Diesel still convinces!: 2024 Audi A3 35 TDI facelift in first driving report – News – VAU-MAX

Audi is redesigning its A3 and no one is noticing. But a small retouch makes the Ingolstadt compact class model a little better. Not surprising at all: one of the most interesting engines remains the diesel. Those were the days when Audi also named its diesel versions after the corresponding combustion chamber. But little can be concluded from the current nomenclature of the A3 35 TDI. It appears to be a diesel engine with front-wheel drive because the signature Quattro is missing. But a 4×4 version will follow in the coming months. And so you can save yourself the combination of numbers on the boot lid, because unfortunately the stylish A3 is currently only available with diesel.

110 kW / 150 hp fits well, but for a model of the compact class with high charging requirements it might be another version in the league of 200 hp. Apart from the sports version of the Audi S3, which has been boosted to 333 hp, the car portfolio is narrower than before, at least at the time of the market launch. After the facelift, the petrol engine is also only available with 110 kW / 150 hp – looking at direct competition from BMW or Mercedes becomes painful. The portfolio is fuller here and Audi promises to add more before the summer holidays. For autumn soon there should not be more powerful petrol engines, but later also more versions of all-wheel drive and the five-cylinder power pack of the RS3.

Visually, the facelift hasn’t changed anything worth mentioning. Minor modifications to the headlights and radiator grille are only noticed by experts. It is more difficult at the rear, where the new bumper and diffuser do not bring any major differences to the previous version. If you want more contrast, you can choose the Audi A3 Allstreet for the first time, which not only gives three centimeters more ground clearance, but also looks like a city street with sills, impact protection strips and a hint of underbody protection. run away . If you want more than an optical combination, you should wait for the future versions of the Quattro.

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A series of pictures | New “Allstreet” parallel to the sedan and Sportback: Pictures of the facelift for the 2025 Audi A3 range

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However, many customers are likely to choose more than the pleasant overall package of the Audi A3 and here the TDI 35 with 110 kW / 150 hp and a well-tuned seven-speed clutch transmission is a good choice. The Golf Twin looks sad in the low speed range, but the maximum torque of 360 Nm ensures that you can drive very quickly in almost any speed range. From a standstill, it goes to 100 km / h in 8.1 seconds and the maximum speed of 227 km / h turns a painful nose in a large number of electric models, which are sometimes more powerful. On a wet road, the car will even reach its limits in terms of transferring a generous amount of torque to the road – the all-wheel drive version will be perfect; not just for winter.

But front-wheel drive also makes a lot of fun for what should be the base version. Swimming at a speed of 160 km / h on the highway is as easy as a leisurely country trip. At high speeds, the common rail diesel’s thirst increases, but the typical consumption of less than five liters and a tank volume of 50 liters promises a range of 1,000 km until the next stop for refueling. A gasoline engine can’t do that with nearly the same performance in everyday life.

You can save yourself having to reach for the driver program switch because the A3 35 TDI works confidently in comfort mode and the driver program has no influence on the identity of the springs and dampers anyway. Another advantage that makes the small A3 easily suitable as a long-distance model is not only powerful brakes or direct steering, but also a low level of noise even at high speeds. Excellent seats – heated and comfortable – also ensure the right level of comfort on long journeys. It can also be controlled from the rear, although tall people will quickly reach the limit. This applies only to a lesser extent when it comes to luggage space, as 380 litres, which can be expanded to 1,200 liters by folding the rear seat, is fine. It is used and not offered in the compact class: there is an electric tailgate, at least on request.

As before, the interior of the A3 is of high quality and therefore also a reference in the segment. The design is consistently elegant, the operation is simple and the display is razor sharp. The center console with gear selector, start, electric handbrake and radio controls is also familiar from the luxurious Etron GT model. At the front there are USB plugs and a charging cradle for smartphones. Nothing else is possible because touch controls, steering wheel modules and voice commands are also useful. However, no customer can be interested in the fact that daylight lamps can be customized in various applications. The main thing is that there are bright LED modules with matrix function. The slightly revised Audi A3 with a base price of 39,200 euros is looking forward to a successful future – especially as an efficient diesel engine. Stefan Grundhoff; news media

Technical data: Audi A3 35 TDI

Engine: four-cylinder diesel and common rail diesel
Displacement: 1968 cc
Power: 110 kW / 150 HP
Max. Drehmoment: 350 Nm ab 1600 U/min
Top speed: 227 km/h
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h: 8.1 seconds
Driving: forward
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch
Typical consumption: 4.8 – 5.3 liters / 126 – 139 g CO2
Curb weight: 1,485 kg
Loading volume: 380 – 1,200 liters

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