Audi A3 Sedan 1.5 Facelift Review

Some consideration of the local premium compact market is necessary before we dive into the merits and failings of the Audi A3 Sedan you see above, because the segment is about to get unusually competitive.

Just recently updated, this Audi A3 arrives on our shores at a time when it must compete against a new generation of the BMW 1 Series hatchback. And adding more trouble into the viability of this A3 is the fact that Bavarian brand will imminently follow this up with the introduction of the new 2 Series Gran Coupe here.

The Audi A3 now comes with three different daytime running light signatures, all selectable via the car's MMI infotainment system

Consider also the fact that updated iterations of non-premium options that share the MQB Evo platform of the Audi A3, such as the Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia, have also only recently arrived here. And, as if all this is not enough, there's also a stunning new Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class now waiting on the horizon - just recently revealed, the all new compact four-door coupe is set to arrive on our shores later this year.

All these options, granted, don't match the three-box sedan body style of this Audi A3 but should still be able to offer the combination of reasonable running costs and the easiness of drive that comes with their petite exterior dimensions - points that those shopping in the segment hold dear.

So, just what are you getting if you do pick this A3 Sedan?

A redesigned rear bumper gives the Audi A3 Sedan a more aggressive and planted stance when viewed from the rear

Cosmetic upgrades

If good looks are a requisite from your premium compact model, consider the Audi A3 just about enough to keep up.

Upgrades here from the previous iteration of the car that you're most likely to spot include the redesigned grille, rear bumper, as well as new head lights and taillights. The new grille mesh pattern and swollen rear bumper in particular, make this A3 more visually planted and aggressive than before - although I'm not too sure if the large openings on said grille are quite appropriate for this car's demure power output.

Also new is the fact that those head lights now come with tweaked LED elements, so owners now can choose between three different daytime running light signatures. Neither of which strike as particularly appealing, while the grid of 24 LED elements that make this possible does not come across as equally sleek a solution compared to a singular LED strip.

The contour ambient lighting system has been expanded so the centre console and cupholders are now also highlighted by the system

An excellent cabin

It's a good thing then, that the interior of the A3 is still as excellent as before.

New here are the gear selector and the addition of contour lighting around the centre console and the cup holder openings. And for just $297 extra, the car's MMI infotainment system also now offers access to Audi's own app store, which is said to be complete with apps that will offer access to news and podcasts and facilitate access to games and play videos (this option was not added on our test car).

Look everywhere else in the cabin and you'll find build quality hard to beat. The combination of gloss black and matte surfaces, accented by lashings of silver, just makes the interior of the A3 one classy affair. And the dashboard, with the six-sided air-conditioning vents on either side of the cowl of the instrument cluster and its appealing geometric design, does well to mask the car's age - a testament to how futuristic its design was when we first saw it all those years back.

The 1.5-litre engine is largely smooth and quiet, as long as you don't push it hard

A capable drive

Depress that engine start button and set off for the open road and the A3 continues to please.

A new 1.5-litre engine now sits under that bonnet, pushing out a total of 114bhp and 220Nm of torque in lieu of the 109bhp 1.0-litre engine from before. And it's a capable number that pulls strongly until the very end of its rev range, where it only then also starts to produce some unpleasant vocals.

Keep to a more reasonable pace and it will reward and delight in equal measure. You won't notice the drivetrain switching over to (or out of) its 'sailing' mode to save fuel when you're on the highway, and gear changes are always delivered in slick fashion.

Expect nothing short of a ride that errs on the side of firmness while still being remarkably settled over broken surfaces, a remarkable achievement given that this car makes use of what is commonly considered to be an inferior torsion beam suspension setup at the rear.

Shopping for a premium product in the compact segment? This Audi A3 is thoroughly capable, but plenty of newer options also lie just around the corner

But should you wait?

So, is this Audi A3 the car to get in the segment? If all these merits and what you see in the photos appeal to you, you can walk into Audi's new House of Progress and take heart in knowing that you're securing one well-improved iteration of what already was a great car

But if after reading all this you still have your reservations, I must advise you wait just a little longer. We'll only be able to get out hands on the new 1 Series hatchback in the coming weeks, but what we already have seen from a quick stint in Germany has informed us that it should be one capable compact. And if you must have a boot at the rear, know that we don't expect the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe to be too far off this mark either. You'll want to catch our verdict on both of these cars before moving forward.

The coming months are going to get very interesting for the segment.

Or maybe you're looking for a premium compact crossover instead? Don't miss these reviews:

The BMW X1 offers both distinctive design and is easy to drive

There's also the Audi Q3 Sportback, with its efficient engine and refined drivetrain

Don't forget to about the Mercedes-Benz GLA, with its handsome exterior and smart cabin