Audi A3 Sportback 2004 test drive - 2008 hatchback

All photos Audi A3 Sportback 2004 - 2008

"A" or "B"?

BMW 120i, Audi A3 Sportback test
BMW 120i

The first BMW compact class debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 2004. Body 5-door hatchback.
Engines: gasoline 1.62.0 l (115150 hp) and turbodiesella 2.0 l (122
163 l. With.). The latter are not yet supplied to Russia.
Gearboxes: mechanical 5- or 6-speed and 6-speed automatic. The rear drive.
Summary: basic + options.
Price in Russia: є22900 29 900 ($ 30,000 39,000).

Audi A3 Sportback

Model with a body
The 5-door hatchback was first shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2004.
Engines: gasoline 1,63,2 l (102250 hp) and turbodiesel 1,92.0 TDI (105140 h.).
Gearboxes: mechanical 5- or 6-speed (including sports DSG) and a 6-speed machine. Front or complete drive.
Complete: Attrabition, Ambition, Ambiente.
Price in Russia: $ 29 350 61 000.

Ah, handsome! What an assertive style, aggressive lines of the body. And Schildik 120i is the same one with a two -liter engine. And like an echo from behind the backs closer: look, look, this is the new BMW. Yes, they love this brand in Russia.
To Audi A3 Sports, attention is not so close, despite the bright winning color. It is understandable, because in this class A3 is not a beginner for a long time. We must take a closer look, go around and only then sounds: it is not just a threek! Look, there are five doors instead of three, and the car looks different: proportions, headlights, radiator grille have changed. A light of curiosity flares up in the eyes, because the emblem with four rings is a pass into the circle of the elect.

In general, in size and purpose, our couple is a typical golf class, and the content is just an elite. And the point here is not only like a ranking two -liter engines, six -speed automatic boxes or a separate climate. Today, mod lawmakers are proud of the intellectual potential of their products. Not only motors, transmission or suspensions become smart, but also the reaction of the machine to the driver’s actions, its understanding with the driver and the environment. The result is all new systems of active security. Dynamic stability control, differential electronic blocking, control over braking, acceleration, etc. The content of concepts is the best, worst is now determined by electronics, which make its own adjustments.

Seditious thoughts
In a gloomy snowdrift, the outlines of Bavarz are hardly guessing. We will get acquainted while he warms up. The turn signals blinked affably, the door was hospitably opened, and I ended up in the anthracite twilight of the cabin. The keyhole key clicked gently, entering a special slot: now press the large start/stop button on the front panel. The car is filled with live sounds: they say, I'm ready.

But I am not yet. You need to get used to the playful shape of external mirrors and guess the dimensions, casting a glance at the disproportionately small window of the rear door, framed by heavy racks. What is this, a tribute to style or care for passive safety? It is she who largely determines certain decisions. Small side windows, a wide middle stand, noticeably interfering with the entrance and exit, especially in winter clothes. On the one hand, it strains, on the other hand, you understand: inside the cockpit is well protected.
Otherwise, BMW is like BMW, may fans of the brand forgive me for the sedition. A grip, convenient steering wheel, perfectly verified profile and adjustment of seats, a compact and at the same time informative combination of devices. Touching the governing organs, you just feel that it is warming in the cabin, everything is so thoughtful and individually. Only electronic, without fixation, steering wheel switches fall out of the general idyll. Alas, this is the fashion.
What is the back seat? I myself, of course, sit down behind myself, however, stuck in my knees in the back. But the entrance-output is torture, after passing which you no longer want to be a passenger

And how is the opponent trump? Audi is as if it is springy in the expression of its own self. I take the door handle: it was already opened, it suddenly abruptly clicks back. Yes, the latch is here! A little more powerful spring and would definitely fly into a car, a newly elastic door.
The arms of a purely sports seat are more dense here. Here you will not get relaxed and impressive, and the competitor allowed this. At the same time, the driver’s landing itself is higher, and getting on the seat is easier than the middle stand of the body is somewhat more elegant.
Looking around, I catch myself on the fact that the differences in ideology are generally insignificant. Of course, the style is somewhat different. Audi has more powerful tunnel, separating the driver and passenger, the front panel and separate toggle switches are combined in a different way. However, the community of the approach is obvious. That someone could not say, but the gaze clings to the floor gas pedal, small openings of the side and rear windows. Perhaps here in the design of the interior is a little more than sports aggression.
But the back seat of the sportsback is much more human. It’s more convenient to enter here, and the knees do not rest against the back of the one in front. I was convinced that the common with golf v platform provides for a loyal attitude to passengers.

Tested by electronics
The first jerk of one from a traffic light fills the soul with glee. A powerful flexible engine, fast and at the same time soft automatic on switching. This tandem shoots a car with a cannon acceleration, at the same time allowing to drag in traffic jams with a turtle speed. While everything suits me: hard, dense pendants, instant responses to the actions of the steering wheel. And the sound! This is just a song. Even the intervention of electronic assistants does not look annoying. But ahead of the kingdom of ice and snow, and on the way the impressions are changing.

An attempt to overtake on the rowing-shout: under the wheels, porridge of snow and sand. Gas, no, is not on the floor, about 3/4 strokes and before that the adhesive yellow symbol of DTS (Dynamic Traction Control, in essence, the stabilization system) seems to be not out of indignation, because the road is slippery! And we hover in the oncoming lane, without gaining speed. Moments after the engine nevertheless begins to smoothly increase the momentum, each time lingering on a safe step in terms of slipping. Alas, I give up ahead of the oncoming car before.
But what if the strong -willed click on the toggle switch is still disconnected by DTS? The second attempt gives rise to an active slip of the drive wheels (which means that it was still in vain that BMW slowed down during acceleration), but the terminal deviations tightly suppresses the electronics. Interesting such sensations when the car makes it possible to feel the beginning of a sliding, and then, under the characteristic sounds, ABS returns from heaven to earth, do not indulge.

No, after all, I will hold the treasured toggle switch pressed longer, thereby turning off all the controlling electronics. So far, Bavarz has such a function. Immediately the released 150 horses honest begin to show character and BMW turns into a clot of energy, which is not so easy to control in the snow.
I have not experimented with the rear -wheel drive for a long time! I wanted to go through this turn with a small skid, but the abidient horse wandered the stern, just have time to wind the steering wheel. I enraged to practice on a free platform. The turn, the other, the third finally, the forgotten skills appeared. The machine gun selector in manual mode, this shell can not be held otherwise. And still something is a little wrong. A little twisted the engine, the machine spontaneously switched higher. As a result, the error is again, and the one leaves the given path.
The landfill is also restless. A little distracted, accelerated to indecent, by winter standards, 140150 km/h, and again the car willed badly, recalling the disconnected electronics. No, stop returning everything to my circles. Let less emotionally, but safe. Still, it was not for nothing that BMW engineers set up these wisdom.
Although, if we recall their creations about a year ago, because then on cars it was possible to do this! Alas, times are changing. And now what causes a storm of emotions on the asphalt, suddenly becomes either very boring or difficult to perform in the snow.

I will not hide, after Bavarz, Sportbek does not cause strong emotions at first. Despite the well-thought-out ergonomics and vivid seducial opportunities, you constantly catch yourself thinking something wrong. No, not that bad, but imperfect.
Here you take up the microclimate control handle: it is frankly inferior to BMW steeps. As you do not like the rattling sound of the motor or the automatic control algorithm: at first you all the time fall into the Sport position instead of Drive. Of course, it is worth sitting behind the steering wheel for 1520 minutes, and you will get used to a lot, and the smart machine is adapted, but nevertheless.
Gradually, the character of Audi acquires more and more interesting shades. In sports mode, the engine began to hold the reduced gears longer and the car turned into a tenacious, aggressive creature that does not tolerate competitors. His reactions to the steering wheel are slightly calmer, the suspensions are a little more comfortable, but the feeling of a car and honed responses allow you to enjoy control.

And the more snow on the road, the more expressive the behavior of A3. He, in general, has a similar set of active security systems, but in the front-wheel drive machine all this acts in other algorithms. When accelerating, the stabilizing device (here the ESP exchange system is called the ESP) allows you to use the accelerator much more freely, allowing the active slipping of the drive wheels. It is not so zealously besieging the car, and you are gradually liberating. If I wanted to intervene on BMW all the time, then I keep the gas here and calmly wait until the car adjusts the degree of slippers, easily and at ease, having completed the begun. Great!
But itching in the soul: what if? And then the yellow symbol lights up on the electronics dashboard with a bright dot. The slipper has become much more noticeable, but still, I sincerely accelerated on the dynamometric road of the landfill, I easily bring the speedometer arrow to 200. And nothing provocative: you can smoke, looking at the surroundings.
The behavior of the machine in turns, of course, is not so exciting and spectacular. However, minor mistakes are easier, and it is easier to control it. In general, on a slippery road, priorities change very noticeably.
A long -standing dialogue with the engineers, either BMW, or Mercedes, surfaced in memory. They argued that, remaining adherents of the advantages of the rear -wheel drive, they would be able to defeat its shortcomings. So: they managed, undoubtedly. But the evolution of front -wheel drive cars was also not interrupted. And if in our specific case the priority for BMW on the asphalt, then on a slippery road Audi A3 Sports is easier, more understandable and much more interesting.

SUMMARY
BMW 120i Driving capabilities, as always, are magnificent. An excellent means of expression, but not on a slippery road.
+ Excellent ergonomics of the workplace, pronounced sled and acoustic qualities, a very high intellectual level.
- Close up for the rear passengers, there is no reserve.

SUMMARY
Audi A3 Sportback is an excellent tool for fans of fast driving, if desired, easily turns into a family vehicle.
+ Convenient for the driver and passengers, expressive in its capabilities, adapted to Russian conditions, is well prepared intellectually.
- Moderate acoustic comfort, rigid door fixation.