Audi · A3 · 2024
Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI: Premium in a Compact Package
Audi's entry-level hatchback tested in Cape Town — is it worth the premium over Golf 8?
8.1/10Excellent
Power
110kW
Torque
250Nm
0–100km/h
nulls
Top Speed
nullkm/h
Pros
- Virtual Cockpit digital instruments
- Premium interior quality
- Audi brand prestige
Cons
- R649,900 for 110kW is expensive
- Golf 8 GTI offers more for less
- Rear space tight for tall passengers
The Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI presents an interesting dilemma: at R649,900, it costs R120,000 more than a Golf 8 GTI while producing 70kW less. What you get instead is Audi''s Virtual Cockpit, an interior that feels genuinely premium and the four-ring badge that some buyers value over performance metrics. On Cape Town''s roads, the 1.4-litre 110kW engine is entirely adequate; the S tronic DSG keeps it in the right gear.
The Verdict
A genuinely premium compact hatchback for buyers who prioritise interior quality and brand prestige over outright performance. The R649,900 price is hard to justify against the Golf 8 GTI on rational grounds — but rationality isn't the A3's target buyer.
Ratings Breakdown
Exterior Design
0.9
Interior Quality
0.9
Technology
0.9
Comfort & Ride
0.8
Performance
0.7
Safety
0.8
Practicality
0.7
Value for Money
0.7
Overall8.1/10
Starting Price
R0.65M
Engine1.4L
Power110kW (148hp)
Torque250Nm
Transmissiondct
DriveFWD
0–100km/hnulls
Top Speednullkm/h
Fuel Typepetrol
Consumption6.70L/100km