Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Car Review

FSI Engine Cars

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Audi’s latest A3 looks particularly tempting with the innovative 1.8-Litre TFSI petrol engine.

Of the current, facelifted range of cars, perhaps the most fascinating is the £18,170 1.8-litre TFSI-engined version. It is an enjoyable car to drive, offers respectable performance and a willing feel, and the highlight of this car is the Fuel Stratified Injection (or FSI) engine.

How does FSI work? A high-pressure fuel line mounted on the side of the cylinder head, often dubbed the ‘common rail’, injects fuel straight into the combustion chamber. The shape of the pistons and the clever working of a set of valves make the air ‘tumble’, thus creating more efficient combustion.

When the throttle is pressed wide open, the engine reverts to a more conventional ‘homogenous’ method of filling the combustion chamber with fuel and air. The ‘tumble’ effect and the synchronisation of air and fuel along with the careful metering of the high-pressure injection system all combine to offer more power and a cleaner engine. When you’re dawdling you get great economy and when you want to drop the hammer you’ve got more power.

Clothe that engine in the latest A3 body and you should emerge with a class act. Longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, here is a car that punts the A3 back into pole position as the item of choice for the discerning young professional. The most obvious change is the increase in wheelbase. The styling is largely evolutionary, remaining obviously an A3 with the Audi trademark ‘single frame’ grille now featuring, only looking a little stretched. The additional 65mm in wheelbase has rectified one of the old A3’s faults, namely that rear seat accommodation was a bit pinched. The extra 30mm of width also helps a little with shoulder room. If you need more room, there’s a Sportback 5-door version with another 68mm of wheelbase in addition.

The latest, facelifted model has seen some changes to the car’s styling. The front wings and the grille are a little shapelier, the headlights are sharper-looking and the side repeaters are now incorporated into the door mirrors

This 158bhp engine will prod the A3 1.8-litre TFSI through 60mph in 7.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 138mph, the acceleration helped by a quick-witted manual gearbox. The torque plateau ranges right from 1,500 to a heady 4,200rpm so you won’t need to trouble the gearbox in the same way as you would a turbodiesel. A combined fuel economy figure that nudges 42.2mpg seems scarcely credible given the performance on offer. If you want more power, there’s also a 197bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre TFSI on offer. Acceleration here is 0-60mph in 7.0s but fuel consumption slips to 39.2mpg.

The Audi A3 is a very desirable package. The Audi powerplant won the Engine of the Year award in 2005 and 2006. This smaller engine could even be the more cerebral purchase. Small car & powerful engine best depicts the car.