At high triple-digit speeds the A3 feels planted and charges ahead with gusto. Sweeping bends are also taken care of without drama. Even at 140 km/h on a bend you don’t feel nervous in this sporty compact sedan. Brake hard and you will be able to finely judge whether the ABS will kick in, for there is ample feel from the central brake pedal, not to mention a progressive confidence-inspiring action as well. It’s also a very nimble car as we found out when we drove up a really narrow twisty mountainous road up to the erstwhile Maharana’s monsoon palace, called Sajjangarh. Taut handling and crisp feedback-rich steering response means that a slow drive up transforms into a smile-inducing quick one.
It is also on these secondary roads where surfacing is frequently patchy with the occasional pothole where you truly begin to appreciate the A3’s ride quality. The suspension set-up treads the delicate balance between good handling and a pliant ride quality; neither too soft, soggy nor too stiff. This Audi rumbles over the patchy surfaces without allowing the shocks to distract you from the fun and it’s only the largest of potholes or highest bumps that catch the A3 out. Dips on the highway also are well damped and further reduce chances of hair-raising moments when the smooth stretch of asphalt ahead suddenly dips into a deepish trough when you’re at full clip.
At the end of a day of driving it was easy to come to a verdict. There is precious little not to like about the new Audi A3. It looks good in a classy sporty fashion that is not overtly blingy. There are enough comfort features by way of Bluetooth telephony, an accurate sat-nav, climate control, a pair of 12V sockets (one up front and one at the rear), panoramic sunroof and more. It drives well enough to induce grins while keeping things sufficiently comfortable for the less enthusiastic members of the family. The only flip side is diminished rear space, but then you shouldn’t expect more in a compact sedan. So as far as the A3 package goes, I’d have to say round one goes to Audi, even if this is a one-make race at the moment.
