Audi A3 Sedan - The Audi 1.4TFSI & 1.8 TFSI Quattro driven back to back

This is the A3 Sedan 1.8 TFSI Quattro - How do I know? I don't. I had to look through my notes and then found out that the wheel design makes it a 1.8 TFSI Quattro - Ten Spokes.

Audi has recently launched the A3 Sedan in Malaysia and we get two variants, one is the 1.4 TFSI and the other the sportier 1.8 TFSI Quattro. Launched in 2013, the Audi A3 sedan utilises the Volkswagen Group MQB platform first seen in the current Volkswagen Golf and then in the A3 Hatchback and Sportback variants. It is because of this basic chassis sharing that the Audi A3 Sedan is a very familiar animal to drive.



But before we get to that lets start off with the similarities between the two A3 Sedans that we can get in Malaysia. Specs for both variants are high and if you aren't paying attention, you think that you were driving the same car. You get xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights, fog lights, headlight washers, anti glare rear view mirror, automatic air conditioning, 7 airbags, stability control, traction control, electronic diff lock, ABS, EBD, brake assist, immobilisers, ISOFIX, hill hold assist, Audi Drive select via MMI, Electric handbrake, light and rain sensors and some more in both variants.

What you don't get in the 1.4TFSI are anti glare on the 1.8 driver side mirror, some aluminium trim inside, a slightly different steering wheel, different design for the 17 inch wheels (of the same size tyres), keyless go and sports suspension instead of something called the 'dynamic' suspension. Things are so slight that the only difference externally are the different wheels used. You get ten spokes in the 1.8TFSI Quattro and chunky five spokes in the 1.4TFSI.

So once you get into either car, you get the same quality of any Audi. It may be smaller than the B8 Audi A4 sedan but it actually quite similar to a B5 Audi A4 from the late 1990s. Those that drove one of those would feel just at home in terms of space and size. Of course, the only difference is the design and styling of the A3 Sedan, very up to date and current. It may be a little stubby looking compared to the A4 but not by much as it is still easy to get confused as to whether you are looking at an A3 sedan or an A4 sedan. It also shows that Audi needs better designers as they all look the same from the A3 to the A8. Nice, but too similar.

As for quality, typically Audi. The interior is top notch and comparable to the ageing A4 in some aspects. It may be slightly simpler in design owing to the fact that is is entry level Audi but the materials used as well as the switchgear incorporated are of typically Audi class leading standards. It is a nice place to be inside an A3 but aside from the round air vents, you could operate the car blindfolded if you came from a Mk7 Golf as the layout is similar. Platform sharing. Makes things extremely monotonous sometimes.

Anyway, the A3 1.4 and 1.8 Quattro both look the same. I suppose what counts here is the engine (both transverse instead of longitudinally placed in bigger Audis) and drive train. The 1.4TFSI is front wheel drive. It gets a 1.4liter Four cylinder direct injection turbocharged engine that makes 122 bhp and 200Nm torque. It gets VW Group's 7 speed DSG transmission which is the latest dry clutch variant used in the current 140hp Mk7 VW Golf that we get here. It seems we got the lowest horsepower version -  most probably for reliability's sake as this makes the engine very unstressed so it probably is good for the engine's lifespan and would not overwhelm the dry clutch type dual clutch gearbox connected to it (Note ** being an Audi it will be built much better than a Volkswagen and should be very much more trouble free in my opinion.)

The 1.8TFSI Quattro gets the 1.8liter engine you see in the larger A4 but gets All Wheel Drive. 1.8liter four cylinder with 180bhp and 280Nm torque to play around with a Haldex (not like the permanently driven setup of the larger Audis as it is an on demand system no matter what Audi tells you) based transmission system running a 6 speed wet clutch type dual clutch gearbox. Much more power here.

Two 1.4 TFSI in white and a black 1.8 TFSI Quattro - its all in the wheel design

Of course when you drive both back to back you can tell that the 1.4 is slower in acceleration and grips a tad bit less on the twisties and bends. In most fast corners the understeer sets in much earlier than the dynamic suspension equipped 1.4TFSI compared to the sports setup in the 1.8TFSI Quattro. Even though the ride height of both variants are similar, when you drive the 1.4 through a high speed corner it feels less tied down with the front tyres (225/45/17 on both variants) feeling like its folding under the car. It also has a slight twitchier tail that is more willing to wag about. Most probably due to the front buckling under the car much earlier putting more weight transfer over the front wheels thereby making the tail lighter.

And in the 1.8TFSI Quattro, due to the sportier suspension (I doubt its the all wheel drive system at work due to it being an on demand system) things feel better tied down. Most would notice that you could take a corner at least a good 10kmh faster in the 1.8 TFSI Quattro than in the front wheel driven 1.4 TFSI. This is not to say the A3 1.4TFSI isn't fun to drive. It is. It drives quite like the MK7 VW Golf 1.4TSI I tested a couple of months ago. It has about the same (quite high) grip levels and the same steering feel as that car (mainly because it has that same electro-mechanical steering system, which means that its nicely weighted but a little numb when it comes to steering feel).

On the point of power, the 1.4 TFSI with its 122bhp and 200Nm of torque isn't all that bad. Audi claims that it can do the 100kmh sprint in 9.3 seconds and have a limited top speed of 205kmh. It actually feels slightly faster to 100kmh and even though its cornering limits were lower, an experienced enough driver (or a road tester) would be able to wring out every last drop and have some fun. Everything is predictable even though it is slower than the 6.7seconds to 100kmh and 225kmh top speed (limited) A3 1.8TFSI.

The 1.8TFSI Quattro in fact feels a little saddled with the extra driveshafts and weight as whilst it states that if would get to a hundred kilos faster than its smaller engined brethren, it actually feels just as slow, or as fast. I suppose the extra grip in the sports suspension makes things calmer and since its grippier, you could be going faster than you think.

Anyway, the point is that the 1.8 is faster than the 1.4. There is however more drama in the 1.4 due to its looser chassis setup but then again, if you want to get from point A to B faster, take the 1.8 TFSI Quattro.

And aside from that, there is no actual reason to buy the 1.8 TFSI Quattro. If you aren't into barrelling down Genting every weekend or heading down South to Singapore to hit Sentosa Island or Marina Bay Sands for a game of cards, you are better off just driving the 1.4TFSI. It bloody looks the same. It is also more refined as at high speeds it does not have a throaty engine note. Above 4,000rpm, the 1.8 TFSI engine starts clearing its vocal chords a lot louder than the 1.4TFSI. The grip you get in the corners is also translated to a slightly harsher ride. Not by much and not as ridiculous as a Mercedes A250 but you know you're buying a performance oriented sedan instead of a refined entry level premium sedan.

And buying one is the issue. The 1.4 costs RM179,900 without insurance whereas the 1.8 costs RM240,888 without insurance. How much is that? RM60,000? That price could give you an Audi A4 1.8TFSI (fwd not quattro but you don't need it really) which is still the better car even though its on its last legs. Dry clutch over wet clutch DSG in the 1.4 over the 1.8? Heck, RM60,000 would get you tons of spare parts worth with change to spare IF the gearbox goes bust. Furthermore, the first few years are definitely covered under warranty if things go wrong. If you keep within the service schedule and drive within limits I don't see why the 1.4TFSI should not be your first Audi to buy. And since its a 1.4liter engine and not a 1.8 that is coupled with AWD, its gonna cost you less at the petrol pumps too.

The 1.8 TFSI Quattro isn't a bad car. Just ridiculously priced here in Malaysia in my opinion. You would still impress your office mates with a 1.4 as they wouldn't actually know it was one. Seriously folks, only a very anal Audi fan  could tell the difference. I honestly can't tell as after I drove both cars, I saw one on the street and I had to refer to my notes to tell which A3 sedan is was. It's that similar folks, so safe your money and buy the 1.4TFSI.

1.8TFSI gets a sportier three spoke steering wheel inside........

......................1.4 TFSI gets a four spoke steering wheel and a normal key to start it up instead of a button.