Audi A3 saloon

Its so-called “product firework”

now has 47 desirable models to salivate over.

So it’s surprising that its best-seller has previously only been available as a three-door, sportback or convertible.

Time to fill the gap here then. Enter the A3 saloon.

No other car manufacturer has mastered the art of the niche car quite like Audi has, and here’s another new model that is likely to tempt particularly first-time Audi buyers. It’s an A3 with a saloon boot, making it the first “three box”

design A3 and a potential first purchase for those wishing to get on the Audi ladder.

Early indications are that It’s going to be popular. Audi executives were taken aback by initial interest on these shores, partly because the saloon was conceived primarily for Chinese and American markets, where compact saloons are popular.

The car finds a balance of talents that marries everything a junior premium car buyer wants. And it’s certainly not a mere A3 with a boot added.

In profile, there are pronounced shoulder lines and body creases that present an eye-catching sight.

Extending the bodywork at the back has given this A3 an extra 45 litres of boot space over the hatchbacks, totalling 425 litres, although it loses the obvious boot height advantage of the three-door and Sportback.

The boot has a subtle lip spoiler built into it and the wheel arches have been flared.

On the inside there is a range of finishes from the functional to the stylish. Full leather, cloth and leather/Alcantara options are available depending on the model, but the quality and production standards are generally top-drawer.

The only caveat is the cheap-feeling thin plastic used in the rather splendid air vents.

As for model availability, two trim levels were primed for this month’s UK arrival. As always, S line is the range-topping grade – expect big wheels and upmarket detailing – with Sport sitting beneath as a cheaper entry point but in the same vein of slightly more aggressive styling than you get with the hatchback models.

A big chunk of A3 saloons are expected to sell as company cars, to drivers who might well want to sacrifice the size and outright equipment levels of something like a top-spec Mondeo or Insignia for the badge appeal of the smallest Audi saloon. These buyers will have one suitable engine at the car’s launch: a 107g/km, 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel.

But I preferred the two petrol engines over the diesel. There’s a more-than-adequate 1.4-litre TSI turbo benefiting from cylinder-ondemand technology and a more powerful 1.8-litre TSI that pips it because of its better motorway performance.

Mated with the superb S-tronic auto box, both of these engines offer a relaxing, smooth ride that trumps the diesel.

The cylinder-on-demand technology might just be a dealclincher for some buyers. At low engine load, the system deactivates two cylinders to minimise mechanical effort and cut fuel consumption. As a result, it will return an average fuel consumption figure of about 60mpg.

As for the ride and handling, three suspension set-ups will be available.

Sport is standard, with softer, taller ‘standard’ suspension available as a no-cost option. There’s also an S line configuration, but since the Sport variant is a little firm already, especially faced with potholes, S line might be a bridge too far.

Drive Select also comes as standard. At the touch of a button the driver can choose comfort, auto, dynamic, efficiency or individual mode, which offers the driver his or her own profile.

For private buyers in particular, you should be aware that rear passengers topping 6ft might find their hair brushing the ceiling until they settle back in the seats.

Wider, lower and longer than the sportback, the saloon is now the pick of the A3 bunch in terms of looks and affordability.

In November, a manual version of the 1.4 TFSI will arrive, and the following month a 1.6-litre diesel (manual and S-tronic) will join the line-up. There will also be a 1.8 petrol with manual transmission and a quattro version mated with Stronic.

The final piece in the jigsaw arrives next summer – a 2.0-litre diesel with manual transmission or S-tronic/quattro.

That choice of engines and transmissions should satisfy just about everyone in the market for a booted A3.

If you want something with more performance, then you will need to look to the S3, which now features a new 2.0-litre petrol engine and allnew platform. But that’s a story for another day.

Fact File

Audi A3 saloon

PRICE: from £24,275

ENGINE: 1.2 TFSI Cylinder On Demand

TRANSMISSION: sevenspeed S-tronic driving the front wheels

PERFORMANCE: 0 to 62mph in 8.4 seconds; top speed 135mph

ECONOMY: 60.1mpg combined

CO2 RATING: 129g/km