SECTOR Lower medium PRICE €22,500–€33,550 FUEL 3.8-6.6l/100km CO2 99-152g/km

Audi may have a reputation for cutting-edge car styling, but it really wouldn’t have been too hard to predict how the latest A3 would look. It’s by no means an ugly or bland-looking car, but more of a subtle update to the familiar lower-medium model than a complete rethink on the original concept.

There’s no reason to change what’s become a winning formula. Audi was the first to launch a car into the premium C-segment back in 1996. It’s become a crowded and closely fought segment, with BMW and Lexus muscling in and now Mercedes-Benz and Volvo trying to steal a little of the limelight away from Audi’s LED-emblazoned hatch.

So, visually at least, Audi has played it safe. The silhouette is almost unchanged, gaining A6-like lamp units front and rear to bring it up to date, and the revolutionary technology is hidden underneath.A3 is the first car to get the new Volkswagen Group MQB platform, the Modular Transverse Matrix. This allows complicated components to be standardised across the group’s brand portfolio and numerous model sizes. It not only cuts development costs, but also allows for hybrid and fully electric drivetrains to be fitted without major modifications.

MQB also means Audi can launch two very different A3s. The five-door Sportback will be longer than the three-door model, offering extra rear legroom for the cars most likely to have back seat passengers.New A3 launched with a single engine, the ubiquitous 2.0-litre TDI with power increased to 150hp and, more importantly, CO2 emissions of 106g/km with fuel economy of 4.1l/100km. Petrol engines with 122 and 180bhp arrived in September, but weren’t available to test, while the 1.6 TDI and 1.4 TSI with cylinder shut-off will complete the range early in 2013. The small diesel still emits 99g/km, but can now do so even fitted with the large wheels of the range-topping S line.

Buyers will initially be offered three trim levels, topped by the S line in each market. Each gets progressively larger wheels and firmer, lower suspension among its upgrades, but this time with the option to fit the softest setup in each version – a muted admission that the sportier A3s of old were as jarring on poor surfaces as owners alleged.

Standard suspension is more than adequate for even the most aggressive drivers, though. It’s a perfect balance of being able to ride impeccably over rutted roads, but without uncontrolled body roll when cornering. Sizing up to the larger wheels and lower ride height doesn’t ruin the ride quality completely, but the slight loss of comfort doesn’t come with the handling benefits to make it worthwhile.

The 2.0 TDI is fantastic in either, though. Smooth and refined enough to be mistaken for a petrol from inside the cabin, it’s flexible enough to be driven a gear higher than normal, barely labouring even when rumbling along at just over idle. Even when taking advantage of its ever-eager throttle response, it’s also effortlessly efficient.

Inside, the A3 retains the circular air vents of its predecessor, but introduces new technology such as the handwriting recognition function for entering addresses and contact details, as debuted on the A6, neatly incorporated into the MMI system’s navigation wheel. Quality is, as expected, very high throughout.

There are no real shocks to be found here, instead the new model caters perfectly for existing owners looking to upgrade and holds its own in a keenly-fought segment.

Verdict

New A3 updates rather than reinvents, but new technology and the option of a comfortable, low-carbon sporty-looking trim will please user-choosers.