With the all-new A4-type styling, the refurbished Audi A3 is more enigmatic, fuel efficient and dynamic. The German luxury carmaker has launched the restyled Audi A3 at an economical price point of Rs. 30.5 lakh for the petrol version (35 TFSI), whereas the diesel sibling (35 TDI) costs Rs. 32.30 lakh, both ex-showroom, Delhi prices.
This can be termed as the mid-term update of the sedan, which draws its existence from the 3rd generation A3 hatchback, which is not available in India. It is better to call this update the first-of-its-kind in the A3 portfolio as the earlier generations of A3 hatchback do not offer sedans based on them. For your information, Audi A3 is the 5th launch by the company this year in India and is available in India in 2 variants – Premium Plus and Technology. Let’s check out their prices as well for both the engine monikers:
| Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | ||
| Variant | Petrol | Diesel |
| A3 Premium Plus | Rs. 32.3 lakh | Rs. 30.5 lakh |
| A3 Technology | Rs. 35.8 lakh | Rs. 34.25 lakh |
Source:audiLast year, Audi celebrated the 20th birthday of the A3 lineup, which till yet the company has been able to sold more than 4 million units. The A3 sedan made its first public appearance as a concept vehicle at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show and in India it made its debut in the year 2014. Since then, the car has been one of the favorites of many car enthusiasts for its affordable range and premium features. Recently, in the month of February, 2017, the company also released the updated A3 cabriolet in India.
In terms of engine specs, the 2017 A3 sedan has adapted the style of the 2017 A4 along with the newly added turbocharged petrol engine, which is downsized when it comes to power but is now the most fuel efficient among its rivals. The 1.4-litre TFSI turbocharged engine synced with a 7-speed S-TRONIC automatic tranny delivers a maximum power of 150PS (decrease by 30PS) along with 250Nm of peak torque. To increase the fuel efficiency of the engine, it comes with cylinder-on-demand technology that automatically puts off two of the cylinders when not in use.
This has resulted in boosting the total fuel efficiency by up to 3Kmpl, bringing the magical figure of 19.2Kmpl..
Source:CardekhoThe diesel variant, on the other hand, comes with a 2.0-litre TDI engine that is mated to a 6-speed DSG automatic gearbox churning out a maximum power and torque of 143PS and 320Nm, respectively.
From the outside, the facelift A3 has received some cosmetic changes which include a sharper LED DRLs, new optional LED headlights as the standard version still comes with Bi-xenon ones, and a larger hexagonal front grille. The front bumper too has went under the knife and is now loaded with larger air inlets, some prominent bonnet lines and 2 chrome trim pieces that are small in size. At the rear, the bumper and taillights have been updated with new and refreshing LED lighting pattern. Also, Audi has added 16-inch alloy wheels to add more aggressive look to the vehicle.
Source:CardekhoStep inside, and you will not find many changes expect some minor tweaks which include a new 3-spoke steering wheel, new infotainment system with Audi’s MMI unit, navigation and reverse camera and Audi phone box. Sad enough, the company didn’t add the much needed Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and the start-stop button, which is a big miss.
The 2017 Audi A3 sedan will face direct competition from the Mercedes-Benz CLA. Apart from this, other rivals of the A3 as per the price band it falls in include Volvo V40, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series.
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