Audi A3 facelift review, test drive

Ever since its launch in India a couple of years back, the Audi A3 has been our favourite compact luxury sedan in the Indian auto market. It offers up a solid dose of practicality and performance, but when compared to its closest rival, it does feel a little held back when it comes to styling. So for 2016, Audi is preparing to launch a facelifted version of the A3, and I’m going to say this right off the bat, that even now it might not have the same pizazz of the Mercedes-Benz CLA, but it does bring a whole host of improvements to the table.

On the outside

The overall shape that makes the A3 such an attractive car, especially the low overhangs at both ends have been maintained. Even in terms of dimensions, there’s barely any change from the previous car. However, at the front, the signature Audi single frame grille is a bit larger and sharper in its design. The front air dam has also been revised to feature chunkier intakes and makes the car look sportier than before. The headlights too have seen a redesign and are now flatter with sharper edges, much like you find on the new Audi A4.

Looking at the A3 from the front, there’s in fact very little to differentiate from the current generation A4. One big bit of technology that Audi engineers have added is the option for the company’s cutting-edge Matrix LED headlights, making it the first time they’re being offered in this segment of car. The Matrix lights contain individual LEDs that can automatically adapt to oncoming traffic so as to not blind other road users, and in conjunction with satellite navigation from the car’s MMI (Multi Media Interface), can actually predict upcoming corners and start turning the beam towards the direction of steering pre-emptively. Apart from that, the A3 also gets dynamic LED indicators which are consecutively actuated to give them the appearance of running outwards into the direction of the turn while flashing at the same time. At the back, this facelift also gets a more sporty rear diffuser along with redesigned tail-lights which feature dynamic turn indicators as well.