Audi A3 is back on top

I DROPPED in to to see my local mechanic friend last week as I wanted his opinion on the Audi A3 Sportback I was testing.

My friend is a VW fanatic and I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised when he said he would prefer the new Golf to the Audi A3.

Both cars are certainly attractive, but somehow I think the third generation Audi A3 Sportback is a bit classier. In Audi-speak, sportback means a five-door version.

The Audi A3, VW Golf and Seat Leon are all built on the same MBQ platform, a platform that can be stretched to suit whatever brand the company is working on. That’s the way it is with most new cars nowadays; it’s all about sharing the technology.

I drove a 2.0 litre diesel version and I found myself showing off a bit during the week, as the A3 had plenty of power if I wanted to overtake on the motorway.

Externally this is typical Audi, classy looking and neat. I have female friends, who love Audis and tell me they would love to buy even a second hand one.

Inside the dash is dominated by a Multi Media Interface or MMI. When you press the media button up pops a tablet-like screen on the dash where you can get various information on radio channels and Sat Nav, if provided.

If you find the MMI obtrusive or a distraction while driving at night, there is another button on the dash which makes the screen disappear again. You will feel like a DJ when driving along. The only thing I wasn’t mad about is the new-style handbrake; it works well, but I always feel safer with the traditional handbake as you can be assured that when you pull up the lever you know that’s it’s definitely

‘on.’

The seats are very comfortable and you should have no difficulty finding a comfortable driving position. The A3 is labelled a small family car, but there is plenty of room for five adults and the boot is a decent size and you also get a

‘mini’ spare wheel. The interior is predominantly black, but there is a grey roof which helps brighten the decor somewhat.

The A3 was recently named Car of the Year at the annual What Car? awards and that’s regarded as a fairly prestigious win. If you are looking for Irish celebrities in an Audi I’m told that RTE’s Kathryn Thomas and Irish rugby international Rob Kearney both drive cars with the famous four rings logo. And did you know that Audi’s four rings logo each represent one of four car companies that banded together to create the company?

Prices start at e26,750 for the three-door 1.2 petrol, the 1.4 five-door will cost you

?¬29,300, while the 2.0 litre diesel, 5-door version I drove is

?¬31,460. Yes a bit more expensive than the Golf, but a bit classier also. And don’t forget that trade-in values for an Audi are always excellent. And coming next month is the S3, a high performance variant of the A3.

In recent years Audi has reorganised their Irish dealer network and now it’s mainly one dealer per county. But there are two dealers in Dublin, in Ballsbridge and North Road, Finglas.