Audi A3 S-Line Range Car Review

Small Car with Big Options for Extras

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This Audi’s entry-level gives you a big car feel, and is more of an options pack that makes the A3 look meaner from most of the angles that matter. It got all the options for the extras that buyers of selected A3 models can add on to give a more visual dynamic look.

What’s cool about the car is the S Line is now offered with all the latest, facelifted three-door and Sportback models in the A3 range but not with the entry-level petrol and diesel engine options. In the past, the availability was previously limited to cars with quattro four-wheel-drive and/or the ground-breaking S Tronic direct shift gearbox, now almost everyone can get in on the act. The only proviso is that you must order your car with the Sport trim level before you can upgrade to S-Line.

The current, facelifted model has 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.

Car prices range between £18,500 – £26,000. The cheapest S-Line you’ll be able to lay your hands on is the 3-door 1.6-litre petrol model at around £18,500 while the five-door Sportback cost around £19,000. Buyers with the means can opt for the 200PS 2.0 TFSI models. These start at around £23,000 but there is a 160PS 1.8-litre TFSI unit starting at around £20,000. The 2.0-litre quattro with the 6-speed S tronic box costs from around £26,000.

The highlight for the basic S-Line kit is mainly felt on the inside of the car. The Audi has a gracious leather covering - three-spoke perforated leather steering wheel, a perforated leather gearknob and sports seats with suitably plush in full Vienna leather.

It even has an illuminated vanity mirrors for A3 buyers who need to check on their elaborate fly-away hairstyles.

Buyers also benefit from touches of brushed aluminium dotted around the cabin and black headlining adding to the moody interior ambiance.

All of this comes on top of what’s offered in Sport trim, namely electronic climate control, a Concert II CD stereo and, perhaps most saliently, sports suspension.

The S-Line models get an upgraded external appearance with a set of 18" ‘5 arm’ alloy wheels and S-Line badging tastefully positioned around the car as well as the fog lights and side sills that come with the Sport. There’s also a spoiler mounted on the roof at the back, an S-Line radiator grille and deeper, more aggressive-looking bumpers front and rear.

The Audi A3 S-Line 2-0 litre TSFI manual can reach the 62mph barrier in 7s but you’ll still be measly two tenths of a second behind the S Tronic version. That’s straight-line performance which puts both these A3 S-Line models firmly in the ballpark populated by top hot hatchbacks.

The 1.4 TFSI and the 2.0-litre TDi 140 engine are the value for money choices and the more powerful TDI 170 is a good all-rounder but the 1.8T, 2.0T and 2.0-litre quattro versions are sportier in feel and that will be the bottom line for many.