So another day, another MQB car. Or more accurately, two...
The main one though, is an identical to the picture;
2012 Audi A3 SE 1.4 TFSI (122PS)
Actually a RHD one as well! :lol:
So this is a base spec A3. It only has the extras of rear parking sensors and dual zone climate control. Not the usual kind of car I would imagine they sell. Options are expensive, and often added. If you wanted a cheap A3 you'd buy a Golf, right?
Well interestingly I've also been driving a base spec VW Golf 7 S 1.4 TSI (122PS). No optional extras (not even parking sensors this time). The similarities are there.
So anyway the A3. The first thing I noticed was how absolutely nice the interior is. I know; its an Audi, but I think they've been drifting off recently inside, but this is right back on form. Simple, elegant, functional and it doesn't feel cluttered or a mess. The retractable screen means that you can have almost no dashboard at all. Despite the many blanked buttons this one has they don't stand out or appear as if something is missing. The one thing that is missing, and that I didn't actually notice for a while, is the CD player. Its in the glovebox, but once you notice it you really notice how much cleaner things can look without a big straight slot in the middle. Did I miss it all? No. This car's interior is an extraordinarily nice place to be, and very spacious for a small car. Sure there wasn't much space behind my driving position, but give the keys to someone who isn't quite as tall as me and there would be ample room in the back even for me. No concerns even with headroom. And I don't fit in the back of an Insignia...
While this car doesn't have many options, it still has plenty of toys, so kudos to Audi for not forgetting that a base Audi should still be better than other small cars. The four rings don't come cheap, though. This base spec car with a couple of options costs around ?21,000. Whichever way you look at it that's a lot. You can see why most would add on some more options. A ?25-30k car specced through the roof just seems like a better deal than a poverty stricken 21 grand.
My initial concern before driving this was the engine. 122PS doesn't sound like a lot. But if anything this (and the Golf) prove that its not how much power you have, but how it is delivered. And VW/Audi seem to have written the masterclass on this one. No turbo lag, no delay, oodles of torque anywhere you want it (no seriously it happily pulls from 30mph (50kph) in 6th gear...) - again despite a listing of only 200Nm available from 1400rpm and even a nice throaty noise when you get nearer the top, which is where you find the only slight weak spot. On a good run I was sitting comfortably at 50mpg (5.6l/100km); even when not driving carefully I couldn't get it much worse than 30mpg (9.4l). However, I'd rather recommend the newer 140PS 1.4 engine. Cylinder deactivation means it gets better economy, but still has more power and torque (250Nm), which should nicely sort out the top end. Either way this 1.4l 4 pot is amazingly smooth and refined. It saw absolutely no problems on the motorway and overtaking was an absolute breeze.
So the question still stands; this or the Golf? Is it just price? Well no. While the quality of both cars is similar these days, and the engines are...identical, the place you notice the difference is in the handling and the interior. The Golf is undoubtedly the better handling car - noticeably more sporty and direct where the Audi feels more relaxed and cruiser friendly. The interiors reflect this as well; the Golf's being angled in towards the driver and even the base spec cars getting the 'its a sports car, honest' flat-bottomed steering wheel. It also feels less organised and elegant, but still just as refined. The controls for the A3 all sit nicely at your hand while your arm rests on the, uh, armrest, but the Golf is more 'buttons everywhere' type thing. Both on-screen interfaces (touchscreen in the Golf, rotary control on the A3) are incredibly well thought out and easy to use, though. Even Jaguar can't get that right.
The quality in the cabin on this however is amazing. The wind noise is...wait what wind noise? The tyre roar was almost a bit loud because of the lack of any other sound, but its easily forgettable.
So what would I suggest? Well it depends on who you are. If you want a more sporty car, then get a Golf and pay more for the 1.8l engine. If you want something relaxed for motorway miles, then I can't see you needing anything more than an A3 with the 1.4l engine and a few carefully chosen extras. If you have kids, get an Octavia. That even feels bigger and safer to drive.
I'm not a fan of hatchbacks; but this A3 is a car that makes me want one. If there's one thing we can learn from VW's antics; its that spending 60 billions Euros is a good idea, and not just an advantage in manufacturing costs.
Alan Mulally said in an interview (for TWiT? can't remember) that he usually drives pretty much everything except Ford products, because he wants to know the competition.
the 1.4TSI 122hp predecessor with almost identical performance is quite good already.
I prefer the pre-facelift. 
