2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Review : Weniger ist mehr

By Clifford Chow, 20 January 2023

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Review : Weniger ist mehr

Singapore - The 1.5 litre version of the Audi A3, came to our shores, truly at a bad time to launch a car. COEs were already getting expensive, and we were already fighting a bug. While it has not been doing as well as I hoped, the 1.5 is far from being a bad car at all… In-fact, I personally like its powertrain. It makes 150hp and 250Nm, which gives it more-than-sufficient going-ability, but it is also a Category B COE car, since it crosses the Cat A power cap. The MHEV system not only allows it to coast over prolonged distances (I’ve even glided across three junctions in the 1.5 A3), it also provided it with an additional boost. 

The same 1.5 litre MHEV powertrain is also found in the Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon - which explains why it is proving difficult to sell these cars at this point.

The third generation A3 had been a popular choice for the “foot through the door” premium car buyer, and both the 1.0 and the 1.4 qualified to be Category A COE cars. 

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Rear right
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Rear right

So with rising COEs, Audi decided to also release a 1.0 version of the fourth generation A3 here. We drove the Sportback from the Northern tip of Malaysia back to Singapore a while ago, during Audi’s Fuel Efficiency Challenge, so you can check out Part 1 and Part 2.

For what is a $26k difference between the 1.5 and 1.0, it is difficult to visually tell them apart.

There’s not even a “1.0” badge at the rear, to distinguish between both powertrains. I’m putting this here because there are many sensitive buyers who do not want the world to know that they are driving a “lesser” car.

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic - inside

The story is very much the same for the 1.0 A3’s interior. There are just two things I notice which have been omitted. The SatNav is now an optional extra, and there is no wireless mobile phone charger. Well since we live in Singapore, the SatNav is rather secondary, as we’d probably already know most places we are headed to.

But I would love to have that wireless charger. A quick check over the internet reveals a few ill-executed aftermarket ones, which fit right into that bin; that is if you do have a need for one.

The infotainment system is fronted by a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and it wirelessly supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For the driver, the digitised Audi Virtual Cockpit, is slightly customisable, and puts out large dials for easy reading. 

To those who have a keen eye, would notice that the A3’s centre console channels the one in e-Tron GT, with its similar air-conditioning controls and lower button assembly design.

While the compact sedan may not have fancy voice recognition, like in a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, it has a very easy to navigate infotainment system. I know that this sounds cliche, but the interior does feel like something you’d find in larger Audis, and there is that reassuring feeling that the materials are made to last. A personal favourite of mine is that signature button “click-click”, when depressed, which even with your eyes closed, tells you that you are in an Audi.

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Rear seats
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Rear seats
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Rear air-conditioning vents
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Rear air-conditioning vents
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Boot
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Boot

Interior space is decent, and passengers at the rear have good headroom, and even have space to tuck part of their feet under the front seats. Being a sedan, it has better boot space (425 litres), as compared to the Sportback (380 litres). The rear seats, when folded however, do not form-up flat with the boot floor. Not really a dealbreaker, but it is nice to have.

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic - driven

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Driven
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Driven

The 3-cyl 999cc turbocharged engine produces a more humble 110hp and 200Nm. The MHEV’s electric motor, which provides an additional boost produces 12hp and 50Nm on its own. Official fuel consumption figures stand at 23.2km/l, which is in theory, better than the 1.5-litre’s official 20.8km/l. I managed a flat 19km/l.

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - 1.0 MHEV Engine
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - 1.0 MHEV Engine

To achieve this, the 1.0 employs one of the two tricks, found in the 1.5 litre. Whenever you lift off the accelerator while cruising, the 7-speed S tronic transmission disconnects, and the engine shuts itself off. The 1.5 on the other hand, also gets really cool cylinder deactivation technology, where barrels 2 and 3 do not fire, while you are cruising and still on the gas. The fuel figures for the 1.0 A3 can be attained, with some careful driving; especially on the highway, where you can find more opportunity to lift your foot off the gas, to let the car glide.

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Driven
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Driven

You have to hand it to the Germans, when it comes to sorting out a car’s handling. In this “humbler” setup, the 1.0 gets a simpler torsion beam suspension at the rear, as opposed to the more complex multi-link rear found in the 1.5. While it is a simpler car underneath, it still sits so well around corners, and we feel that most owners would hardly know the difference. However, I must say that as-per with torsion beam rear setups, the A3's rear does un-do itself around bends with uneven surfaces. But any unsettling is easily managed, as it is a forgiving car.

Overall, the ride on this sedan feels smoother than the 1.5. But to be fair, we feel that the latter’s larger optioned-in 18-inch rims are the culprits of contributing to the more powerful car’s inferior ride quality.

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Driven
2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic Singapore - Driven

Overall, the ride on this sedan feels smoother than the 1.5. But to be fair, we feel that the latter’s larger optioned-in 18-inch rims are the culprits of contributing to the more powerful car’s inferior ride quality.

Unfortunately for Singapore, lower powered versions of premium cars are the result of how the COE system is structured. But this is when cars like both the 1.0 Audi A3 cars, and also BMW’s 216i Gran Coupe, and 116i hatch, can then be priced more competitively.

But alas, rising COE prices have put the one-litre A3 Sedan currently a shade above 200k, which also means it also costs way more than the 1.5 body equivalent when it was first introduced. In this case, weniger ist mehr. But the price still sours what could be a good deal.

Photos Clifford Chow

2022 Audi A3 Sedan 1.0 TFSI S tronic

Engine 999cc, inline3, turbo
Power/rpm 110hp/5500rpm
Torque/rpm 200Nm/2000-3000rpm
Transmission 7spd dual-clutch
0-100km/h 10.6secs
Top Speed 210km/h
Fuel Consumption 4.3l/100km (combined)

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