Bucket Seat: Audi RS3 Sportback

Audi's RS stable has a formidable line up with very powerful weaponry in their arsenal, powered by some legendary motors ranging from 5-pots to V8's that deliver enough power to knock the wind out of you on launch. While many do live by the age old Jeremy Clarkson analogy "More Power", sometimes the ones with the lesser power deliver more fun. The latest edition of the Audi RS3 reached our shores earlier this year, still powered by the 5-cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine but now delivers slightly more punch than the launch edition which was first reviewed by us in 2023. Funny enough, the test unit I had back then was in Kyalami Green and this new unit was the same colour. Even though it is the baby of the RS stable, does the RS3 still deliver a thrilling drive like the rest of its companions or does it fall short? Having spent a week with it, here are my thoughts. 

DESIGN

I'm not going to be like the generic influencers by saying "Audi cooked" or "Audi knocked this one out of the park" or anything to that effect but in all honesty, this car looks stunning. I had my reservations of the exact spec I got as I feel the colour deserved a darker colour rim but it grew on me. The way Audi transformed this car from a regular A3 to something so muscular and aggressive, feels like they took a regular A3, filled it up with Red Bull and creatine, sent it to the gym for a weight session and it came out bulked up ready for competition. When you delve deeper into the design, you can see it's not just a body kit they slapped on but paid intricate detail into the aerodynamics and ventilation of the car. Sharpened proportions and a lower in stance, gives the car a more pronounced presence, the car is wider and squared off in areas that not only add character but also serves a purpose in terms of cooling or ventilation. There are some faux details for added visual effects but most of it is functional. Major new styling cues include the new headlights which feature a new matrix LED design that is customisable from the infotainment screen, a new rhombus grille with honeycomb pattern, angular side pods which flow onto the flared wheel arch. The rear features a twin style spoiler and the rear bumper is a thing of beauty with a pronounced difuser that is finished off in black that houses the twin RS performance exhaust pipes and a reflector dead center gives the RS3 that iconic rally style look. Not much significant changes are on the interior, the racing seats receive some new styling and the steering wheel design has changed. 

PERFORMANCE

Now, for a 5-cylinder motor, this one sure is throaty, the vocals are enhanced by those massive performance exhausts, the soft-limiter does fade away once the car has warmed up but the noise in the cabin when going full tilt is just intoxicating. The power which is drawn from the 2.5-litre motor is astounding, with it delivering 294kW and 500Nm of torque. Audi's claimed 0-100km time is 3.8 seconds, my best attempt was 3.9 seconds multiple times, I attribute the extra 0.1 second to my spare tyre I carry around but still, it's mind blowingly fast for such a small car. The on road feel with the various driving modes dependent on your mood add to the versatility of the RS3, if you just want a chilled drive to the shops, Eco mode would do it for you, comfort is for everyday driving that has a chilled mode but the devil within can be woken up at any time. Dynamic mode is where things start to get interesting with the car becoming more vocal and you can feel things start to tension up. Audi have added two performance buttons to the steering wheel cluster for easy access to RS mode and track mode, both of these can be customised in the cars menu settings depending on your driving preference. The Quattro all-wheel drive with RS Torque Splitter distributes power between the front axel and individual wheels on the rear axel as required, it's this function that allows you to drift an all-wheel drive car, having done this on track at the launch was tonnes of fun, unfortunately finding a decent spot to test it out proved to be impossible but I'm glad I got to do it at least once. The balance of the car is just superb and I think this is why I prefer this smaller RS model to its bigger bruts, It's got a tonne of power but its so easy to control, thanks to the Quattro system, it assists to such a great extent that you don't feel like you have to exorcise demons to get it do what you want it to do. 

COMFORT

It's a sports car, that means lowered ride height, stiff suspension, low profile tyres mean a very hard and bumpy on-the-road feel but with the RS3, while it did have all of the above, it was quite comfortable. The racing bucket seats were super comfy and not restrictive even for someone my size. I had 4 full size adults in the car and all of them praised how comfy the car was. Audi packed the RS3 with all the regular creature comforts and more, the car is also laden with the latest tech, as mentioned it has the new designed steering wheel with flat top and bottom that has multi-function controls, the MMI interface gotten an upgrade too with so much going on in the various menus, I didn't dabble too much into that as I usually had my phone projected onto the screen. dual-zone climate control, seat heating for the front seats and a panoramic sunroof were just some of the items worth a mention. Heads-up display, which is optional also helps the driver keep their eyes on the road, the RS configurator on ton the in screen menu lets you calibrate the cars settings for your optimal driving preference. The sporty details of the interior really make the car stand out from the normal A3, a mixture of alcantara and leather make up the materials of the interior with robust but great quality plastics serving the rest. The LED Matrix headlights from Audi just keep getting better and better, these ones have various different patterns for your day-time running lights so you can choose to change it whenever the need arises. The sound system has received a nice upgrade with the RS3 coming with a SONOS 3D sound experience system featuring 15-speakers including subwoofers to give you an ultra-premium sound experience, even though the orchestra from the exhausts sounds great, sometimes you want to kick back with some good tunes. 

VERDICT

While the RS3 is the baby in the Audi RS line-up, it still remains one of the most fun cars to drive, only rivaled by the TTRS which shares the same power-plant. The car is legend in street racing in our paths and this new one is sure to carry on that status with not only the looks but also the power to prove it. Audi have taken an already great car and tweaked to become even better. When I first drove the new gen RS3 on launch I thought they had a winner, this face-lift just goes to show you what German engineering is all about, the strive for perfection never stops and its justified given how much different this car feels that its predecessor. I love how Audi have integrated some of the new design philosophy into this model by including this like the new steering wheel which is in the all-new A5 which just was recently launched and the MMI interface ensuring that customers who are buying this car are getting the best that they have to offer. My time with the RS3 was short but oh was it sweet. 

SPECIFICATION

Engine	2.5L Turbo Petrol
Gear Box	S Tronic
Torque	500Nm
Power	294kW
Top Speed	250km/h electronically limited
Price	R1,498,200

 

Bucket Seat: Golf 8.5 TSI R Line

When Volkswagen South Africa made the decision to not bring any of the entry level models of the Golf 8 into the country, it did come as a surprise. The VW Golf has been a cult classic of the hatchback scene dating from the 80's till present time in the country and while the GTI remains the most popular model, the others did have their space in the market. Looking at sales figures of the Golf 7 and 7.5, it was clear that people still loved the range topping models over the smaller engine ones, so it was maybe on that premise that VWSA made the decision, however with the Golf 8 R model only coming after what felt like decades to reach our shores, the Golf 8.5 was already been mentioned across the motoring forums. I was fortunate enough to spend time with both, the Golf 8 GTI and the Golf 8 R, both brilliantly engineered performance cars and really ushered a new era for the Golf brand but with the prices being quite steep on both, the market cried out for the lower end engines. The Golf 8 did have some teething issues, like the introduction of the haptic touch buttons to the steering wheel and the infotainment screen was quite small compared to what was offered by competitors, much of these complaints were flooding the online social platforms and the guys at VW HQ were taking notes, so when they could launch the face-lift 8.5, these could be addressed. Earlier this year VWSA made an announcement at their Kariega plant that the Golf 8.5 TSI would be making our shores in the second quarter of the year, but then they tuned the tables on us with no word on the GTI and R. Anyway, the Golf 8.5 TSI made it's way into my drive way not too long ago and I got to spend a week with it, here's how it went. 

DESIGN

The design received some tweaks compared to the Golf 8, and with the R Line kit made the overall package look very sleek. In fact, many thought it was a Golf R as I drove past them, the only giveaway would be the lack of "Vrrpha". The LED headlights have gotten much  sleeker and sharpened, on the top of the range IQ Light LED matrix headlights it incorporates a new high-performance main beam with a range of up to 500m. The the front end also looking slimmer than the 8 with the solid light bar that links the two headlights together, the main defining features has to be the Volkswagen logo, which is illuminated for the first time on the Golf. The R-Line kit really brings an aggressive facia up front with a large diffuser and angular air pods on either side of the car. The boldness extends over to the profile of the car with a new range of rims available, this one came fitted with the Leeds alloy rim that has a 5 spoke detail with mixture of black and silver, there is an optional extra upgrade to the York rim but this one looks ace on it. On the inside, much remains the same but the two major talking points see's the return of actual buttons to the steering wheel and the large infotainment screen which I will touch on later in the blog. 

PERFORMANCE

This looks every part of a performance hatch back but it has one of the most frugal engines under the hood, VW's 1.4-litre TSI has been one of the best engines made on the market for a number of years now. Especially in cars like the Golf is where it shines the most, producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, it has some grunt to it off-the-line even though the 0-100km/h time isn't much to write home about at 8.5 seconds, however the car really is a dream to drive. It feels so smooth on the road and effortless on the highways, all this while being efficient on petrol at the same time. In the 7 days with the Golf 8.5 TSI I drove about 1,300km, one trip which was about 840km return, the car managed a respectable 6.3L per 100km, matching that of the brochure, it was the first time I ever managed to get exactly what the OEM said it's average is, in fact I could have gotten lower, but I did quite a bit of over taking of slow trucks and harsh breaking for cattle on the road. I expected a lot in terms of economy from this car but getting close to 900km on a single tank of fuel (50L tank) was not what I was expecting. Colour me impressed!

COMFORT

The Golf 8.5 has all the creature comforts that you would normally expect in a German car, the high-gloss black finishes are nice to look at but do attract dust particles like crazy. The large infotainment screen which measures in at 10.3-inches won't be getting any "tiny" comments from me. The high-definition screen with VW's user friendly UI is easy to use and setting up your mobile apps has never been easier, you can just plug your device in via the USB C port and it will instantly pick up what OS you're running and prompt you on your device if you'd like to cast to the screen and whether you'd like a wired or wireless connection. There is a wireless phone charging tray as well as a secondary USB C charging port for the passenger. While the haptic buttons have disappeared from the steering wheel, they still remain there for the climate control which can get annoying when driving and trying to adjust the fan speed and its also present for the optional extra panoramic sunroof.  The back seats are pretty comfy and have a decent amount of legroom with their own vent for aircon. The boot space is generous for a hatchback and features the biscuit spare wheel. 

VERDICT

Overall this car is a gem, one that truly lives up to the hype and performs exceptionally in every aspect of what a car should be. VW have done a stunning job on the styling and really flys the Golf name badge high. While I understand VW's first stance on not bringing any lower end models of the Golf 8 to SA, seeing how good this car is and the price its coming in at, it makes me wonder if they did bring the 1.4 TSI models, how much more they would have sold. Even the base price of the R-Line+ kit seems pretty attractive to me, and you know you're getting a name you can trust in the motor industry. 

SPECIFICATION

Engine	1.4-liter, 4-cylinder TSI
Gear Box	8-Speed tiptronic
Torque	250Nm
Power	110W
0-100km/h8.5	seconds
Price	R688,100*

*base price

Bucket Seat: New VW Golf now in SA

Following its premiere in February 2025 at the Volkswagen Indaba in Kariega, the new Volkswagen Golf is now available for sale.  

The Volkswagen Golf has a rich history in South Africa, dating back to its 1978 launch with the Mk1 (first generation), which quickly gained acclaim for reliability and performance. Locally assembled at the Volkswagen production plant in Kariega, it became affordable and popular with the South African customers. Its success continued with the launch of the second generation model in 1984, praised for improved quality followed by the third generation in 1993 and fourth generation in 1999, with the latter becoming a top seller in the local market.

The fifth and sixth generation models were introduced with class leading technology and safety, while the seventh generation, launched in 2013, brought further refinement. The Golf’s enduring appeal lies in its blend of quality, performance and design style.

The eight generation model continues this legacy, cementing the Golf as a key model for Volkswagen in South Africa. When the new Golf was launched in South Africa in 2021, it was not offered with the venerable and efficient 1.4 TSI engine variant. However with the introduction of the updated model, the 1.4 TSI engine, producing 110kW has made a return to the lineup to mark the return of the icon.

The new Golf impresses with a next-generation infotainment system, a more intuitive operating concept, a sharper front and rear end design as well as efficient drive systems.

Revamped front and rear and new light design. The new Golf can be recognised by its new front end. Visually defining features include the Volkswagen logo, which is illuminated for the first time on the Golf, and the newly designed LED headlights. The top-of-the-range IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights incorporate a new high-performance main beam with a range of up to 500 m.

The new Golf is available in the Life, Life Plus, R-Line and R-Line Plus equipment lines.

The Golf Life, a perfect blend of style and technology. It features Eco LED headlights for better visibility and efficiency. Stay connected with Wireless App Connect and a Cruise Control System. Inside, it features a 10.3-inch Infotainment Radio, 6-speaker audio system, 10-colour Ambient Lighting Dashboard and 10-inch Integrated Digital Cockpit. The Life derivative comes standard with 16-inch Norfolk alloy wheels.

In addition to the Life standard equipment, the Life Plus derivative features Driver Profile Selection, rear view camera, 30 colour ambient lighting and Art-velours sports comfort seats package.

The R-Line derivative features R-Line seat trim covers with head rest integrated into the seat for a sporty look, body covered bumpers in R-Line style including 17-inch Coventry alloy wheels complimented with LED plus headlamps, Park Assist with Park Distance Control, Progressive steering with sports suspension, Climatronic 3-zone automatic climate control with allergen filter and controls in the rear, keyless entry, Multi-Function heated steering wheel with shifting paddles.

In addition to the R-Line standard features, the R-Line Plus is offered with IQ Matrix LED Headlights with illuminated VW front logo, power adjustable driver seat, active high beam, heated and cooling front seats, Vienna leather seats with R-Line logo in front, padels in brushed stainless steel and 18-inch Leeds alloy wheels.

The new Golf 1.4TSI with 110kW engine is mated to a 8-speed tiptronic transmission. The engine develops maximum torque of 250 Nm available between 1500 – 4000 rpm. The Golf delivers a fuel-efficient 6.3l/100km and accelerates from 0–100 km/h in just 8.5 seconds.

As part of the launch activities, Volkswagen will host a National Dealer Day through our dealer network where customers will get an opportunity to test drive the new entry T-Cross, Tiguan 2.0 TDI and 2.0 TSI in addtion to the Golf 1.4 TSI models.

The Volkswagen Golf comes standard with a 3-year / 120 000 km warranty, 5-year 90 000 km service plan, and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. The service interval is 15 000 km.

Prices (VAT and emissions tax included)

• Golf 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic Life                               R580 900

• Golf 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic Life Plus                        R604 500

• Golf 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic R-Line                           R660 000

• Golf 1.4 TSI 110kW Tiptronic R-Line Plus                    R688 100

Bucket Seat: Opel Corsa GS 1.2

South Africans have a strange affiliation with the Opel Corsa, the German brand's entry level hatchback caught the love and attention of many with it's dynamic nature when first introduced to the market in the late 90's, the fan fair continued with the launch of the Corsa bakkie which took the market by storm proving to be healthy competition to the market leader, Nissan Champ half tonne bakkie. Then with the introduction of the Corsa Lite, it made for the person student car and with the hilarious TVC campaign it became a cult classic in the country. Fast forward to modern day and the Corsa has lost its charm over the years, it grew up and kinda got mixed in the mundaness of Germany motoring but having spent some time with the face-lift Corsa GS, I think they might be sparking some of that magic again. 

DESIGN

The new Opel Corsa GS boasts a sleek and sporty design, with sharp lines and a distinctive front grille that gives it a dynamic look. The car's compact dimensions make it ideal for urban driving, while the bold color options and stylish alloy wheels enhance its visual appeal. The front is striking, featuring a solid front face with no grille which makes many think it's an EV and don't ask me how, but that engine is pretty silent so at times I even got away with telling people it is an electric car. The new LED headlights follow that swooping edges to create a very modern looking front end, that really makes the car look futuristic and progressive. The rest of the cars design remains mostly the same, with the back lights featuring a slight tint to complete that sporty nature of the car. 16-inch diamond cut bi-clour rims in a 4-spoke design give a distinct look. Overall, very attractive looking package from Opel.

PERFORMANCE

Under the hood, the Corsa GS is powered by a 3-cylinder, 1.2-liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 96kW and 230Nm. The engine delivers a balanced performance, with enough power for city and highway driving. The GS being automatic transmission, provides smooth and efficient gear shifts, contributing to an overall relaxed and enjoyable driving experience. The Corsa GS handles well, with precise steering and a stable ride quality. It feels agile around corners, making it fun to drive in urban environments. The suspension setup effectively absorbs road imperfections, ensuring a comfortable ride for passengers. One of the standout features of the Opel Corsa GS is its impressive fuel efficiency. The combination of the small engine and automatic transmission helps achieve good fuel economy figures, making it an economical choice for daily commuting and long-distance trips.

COMFORT

Inside, the Corsa GS offers a well-appointed cabin with a focus on comfort and technology. The seats are supportive and ergonomically designed, providing good comfort for both short and long journeys. The quality of materials used in the interior feels premium for this segment, with soft-touch surfaces and a modern dashboard layout. The Opel Corsa GS comes equipped with a range of modern technology features, including a user-friendly infotainment system with a touchscreen display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration allow seamless connectivity with smartphones. The car also features a digital instrument cluster, adding a high-tech feel to the driving experience.Safety is a priority in the Corsa GS, with a comprehensive suite of safety features included as standard. These features include lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and traffic sign recognition. The car's solid build quality and array of airbags provide additional peace of mind for drivers and passengers.

VERDICT

The Opel Corsa GS is a well-rounded hatchback that offers a stylish design, modern technology, and a comfortable driving experience. Its compact size and efficient engine make it an ideal choice for city dwellers and those looking for a practical and economical car. With its competitive pricing and extensive list of features, the Corsa GS stands out as a strong contender in the small hatchback segment and in my personal opinion, it's a better overall package than its locally manufactured German competitor. It's a bold statement I know, but get in the new Corsa GS and see what it has to offer and you tell me if I'm lying. Down side though its the resale value of the car, but many who buy these type of cars are not looking to offload them after 2-3 years so I don't see the resale value being a major issue. My one grip would be the screens in the car, the digital instrument cluster seems like it could be bigger and display more info than it currently does and the infotainment screen seems to be bullied by the climate control display, making the casting of the mobile apps seem small on such a big display. Other than that, I'm pretty chuffed with the Corsa, I wouldn't mind having one in my garage as a daily run around. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	3 cylinder, 1.2 Turbo Petrol
Gear Box	6-speed automatic
Torque	230Nm
Power	96kW
Fuel Economy	6.3L per 100km
Price	R459,900

Bucket Seat: Mercedes Benz A200 Hatch

When the A-Class was first introduced to the world, it served as a more affordable option to own a brand that was seen as elite and a pinnacle of what cars should be. While it didn’t have the allure of the S-Class, it still gave owners the bragging rights to say they drive a “Merc”. The A-Class was an odd looking thing at the time though, to use the American term, “mini van” comes to mind when looking at the first generation of it. Even the launch of the A32K AMG didn’t do much for its image as a whole but credit to them, the A-Class did sell decently in local and overseas markets with it being the ideal type of “city car” for Europeans and “soccer mom” cars for the rest of the world. The second generation saw it get a nice nip tuck with sharper angles and a more neater trim but by then the appeal of it seemed to have died down, Mercedes took cognisance of it and hence the 3rd generation saw a shift in the A-Class’s from being a mini van to hatchback and spurred on an epic rival of the line. This offered the company the ideal platform to take on a whole new segment which was long enjoyed by another German rival. With the 4th generation just receiving a light update, the A-Class, remains one of the more popular models in the Merc range and with the range topping AMG derivatives in the A35 and A45S pushing mind boggling performance figures, the normal A200 and A250 still deserve a fair shout. I spent a week with the A200 hatch in AMG trim and this is what I thought about it.

DESIGN

There’s just something about a good looking car in black. Yes, the colour automatically makes the car look good but when the design of the is great, the colour black just accentuates the design and make it that more bolder. The lines of the A-Class are sublime, from the angular shark like nose flowing with the subtle curves that extend into the body and ties into the rear so well. The headlights feature the new multibeam LED’s which do a little dance when the car is powered up in the dark. While they do serve a very good purpose, the blue hues do add a cool contrast to that front end that’s dominated by the three pointed star emblem which is poised perfectly in the centre. With the AMG trim the grille gets the tri-star treatment ad well. The car came fitted with optional 19-inch multi-spoke AMG rims finished off in black which gave the car a stealth like look. The interior does receive some minor tweaks but nothing too evident, apart from the removal of the track pad that now is just is an oddly shaped storage tray.

PERFORMANCE

Powered by 1.4 litre turbocharged engine, the A200 doesn’t boast big numbers like its AMG siblings, but it does offer a spirited feel to it. 120kW is derived from the engine along with 270Nm of torque which translates to an adequate drive but also maintaining a level of economy that won’t get you visiting the filling station every week. If driven properly, the A200 could be quite frugal I’m told but with only 5 days with it, I wasn’t going to be pussyfooting this things around the streets of Durban. The shape and size of this car makes it the perfect weapon to navigate the twistys and hills and that’s where I went hunting with it. The car is so accurate with the steering, it almost felt like you’re in a go-kart at times, the torque factor gets the acceleration in for the short bursts of speed required and that is what makes the drive in this entertaining. Many will say that yes, while it is fun, its not that fast, yes, if you want fast you buy the AMG's. If you want something that can do your daily drives, but provide that a drive that's not completely boring, you get this. 

COMFORT

Seeing it's the smallest car in the Mercedes-Benz stable, you'd expect it to be a tiny cabin but thanks to modern ergonomic design practices, the A200 is roomy enough to seat 4 adults. There are still some questionable design practices on the dash that I have personal issues with, like the height of the cubby hold that is in front of the front passenger seat. A tall person like myself has to move the seat a bit more back to avoid it hitting my knees, this affects the leg room for the passenger behind me. Mind you, the design does look great but perhaps on the next one they could re-look at this. I did mention that the track pad for the car has disappeared, that is thanks to the new MBUX system that includes a touchscreen infotainment center and intuitive AI which takes commands via voice. It works damn well and can understand just about any voice and any accent without a hassle. I hardly found myself having to repeat myself when giving it instructions as mundane as they were. Apple and Google could learn a thing or two from Merc's tech as I battle with Siri most of the time! The car comes standard with pretty much all the tech you'd expect to find in a modern day luxury car. While some of the materials do feel a bit low quality compared to other models in the Merc line up, one must understand that this is the entry level car you're getting into so you can't have everything at a cheaper price. One thing I must take my hats off to Mercedes for is their ambient lighting, in pictures it looks tacky but when you're sitting in the cabin at night with it illuminated in the colours of your choice, it's just something else. 

VERDICT

The A200 has a lot to offer, even with it being the entry level Mercedes-Benz, they try to stay true to who they are as a premium luxury brand. While the costs of the cars are quite high, it's nice to see them as a brand taking note of this and offering financial support facility with Mercedes-Benz Agility drive, which can be customised to the individual's spending power. With each car being a direct representation of the owner, given the choices of colours and specifications they can deck their ideal car to be like, it's worth considering if you want an A200 but unsure on how to finance it. Even though my first stint in the A class was the A45S then the A35 AMG's, I took quite a liking to the A200 as it served it's role perfectly as a daily drive that offered everything that one would need, in terms of looks, practicality, space and comfort. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.4 -litre turbo, 4 cylinder
Gear Box	8-speed automatic
Torque	270Nm
Power	120kW
Fuel consumption	6.4 liters per 100km
Price	R755,985*

*base price

Bucket Seat: Audi A3 35 TFSI

Audi's A3 has always been an important model in its line-up for the brand, it's one of the most preferred medium sized premium car in its class. Offered in both a sportback and sedan, both variants seem to do fairly well in the local market and its really difficult to say which one outsells the other. The latest generation in the A3 was launched in Q3 of last year and I had the chance to sample the S3 which I reviewed in October 2021, which really did whet ones appetite as to what we can expect from the much anticipated Audi RS3 but while these performance versions of the A3 are the ones that draw all the attention and limelight, with the ongoing increase in fuel prices, it's models like the one I'm reviewing today that might start to be appealing to many. Also what is interesting to note, that VW have opted not to bring their full engine line-up for the new Golf 8 and are sticking to just the GTI and R might see prospective buyers cast their eyes onto Audi for models like the 35 and 40 TFSI's. 

DESIGN

The design of the new generation A3 is superb, its bold and striking with the new grille being the focal point of the car and the edgy headlamps with its matrix LED system that adds the aesthetics to capture the eyes of people as it cruises past. This particular model in Turbo Blue and the S Line kit exudes sportiness, side profile of the car is extremely sleek, keeping that low stance exuding that sporty look. Being the sportback model there is no boot, and it tapers off to the the hatch shape with rear almost as striking as the front, with the rear light also featuring a LED design that includes the welcome dance when unlocking and locking the car. The S Line kit gives the rear bumper a menacing diffuser with imitation vents either side finished off in that honeycomb grille styling. On the wheels, 18" Y-Spoke graphic grey, diamond-turned rims adorned the car, while there is a 19" rim on offer, I think this would be the preferred choice. On the inside, the entire design and feel of this interior seems on a class of its own when compared to other cars in this segment, it's very modern, mature, full of tech but minimalistic in its own right. Everything is driver cockpit centric and fits the new Audi design language to the T. 

PERFORMANCE

While only powered by a 1.4-litre turbo-charge motor, you won't find this car struggling with performance. It's pretty nippy with the engine output coming in at 110kW and 250Nm of torque, all this is controlled by an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox which is sublime. I know its not the S tronic box that many are used to on the higher end models but is better suited to this smaller engine. It offers better gear ratios in the various driving modes, ensuring maximum power delivery while still being economical. Mind you when driving in dynamic mode, fuel economy isn't the first thing on your mind and experiencing what this engine can offer, you'll soon forget about what your fuel average is as this car can deliver on performance, fast acceleration with a 0-100km/h time of 8.2 seconds, minimal turbo-lag and with the low center of gravity you get from the cockpit, it just makes the whole experience quite exciting. This model didn't have the four-wheel Quattro drive system but still felt very planted and quite easy to control around the bends. Composed driving with this car gave me an average fuel consumption of around 7.8L per 100km, almost bang on with what the brochure claims for urban use. 

COMFORT

This car is much lower than I expected it to be, given that it is a sporty hatchback, but even with you being so low the ride quality was still quite soft and comfy, I think the 18" rims played a big role with that as you would experience a bit more bumpiness had it been fitted with the 19" options. The car has dual-zone climate control for the driver and passengers, with the large panoramic sunroof, keeping the temperature regulated while the hot Durban sun beamed down onto that glass roof with the curtain open isn't easy but the A3's coped quite well to keep the interior cool. Being fitted with the S Line kit, the interior options included a leather arm rest, "Dark Aluminum Spektrum" finish on the dash, outlines and doors. Audi S Line emblems on the door plates and seats, pedals and foot rest in stainless steel and sport seats for the driver and front passenger with the option of having the seats fully electric and memory settings. The steering wheel was the famous leather-wrapped multi-function plus wheel with paddle shift for that 8-speed gearbox and the signature flat-bottom. The car comes with Audi's latest MMI touch screen interface with Audi Connect, which has built-in mobile applications, a virtual cockpit for the drivers instrument cluster and that Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D sound which made cruising around town all that more enjoyable while listening to your favourite tracks. 

VERDICT 

Overall the Audi A3 was nothing short of sublime in my books, spending a week with it really opened my eyes as to why this model has been so particular well received by many in the past. It's so much more than just a premium hatchback or sportback as they like to call it now. It's definitely grown and matured to be quite a versatile car where it could be appealing to a youngster looking to upgrade to a more premium car, an ideal vehicle for a small family with ever the option to get it in a sedan format. The level of technology that this car comes with is similar to that on the higher end models so you know you're getting the best of what is on offer from the brand and that is something I really like that from Audi. Like I said at the beginning of this review, with VW opting not to introduce lower end engines to their line-up, this might be worth a look for others, yes pricing will be a bit steeper than what you'd expect a Golf to be but given the base price of R601,000 that still is R80,000 cheaper than the GTI so it is definitely an option to consider. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	1.4L TFSI
Gear Box	8-Speed Tiptronic
Torque	250Nm
Power	110kW
Top Speed	219km
Price	R601,000*

*base price, price as tested R800,000