car - audi uk · 10 11 best buy family car more than £20,000 key facts audi a3 sportback 1.4 tfsi...

AUDI AWARDS SPECIAL

OF THECARYEAR

Reprinted from WhatCar? Awards 2017

2 3 whatcar.com AWARDS 2017 || AWARDS 2017 whatcar.com

Winner 2017Family car

Photography by John Bradshaw

Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 150 Sport

Best family car

CAR OFTHE YEAR2017

After a three-year barren patch, the Audi A3 Sportback is back among the honours. It has a number of strengths (a posh interior, sharp handling and a strong engine) and no major weakness.

That’s why we think it’s well worth the premium over our runners-up, the Seat Leon and Vauxhall Astra. In fact, the A3’s vastly better resale values mean that it won’t cost much more in the long run if you’re paying cash up front or taking out a finance deal.

SE trim is worth a look if you’re at the top of your budget, but we think the Sport model, which adds sat-nav, climate control and more supportive front seats, justifies its higher price.


Winner 2017Executive car


Audi A4 3.0 TDI 218 Sport

Best executive car

CAR OFTHE YEAR2017

So, we know the A4 3.0 TDI 218 Sport is good, but why is it great? What makes this the best car here?

As we’ve said already, it’s the smoothest, quietest and best-finished car in its class. And on top of that, this is a car costing less than £35,000, and one that in recent group tests has beaten highly regarded cars from the class above.

Admittedly, one is the outgoing BMW 5 Series, but that’s still a fine car, as is the new Volvo S90, and it beat that, too.

The A4 manages these feats only because Audi set out not to just compete, but to build the most complete executive car on the planet, and it’s certainly done so.


Winner 2017Coupé


Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Sport

Best coupé

CAR OFTHE YEAR2017

Although it’s up against its bigger brother (the A5) and a Mercedes that costs three times as much, the TT takes this award for the third time on the bounce.

Despite the relatively low price, it’s easily the most fun to drive of our contenders, yet it’s still comfy and quiet enough for everyday use.

Sure, you can’t get an automatic gearbox or four-wheel drive with this engine, but the manual gearbox is slick enough and opting for two-wheel drive saves weight, making for more agile handling.

You can spend more on flashy S line trim, but we’d argue that Sport has all the kit you need.


Winner 2017Luxury SUV


Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 272 quattro SE

Best luxury SUV

CAR OFTHE YEAR2017

Despite costing much less than an entry-level Range Rover, the Q7 is unquestionably a better all-rounder. It has a very plush interior, gets loads of standard kit and is incredibly refined; wind and road noise are negligible and the optional air suspension gives a supremely cushioned ride.

The 268bhp 3.0-litre diesel engine is powerful and silky-smooth, and the eight-speed automatic gearbox fast and slick.

Inside, there’s more than enough space for four adults, plus the Q7 can carry children in its standard third row of seats.

Ultimately, luxury SUVs don’t get any more spacious, comfy, luxurious or sophisticated.

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Key factsBest buy Family Car more than £20,000

Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 150 SportTHE A3 WON our overall Car of the Year award in 2013, so it clearly has a very fine pedigree.

That has only been enhanced by a recent facelift, which has added more standard kit and the option of having Audi’s brilliant Virtual Cockpit (a 12.3in display that replaces the analogue instrument dials to put more useful information where it’s easy to see).

That was the only thing about the A3’s magnificent interior that needed improving. Even executive cars costing thousands more are shamed by its classy dashboard,

rock-solid build quality and wonderful attention to detail. The way the A3 drives has been largely left alone, too, so it still handles sweetly and rides comfortably – so long as you avoid the temptation to add bigger alloy wheels and optional sports suspension.

The diesel versions (particularly the 2.0 TDI 150) are great, but we reckon this 1.4 turbo petrol is even better. It almost matches the equally powerful 2.0 TDI for CO2 emissions and costs less to run as a company car because petrol cars avoid the 3% benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax surcharge.

List price £23,685Target Price £21,730Performance 0-62mph 8.1secTop speed 136mphRunning costs Government economy 61.4mpgGovernment CO2 108g/kmCompany car tax band 18%Insurance group 24Safety Euro NCAP crash rating

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95% 87% 74% 86%

True MPG n/a

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Key factsBest buy Executive Car more than £30,000

Audi A43.0 TDI 218 SportYOU DON’T GET something for nothing, they say. Well, we think this Audi A4 challenges that theory. It has a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine but is barely any thirstier to fuel than either the less powerful A4 2.0 TDI 190, or rivals with 2.0-litre diesel engines. In True MPG testing, it averaged a respectable 42.0mpg. CO2 emissions are fractionally higher than with Audi’s 2.0-litre, but the difference is so small that you won’t pay much more company car tax.

The performance of this bigger engine whisks you along with the minimum of effort, taking the strain out of

overtaking or building speed to join motorways. What’s more, it does so while being incongruously smooth by diesel standards, which complements the A4’s sumptuous ride (stick with the regular Comfort suspension) and excellent ability to filter out road and wind noise at speed.

The A4’s exquisitely built interior offers the quality of a luxury car’s, and there’s a host of tech to enjoy, including Audi’s feature-laden MMI infotainment system, as well as space for four adults – five at a push – and a generous boot.

Key factsBest buy Executive Car £25,000-£30,000

Audi A3 Saloon2.0 TDI 150 SportTHERE ARE MANY excellent cars in this price band, so why does the Audi A3 Saloon stand out? It’s the price of a mid-level Volkswagen Passat but offers a noticeable step up in build quality and its smart interior matches Audi’s premium-badge billing. It’s also superb fun to drive, thanks to pin-sharp handling and a smooth, punchy diesel engine.

For all that sportiness, though, the A3 Saloon is also comfortable. The ride is firm but stays supple enough to take the sting out of most pockmarked surfaces; the Sports model’s seats grip you securely, but cosset at the same

time; the minimalist dashboard looks swish while putting all the controls within easy reach; and you get Audi’s excellent MMI infotainment system, with crisp graphics and intuitive menus. Strong resale values keep PCP and leasing deals surprisingly affordable, and respectably low CO2 emissions and fuel economy mean low company car tax bills.

The rear seats aren’t as roomy as those in some rivals, but if you can put up with that, you’ll really enjoy living with the A3 Saloon.



95% 87% 74% 86%



89% 87% 75% 75%

Key factsBest buy Convertible £25,000-£35,000

Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.4 TFSI 150 SportTHERE ARE LARGER soft-tops within this budget, but we’d pick the Audi A3 Cabriolet every time. Although it’s based on a hatchback, this four-seater has enough rear seat space for two average-height adults and the boot is bigger than many similarly priced rivals’.

A range of engines is available, but we’d opt for the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine. With 148bhp, it has more than enough poke and returns decent fuel economy. Low CO2 emissions mean cheap road tax and affordable company car tax, too.

As for handling, there’s lots of grip and the A3 is an enjoyable car to drive through corners. Despite being a Sport model, this car gets comfort-focused suspension that suits tatty British roads much better than the stiffer suspension the pricier S line trim comes with.

Sport trim is the sweet spot in other respects, too. It gets more hood soundproofing than lesser trims, so it’s much quieter inside, plus dual-zone climate control, aluminium interior trims and sporty exterior touches. So, the A3 is a convertible you can buy with your head and your heart.


Not yet tested

True MPG n/a

True MPG n/a

True MPG 42.0mpg

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What we are looking forThis category is all about innovation. The brief for selecting the winner was to consider a broad range of car tech, with emphasis on those that break new ground or bring existing high-end technology to a wider audience.Technology Award

CAR OFTHE YEAR2017

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Key facts

Key facts

Best buy Coupe £30,000-£50,000

Best buy Coupe less than £30,000

Audi A5 3.0 TDI 218 Sport

Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Sport

IT’S NO REAL surprise to see the Audi A5 make this list. After all, the A4 saloon upon which it’s based was our overall Car of the Year winner last year. That means you have the option of a smooth 3.0-litre V6 diesel, with a great blend of smoothness, economy and performance.

Inside, you get the same attractive dashboard as in the A4, a 7.0in infotainment screen with a user-friendly rotary dial controller and four proper seats. Although adults more than six feet tall might have to slouch to fit, the rear seats are fine for shorter passengers or for longer-legged people on short journeys. Meanwhile, the boot is marginally bigger than rivals’ and 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats are standard.

Sport trim benefits from comfort-focused suspension that soaks up the worst bumps far better than the stiffer set-up of S line models. Given the laid-back demeanour of the A5, we’d definitely recommend the softer set-up.

Even so, the A5 is very capable through corners, delivering surefooted grip without the body leaning over too much. This really is a car that you could happily use every day.

THE AUDI TT is a stalwart in this category and has become even easier to recommend with the introduction of a new entry-level 1.8-litre engine. It might be the baby of the range, but it’s still good for a 6.9sec 0-62mph time, which is impressively quick. The engine is less peaky than the 2.0-litre that sits above it, too.

The 1.8-litre’s power delivery is also smoother, and the engine is barely audible at a cruise. Stick with our recommended Sport trim and the ride is also comfortable. Sure, it has a firm edge, but that is totally in keeping with the racy looks.

Thankfully, Audi has been able to make the TT handle in a most enjoyable fashion. Lightweight construction helps: it means that the TT is eager to turn in to corners and there’s little body roll.Then there’s the interior. No rival at this price can match the richness of the TT’s materials, minimalist appeal of its dash or effectiveness of its 12.3in Virtual Cockpit display.

And finally there’s the price: the 1.8-litre TT is £3000 cheaper than the 2.0-litre model. Factor in better fuel economy as well and it’s a no-brainer.

List price £39,725Target Price £35,383Performance 0-62mph 6.2secTop speed 155mphRunning costs Government economy 56.5mpg

Government CO2 119g/kmCompany car tax band 23% Insurance group 31Safety Euro NCAP crash rating


89% 87% 75% 75%


Government CO2 138g/kmCompany car tax band 24%Insurance group 32Safety Euro NCAP crash rating

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81% 68% 82% 64%

True MPG n/a

True MPG 40.4mpg

Awards 2017Best buy Coupés

Key facts

Best buy Luxury SUV £50,000-£70,000

Audi Q7 3.0 TDI 272 quattro SEAUDI WAS ONE of the first car makers to offer four-wheel drive, yet it was actually something of a latecomer to the SUV market, first making an appearance in 2006 with the original Q7. Now, this latest model has not only caught up with the rest of the class, but surpassed it.

With a superbly built interior, a long list of standard equipment and an incredibly refined V6 diesel engine, this Q7 offers everything a luxury SUV buyer could ever want. Sure, it isn’t the sharpest-handling SUV, but that’s more than made up for by its cosseting ride, especially on our recommended optional air suspension, and its impressive high-speed stability.

Inside, there’s masses of space for five adults and the option to carry children in the standard sixth and seventh seats, while the boot is large and a practical shape. Audi’s MMI infotainment system is one of the best on the market. It has sharp graphics and is easy to use with its slick rotary controller. It easily surpasses the system in the pricier Range Rover.

All things considered, the Q7 makes for a fast, practical and highly luxurious SUV.


Government CO2 153g/kmCompany car tax band 30%Insurance group 40Safety Euro NCAP crash rating


94% 88% 70% 76%

True MPGn/a

Key facts

Technology Award Finalist

Audi SQ7 48V electrical systemWITH ITS £70K price-tag and V8 turbo diesel engine, the ludicrously fast Audi SQ7 might seem a bit irrelevant to most car buyers. However, it features technology that will filter down to more affordable VW Group models.

Traditionally, cars have featured 12V electrical systems – and the SQ7 is no different in this respect. However, it also has a 48V sub-system which drives a compressor.

This electrically driven compressor is designed to reduce the low-rev sluggishness that you get with conventional turbocharged engines. And sure enough, it reaches its maximum boost in just 250 milliseconds, so provides strong acceleration almost instantly.

You get 664lb ft of torque from just 1000rpm, enough to give this big, seven-seat SUV a 0-62mph sprint time of 4.9sec.

As a bonus, the 48V sub-system also provides the energy for the SQ7’s optional active anti-roll bars, which work with the standard air suspension to make the car feel super-stable in fast bends, with very little of the body sway that often blights top-heavy SUVs.

List price £70,970Target Price £67,080Performance 0-62mph 4.9secTop speed 155mph

Running costs Government economy 39.2mpgGovernment CO2 190g/kmCompany car tax band 37%Insurance group 49

For more information on Audi’s winners visitwww.audi.co.uk/whatcar

Information correct at time of print 6 January 2017

car - audi uk · 10 11 best buy family car more than £20,000 key facts audi a3 sportback 1.4 tfsi...

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