary tenth of a second behind the S Tronic version.
In comparison, the A3 Sportback 2.0 T FSI can accelerate from rest to 62mph in 7.0 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 147mph.Thats straight-line performance which puts both these A3 S-Line models firmly in the ballpark populated by top hot hatchbacks.
Think Renaultsport Megane, Honda Civic Type-R and the benchmark Golf GTi. If you want to go faster, theres always the savage 265PS S3. Of course, all of the above cost quite a bit less than a petrol-powered A3 S-Line and for the most part, they are sharper drivers cars, though none can match the Audis depth of engineering or build quality. Audi positions its hatchback in the class above, vying with products like the Mercedes-Benz Sports Coupe and the quicker BMWs 1-Series derivatives.
In this company, the A3 still seems a little on the expensive side but its performance looks strong and you can get four-wheel drive as well as that S Tronic gearbox. The S-Line package gives the A3 an added sporting edge for buyers who might not favour the understated approach that Audi usually take when styling their cars. The 1.4 TFSI and the 2.
0-litre TDi 140 engine are the value for money choices and the more powerful TDI 170 is a good all-rounder but the 1.8T, 2.0T and 3.2-litre versions are sportier in feel and that will be the bottom line for many.
The super-focused S3 model aside, the S-Line models represent the pinnacle of the line-up and they make a darn fine job of it.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Audi A3 S-Line range
PRICES: £20,165-£26,820 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-18
CO2 EMISSIONS: 238-254g/km
PERFORMANCE: [3.2 S Tronic] 0-62mph 6.4s / Max Speed 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 TDi 140 S Tronic] (combined) 38.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and window airbags, electronic stability control, ABS, BAS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4203/1765/1421mm
