By: Jason Woosey
With the arrival of the Sportback model, South Africans can now opt for a new-generation Audi A3 in a more practical five-door wrapping.
And it's not just more practical in terms of access - the Sportback is actually 35mm longer between the axles than the three-door version that was launched late last year.
Audi says its rear compartment will easily accommodate three adults and it also has more head and leg room than its predecessor, and 15 litres more boot space than the three-door, at 380 litres.
Despite its more sensible orientation, the new Sportback actually cuts a sportier profile than its predecessor thanks to its raked rear windscreen and smaller rear three quarter windows. It looks more hatchback, less shrunken estate car.
The rest of what you're getting is mostly as per the A3 three-door.
You can't have it with the 77kW 1.2 TFSI engine until August, but for now you still get to choose between two petrols and one diesel in the fully turbo-charged range.
The 1.4 TFSI is credited with 90kW and 200Nm, a 9.5-second 0-100km/h run, 203km/h top speed and 5.3 l/100km combined fuel consumption.
The more enticing option is Audi's 132kW/250Nm 1.8 TFSI, which gets to 100 in 7.3 seconds, reaches 232km/h and sips 5.6 l/100km.
TDI IS A REAL SIPPER
However, high-milers will look towards the 1.6 TDI with 3.9 l/100km claimed consumption; this one's also good for a 10.9 second 0-100 and 194km/h top end.
Fuel consumption has been improved by ten percent on average, and much of this is down to thermal improvements in the engine, idle-stop technology and the fact that the whole car weighs up to 90kg less than the one before it.
This is owed to it being built on the VW Group's new modular, lightweight MQB platform that also underpins the seventh-generation Golf.
3D GRAPHICS
Moving inside, the Sportback follows three-door models in offering the MMI operating system with its automatic 'pop out' 5.8-inch colour screen as standard. Buyers can also opt for the fancier 7-inch version with the MMI navigation plus, which also includes 60 GB of storage space, whole-word voice control and 3D graphics.
If we're talking features that you don't have to pay more for, the base 'S' models come with the Audi MMI audio system, LED interior lighting package, multifunction steering wheel, auto headlights and wipers, driver information system, Bluetooth with voice control and audio streaming as well as 16-inch alloys.
The SE model kits you out with 17-inch rims, sports suspension, aluminium exterior package, sports seats and dual-zone climate control.
Over and above that, the quattro all-wheel drive Sportback adds five-arm 17" alloys, alcantara/leather seat trim, Audi Music Interface and 'aluminium look' interior pack.
Regardless of the grade, buying the A3 that’ll keep the whole family happy comes at a R7500 premium over the equivalent three-door versions.
THE BILL
1.2T FSI manual S - R283 000*
1.4T FSI manual S - R290 500
1.4T FSI S tronic S - R307 500
1.6 TDI S tronic S - R319 500
1.8T FSI manual SE - R322 000
1.8T FSI S tronic SE - R339 000*
1.8T FSI quattro S tronic - R370 000*
*Available in August 2013