Review of the new Audi A3 1.9 TDIe

Audi has made some rather rudimentary modifications to its A3 and come up with some outstanding results from its 1.9TDIe model. Nearly 63mpg and 119g/km emissions will be tough for a lot of buyers to turn their noses up at in today's climate. Engine noise and basic specification are the only major drawbacks.

Economy, emissions, environment. These three Es are cropping up with increasing regularity all over the automotive world. The whole industry has put its big green renewable solar-panelled hat on and the major marques are embroiled in a full-on battle to out-environmentally-friendly each other at all costs. Audi's chief eco-warrior is the A3 1.9 TDIe and in a range harbouring its fair share of V8 hypercars, scorching all-wheel-drive estates and mammoth SUVs, a little parsimony might not go amiss.

It seems that the cars we're driving aren't green enough and if we aren't going to drive lower polluting, less thirsty, more cuddly ones of our own free will, then we'll be press-ganged into them by sky rocketing fuel costs and emissions-based taxation. It may seem a bleak prognosis for the keen motorist but things might not be as bad as all that. The major manufacturers can sniff a profit in the green revolution and are keen to offer environmentally-inoffensive cars that we'll want to drive. Audi's A3 1.9 TDIe might not be a bad start.

The 1.9 TDIe is the least exciting engine choice in an Audi A3 range that's loaded with some real crackers. The 'e' is something of a red herring as this is basically the same direct-injection 1.9-litre TDI diesel engine that has been in service across a raft of VW Group products for many years and remains available in standard guise on the A3. It's two generations behind the impressive 2.0-litre TDI common-rail engine that powers the plusher diesel A3s these days but don't write-off the old-timer yet. If you can manage your expectations effectively, the A3 1.9TDIe is still a viable option from a driving perspective. With 105bhp available, it isn't quick but there's still that rewarding rush of torque from low revs that stays on song and gives the 1.9TDIe more usable performance than the 11.4s 0-60mph time would indicate. Engine noise isn't as bad as we'd feared but there's still a clatter at start-up and normal running is less hushed as in other A3 models.

"Audi has made efficiency a key focus of its latest A3 and no model embodies that more than the 1.9TDIe.."

Aside from the none too serious noise intrusion, the A3 1.9TDIe drives with the composure and fluency of the rest of the A3 range. The long gearing that's included to enhance the environmental performance of this model makes it easier to keep the revs low and the gearchange itself remains one of the best around. Some keener drivers might bemoan the lack of a sportier element to the handling but the car does what it sets out to do very effectively. It's comfortable and relaxing on long journeys with the lack of movement in the fuel gauge proving particularly therapeutic.

This 1.9TDIe model isn't the only A3 to get modifications designed to improve efficiency. Across the range, the cars feature improvements to their aerodynamics that centre around flattening out the underside of the car to improve airflow and lessen resistance. The latest A3 is also fractionally longer with an increase of 25mm and it retains a sizable 350-litre boot capacity that's increased to 370-litres by the five-door Sportback model. Less noteworthy is the rear legroom in the three-door car which will give taller passengers a problem on long trips.

The latest A3 may be the facelifted version but modifications to the look of the old car were kept very low key. 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. It's a similar story around the back where the light clusters and bumper have been fiddled around with. The cabin continues to set that standard in the premium hatch market and puts many larger, more expensive cars to shame. Audi appears to have reached a level with its interiors where only tiny detail tweaks are necessary and there's very little to draw complaint concerning the design, materials and quality of construction inside the A3.

Prices start at £16,995, just over £300 more than the standard model. The A3 1.9TDIe comes in standard trim and leaves a little to the imagination considering the Audi's lofty asking price. The key basics are intact, however, with all models receiving air-conditioning, a CD stereo, electric windows and remote central locking. There's also ESP stability control as well as twin front and side airbags.

The core market for 1.9TDIe A3s will come from the fleet sector and company car users eager to minimise their costs. There's no doubt that BMW stole a march on the competition with its EfficientDynamics programme and the 1.9TDIe is Audi's way of hitting back. The underlying technology in this car may not be as advanced as that found in the super efficient versions of BMW's 1-Series but the results that Audi has managed to achieve are certainly competitive.

Running costs are the key to the 1.9TDIe and you have to admit they're pretty low for a premium hatchback. The combined impact of the aerodynamic modifications, low rolling resistance tyres, a high-ratio gearbox and other tweaks help the car deliver 62.8mpg on the combined cycle with emissions of 119g/km. Compare that to the 55.4mpg and 135g/km of the standard 1.9TDI car that uses the same engine and you get a feel for the improvement that Audi's engineers have brought to bear on the TDIe. Couple the car's excellent efficiency with group 10 insurance and Audi's always perky residual values and you have a very cost-effective vehicle for business and private buyers alike.

Audi has made efficiency a key focus of its latest A3 and no model embodies that more than the 1.9TDIe. It's far from being the most desirable model in the A3 range but it does deliver its significant efficiency benefits without major drawbacks. The 1.9TDIe feels like an A3, albeit with a slightly noisy engine and a less than salubrious equipment list. The car retains its desirability and if buyers are going to be persuaded rather than forced into greener cars, that's a vital factor.

For business users in particular, the downsides of an Audi A3 1.9TDIe will be largely obliterated by its 62.8mpg fuel economy and 119g/km emissions. The potential is there for significant financial savings to be made and when they can be made from behind the wheel of the latest Audi A3 rather than some stripped-out supermini, there's plenty of reason to take notice.

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