Audi A3 40 TFSI

Let's get something out of the way the A3 is a really smart looking car. It looks a lot like all the other smart looking Audis, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, I'm told. The cabin is nice, fresh and isn't typically Audi, which is good. The spec isn't mind-blowing, but it doesn't lack for anything either. Bluetooth, a reasonable audio system, parking sensors and a massive sunroof are part of the list. The car also handles really well and doesn't understeer as much as some of the other Audis we've driven of late. The ride is a bit stiff, but it's not unbearable. Finally, being an Audi, safety hasn't been skimped on either.  Good looks, reasonable  space,  sufficient  kit, excellent handling and some of the best safety tech available that about rounds up the A3 in a few words. Now that that's out of the way, we can get to the juicy bit the motor.

The car you're looking at is the Audi 40 TFSI. It uses a 4000cc, turbocharged V8 petrol engine. Oh wait, it doesn't. Audi has thrown out its regular naming system and replaced it with names that are just a couple of numbers and alphabets thrown together. So the 40 TFSI is actually a 1.8-litre, turbocharged, inline four petrol motor but that is where the disappointment ends. The little motor, which has been seen in different clothes in different cars for a while now, makes 180 bhp and 25.5 kgm of torque. In combination with that 7-speed S-tronic gearbox, the A3 can hit 100 kph in 7.7 seconds. This is plenty quick, if you're wondering, and way quicker than the two other petrol powered Germans that are at the lower end of their respective families (they are also hatchbacks, in case you're wondering). If you can keep your right foot planted, the car will hit well over 200 kph. Another wonderful thing about this engine is its power band. It's not really a band, because it's too wide to be called a band. The motor makes its peak torque from 1250-5000 rpm, so there's always torque on tap.

The only problem I had with the car is that it was a little hesitant to start moving from standstill. It's very smooth to drive in heavy traffic, but when you want to do a Fast and the Furious from a traffic light, the action takes a while to begin. Once you do start to pull away, the shifts are super quick and the car accelerates smoothly, without the power ever tapering off. Do watch out for torque steer, though.

POWERTRAIN
Displacement:1798cc, i-4, turbocharged
Max power: 180 bhp at 5100-6200 rpm
Max torque: 25.5 kgm at 1250-5000 rpm
Transmission:7-speed auto

STEERING
Type: Rack and pinion with EPS
Turning radius: NA

SUSPENSION
Front: McPherson struts
Rear: Four-link type

BRAKES
F/R: Solid discs

TYRES
225/45 R17

DIMENSIONS
L/W/H (mm): 4456/1796/1416
Wheelbase: 2637 mm
Kerb weight: 1295 kg

PERFORMANCE
0-60 kph: 3.6 secs
0-100 kph:7.7 secs
80-120 kph: 4.9 secs
Top speed:220 kph (achieved)