Audi A3: buy or finance?

There A3 Sportback is one of Audi’s most famous cars. So much so that with the fourth generation, presented in April 2020, the German company has decided to expand the range, which now includes diesel, gasoline, hybrid and methane engines. The A3 is offered in four trim levels with many customization possibilities and engines ranging from 110 to 400 HP. The A3 is the first C-segment Audi in history, with the exception of the less successful P-type of 1931, and was born in 1996 initially using the platform of the later Golf IV and later the platforms of later C-segment cars. group.

The latest generation of the Audi A3 is being developed platform MQB extension, similar to the Volkswagen Golf, Seat Leon and Skoda Octavia, and is 3 cm wider (182 cm) and longer (434 cm) than the previous version, while the wheelbase (264 cm) and length (143 cm) have not changed. Boot capacity ranges from 380 liters to 1,200 liters, which drops to 280-1,100 liters in the methane variant. The new A3 is also offered in a Sedan version, which has the same front fascia as the Sportback. The current sedan, compared to the previous one, is 4 cm longer (4.50 meters), 2 cm wider (1.82 meters) and 1 cm higher (1.43 meters).

Novelty out

The appearance of the A3 Sportback marks a departure from the past, thanks to the open and muscular shapes. The large central grille takes up almost the entire grille, leaving only space for led lights (laser-guided matrix on request) and two attractive air intakes with a satin finish.

The main novelty is on the side, with a set of concave and convex surfaces that from the wheel arches to the door give the car great strength. On the back side, on the other hand, along with the LED lights, we find large air vents at the ends of the bumper that give the A3 sportiness and sharpness.

And also in the cockpit

The interior is more stylishly refined than the previous generation, thanks to high-quality materials. A 10.25-inch digital screen stands in front of the driver, while a 10.1-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system is located in the center of the dashboard. MMI touch. News also for the automatic gearbox, with the standard lever being replaced by a small selector thanks to the transmission of the shift by wire. Among the driving assistance and safety systems, we find lane keeping and adaptive Cruise Control, also with start-stop functionality on models with automatic transmission.

Engine

As mentioned, the new A3 Sportback has a variety of engines: gasoline, diesel, hybrid gasoline and methane. The availability of various types of gasoline engines is the propeller 30 TFSI, 110 bhp 1.0-liter 3-cylinder; for those who want something more there is 35 TFSI, 1.5-liter 4-cylinder 150 HP. The most powerful petrol engine is 40 TFSI quattro S tronic, 4-cylinder 2.0-liter 190 HP with drive-wheel and automatic gearbox, which reaches a maximum speed of 241 km / h. Sports enthusiasts can choose S3 powered by a 310 bhp 2.0 four-cylinder.

Audi offers three diesel engine options: 30 TDI, 35 TDI and 40 TDI, all with a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder, producing 116PS, 150PS and 200PS respectively. The TDI 40 version reaches 243 km/h and runs from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. The TFSI 30 and 35 TFSI are both available in a mild hybrid version with a 48 V system and a standard seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission with the same power output. Natural gas is also available, along with a 30 g-tron version and a standard 7-speed S automatic transmission, based on the 131 bhp 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol unit.

A3 Sportback diesel version 2.0 35 TDI S for 43,100 euros

Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 35 TDI with S tronic gearbox in the S line version has a price list. 43,100 euros and it has extras like full LED lights, 18 rims, sports suspension, parking assist, MMi plus navigator, cockpit and driving modes.

Thanks to Audi Value, the personalized financing of the German company, it is possible to buy a car with an upfront payment of 12,930 euros and later pay 35 monthly installments of 518 euros (TAN 11.99%, APR 13.52%). At the end there is a maximum installment of 21,365.53 euros and, if the car is returned, 0.07 euros must be paid for every kilometer over the limit of 45,000 kilometers. The monthly payment includes an extended warranty for a total of three years or 60,000 km and a premium maintenance service for the first two years or 30,000 km.