Just last week we saw Audi roll out the most brutal variant of the A3 range – the RS3 Sportback. While the five-cylinder beast shreds its tyres alongside the fearsome A45 AMG, its lesser siblings, the A3 and S3 sedans have done themselves some good at the US NCAP crash test, effectively making them among the safest vehicles in its class.
QUICK FACTS
| Name | Audi A3 1.4 TFSI Sedan | Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Sedan | Audi S3 TFSI Sedan |
| Segment | Luxury C-Segment | ||
| Engine | 1,395cc; turbocharged inline 4-cyl | 1,798cc; turbocharged inline 4-cyl | 1,984cc; turbocharged inline 4-cyl |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual clutch (dry) automatic | 6-speed dual clutch (wet) automatic | 6-speed dual clutch (wet) automatic |
| Max Power; Max Torque | 122 hp @ 5,000 rpm; 200 Nm @ 1,400 rpm | 180 hp @ 5,100 rpm; 280 Nm @ 1,350 rpm | 300 hp @ 5,500 rpm; 380 Nm @ 1,800 rpm |
| Price | RM179,900 (OTR without insurance) | RM240,888 (OTR without insurance) | N/A |
Like all other crash tests, cars undergoing the US NCAP crash test will be fitted with crash test dummies to measure bodily impacts in the event of a crash. The A3 and S3 sedans both repeatedly went through rigorous frontal, side and rollover tests.
The five star rating is strictly limited to cars that provide the greatest amount of crash protection and rollover safety beyond the required US federal law.
On a side note, the A3 Sportback e-tron, Audi’s first e-tron (plug-in hybrid vehicle) model also earned a five-star crash safety rating but from Euro NCAP.
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