Review of the new Audi A3 S-Line Range

The criticism has been levelled at Audi's A3 that it isn't sporty enough. To some extent you can see what the snipers are getting at. This may be Audi's entry-level offering but when you get behind the wheel, that big car feel is very much in evidence. Even for drivers of the sportier derivatives in the range, the styling is understated while the overriding impression is of something much more substantial and sensible than a mere hot hatch. Mind you, that's not to say the range can't accommodate models that display their performance car qualities more flamboyantly. Models like the S-Line - the A3 with additional attitude.

In the A3 range, S-Line is more of an options pack than a trim level in its own right. It's a collection of desirable extras that buyers of selected A3 models can bolt on to add a touch more visual dynamism. The S-Line pack does nothing to actually enhance the car's handling or performance but it makes the A3 look meaner from most of the angles that matter.

S Line is now offered with all three-door and Sportback models in the A3 range but not with the entry-level petrol and diesel engine options. Whereas 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. This means that eligibility now extends from the 1.6-litre FSI engine right up to the 3.2-litre quattro models.

The S-Line package costs an extra £1,550 on top of the Sport trim level, which means that the cheapest S-Line you'll be able to lay your hands on is the 3-door 1.4-litre TFSI model at £20,165 or as a five-door Sportback for £20,665. Of course, the 125PS 1.4 TFSI can't really live up to the S-Line pack's sporty billing and buyers with the means would be much better going for the 200PS 2.0 TFSI models. These start at £23,155 (or £500 more for the Sportback version) but there is a 160PS 1.8-litre TFSI unit starting at £21,885. The 3.2-litre quattro with the 6-speed manual box costs from £26,235 (with £1,400 more for the S Tronic gearbox and £500 more for five doors). The prospect of paying these sums for a performance hatchback is a sobering one but, as we've already indicated, the A3 is not what you'd term Max Power fodder.

"The S-Line pack does nothing to actually enhance the car's handling or performance but it makes the A3 look meaner from most of the angles that matter"

The impact of the basic S-Line kit is mainly felt on the inside of the car. There's a three-spoke perforated leather steering wheel, a perforated leather gearknob and 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. The sports seats are suitably plush in full Vienna leather. 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. For the £1,550 price premium, you've got an A3 that will have everyone rubbernecking.

The 2.0-litre TDI 140 diesel and 3.2-litre petrol powerplants that many S-Line buyers choose offer a stark choice between rational, cost-effective motoring and pedal to the metal insanity. See if you can guess which is which. The 2.0-litre TDI 140 has 140PS and with the S Tronic gearbox it can reach 62mph in 9.2 seconds. That's some 3 tenths of a second faster than the 2.0-litre TDI manual model. This gives you a poignant insight into just how good Audi's S Tronic set-up is. The TDI 140 S Tronic can also manage a creditable 38.1mpg on the combined cycle, so once you've shelled out the initial asking price, your wallet won't take another pummelling at the pumps.

Compare the TDI model's fuel consumption with the 18.9mpg average posted by the 250PS 3.2-litre manual car and you'll begin to appreciate why the diesel is the penny pincher's choice. The S Tronic system actually improves the petrol engine's typical economy figure to 20.3mpg (what a gearbox!) but these aren't the numbers that serve as the 3.2-litre's trump card.

Put your foot to the floor, where conditions allow, in an Audi A3 S-Line 3.2-litre manual and you'll reach the 62mph barrier in 6.5s but you'll still be a solitary tenth of a second behind the S Tronic version. In comparison, the A3 Sportback 2.0 T FSI can accelerate from rest to 62mph in 7.0 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 147mph.That's straight-line performance which puts both these A3 S-Line models firmly in the ballpark populated by top hot hatchbacks. Think Renaultsport Megane, Honda Civic Type-R and the benchmark Golf GTi. If you want to go faster, there's always the savage 265PS S3.

Of course, all of the above cost quite a bit less than a petrol-powered A3 S-Line and for the most part, they are sharper driver's cars, though none can match the Audi's depth of engineering or build quality. Audi positions its hatchback in the class above, vying with products like the Mercedes-Benz Sports Coupe and the quicker BMW's 1-Series derivatives. In this company, the A3 still seems a little on the expensive side but its performance looks strong and you can get four-wheel drive as well as that S Tronic gearbox.

The S-Line package gives the A3 an added sporting edge for buyers who might not favour the understated approach that Audi usually take when styling their cars. 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 3.2-litre versions are sportier in feel and that will be the bottom line for many. The super-focused S3 model aside, the S-Line models represent the pinnacle of the line-up and they make a darn fine job of it.

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