Audi A3 Sportback 35 TFSI: Premium in a Compact Package
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