One of the most serious contenders in the luxury hatch segment is out with a new model, ladies and gents, it’s the new Audi A3.

Right off the bat, two things to mention. Firstly, you are completely spoilt for choice. There is a choice of 6 derivatives for you to spend your cash on, everything from a measly 1.2-litre manual, all the way up to a 2-litre, 135kw Quattro.

From my side, I wouldn’t bother spending the extra cash on the 1.8-Quattro. The 1.4-litre, 90kw manual is actually more fun, and just as responsive. Of course you will need to forego Quattro, but it’s worth the saving which you can put in to extras like Auto Parking at R9 200.

The second thing to mention is the change in styling that the new A3 has. Car makers toss around the word “uncluttered” every time they launch a new car, but seldom is it noticeable. On the interior of the new A3 though, it is.

Firstly they’ve cut the radio/CD player completely out of the dashboard and put it in the glovebox or cubby-hole for the real Saffas. You’ll also find your SD card slot in there, but not your USB and connector cables???? Still can’t fathom why they’ve stuck the latter in the middle console, but there you are.

Further reduction comes in the form of an electric handbrake, and a slide-away screen. The temp and other controls come in the form of “piano keys” on the dashboard. Mercifully they didn’t liken them to aeroplane switches like Mini or BMW would have done.

Aside from the new dashboard layout, which I fully expect to see in future models, there is one other noticeable feature of the new A3 that is worth paying attention to.

The A3 rides like champagne washing down wedding cake. It’s smooth, balanced and predictable, and it’s all thanks to Audi’s new MQB platform, a shared setup that will be seen in use from the A3 all the way up to the TT. Now it might be expected in bigger cars like the A4, but the A3 benefits from this technology immensely, a technology which also means an 80kg reduction in weight.

Available immediately!

Get it: www.audi.co.za
For:
Audi A3 1.2T FSI manual S: R267 000 (available in February 2013)
Audi A3 1.4T FSI manual S: R274 500
Audi A3 1.4T FSI S tronic S: R291 500
Audi A3 1.6 TDI S tronic S: R302 500
Audi A3 1.8T FSI manual SE: R305 000
Audi A3 1.8T FSI S tronic SE: R322 000
Audi A3 1.8T FSI quattro® S tronic: R351 500