Audi A3: Steering Singapore’s Car‑Buying Zeal (Cat A Vision)
When the traffic lights blink at every corner, Singaporeans love a car that packs a punch in the most tax‑savvy way: a luxury hatch or sedan that earns a Category A Certificate of Entitlement (COE). Audi’s latest A3 is doing just that, and oh‑wow, the engine’s petite yet fierce.
Meet the New A3 Line‑up
- A3 Sedan (1.0 L) – S$188,148
- A3 Sportback (1.0 L) – S$186,369
- A3 Sedan (1.5 L) – S$209,513
- A3 Sportback (1.5 L) – S$207,635
Notice the sweet spot: the 1.0‑liter models bring a $21,000 wallet‑friendly cushion compared with the 1.5‑liter mild‑hybrid, all while packing a 110 hp engine. That’s the kind of save that makes you chuckle at the energy bill.
The Engine That Made the Cut
The little 999‑cc engine, caressing 110 hp, has a magic allowance under Cat A rules – the engine must be under 1.6 L and produce under 130 hp. Sound odd? That’s the law that lets the A3 dodge the pricier Category B COE.
COE Prices: Why the 1.0 Is Cheaper
Comparing the present COE rates (Cat A: S$73,801 vs. Cat B: S$100,684), it’s clear the 1.0‑liter cousins shine brighter on the price tag. That’s why the new A3’s entry‑level model shines even brighter than the 1.5‑liter’s Ferdinand‑style cousin, which sports 150 hp and sits in the pricey Category B.
What if the 1.0 Had Been Even Cheaper?
Curious why the 1.0 isn’t cheaper than its sibling? Stay tuned until the end of this story and discover the behind‑the‑scene remix of savings versus standards.
Audi A3 1.0: Specs and performance
Here’s our walkthrough of the Audi A3 1.5 from last year – the new A3 1.0 has largely the same equipment spec so it’ll be much the same
The key difference is the 1.0-litre engine, which we have seen previously in the A1 Sportback. A 999cc inline three-cylinder turbo engine, it makes 110hp compared to the 150hp of the 1.5-litre inline four-cylinder unit of the A3 1.5.
Both the 1.0 and 1.5 have mild hybrid systems – an electric motor delivers a mild boost and energy is recuperated and stored in a small battery under the driver’s seat. But on paper, the 1.0 is more efficient than the 1.5, with the A3 1.0 Sedan nabbing 4.3L/100km, and the A3 1.0 Sportback doing 4.4L/100km, compared to 4.7L/100km for the A3 1.5 (both models).
Both A3 1.0 models have 110hp and 200Nm of torque, and do 0-100km/h in a relaxed 10.6 seconds, with a maximum speed of approximately 210km/h. <img alt="" data-caption="File photo of the Audi A3 1.5 Sportback – interior should be identical in the A3 1.0
PHOTO: CarBuyer” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”a855ff6f-9082-4fce-9bb3-8ba02ef8dd9a” src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/210622_car_car.jpg”/>With the price savings made up almost entirely by paying The Man less dough, the A3 1.0 otherwise looks almost the same as the 1.5 and has a very similar equipment level. Inside features a 12.3-inch active driver’s display (aka Audi Virtual Cockpit) and Audi’s latest MMI infotainment system, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen colour panel. It has ‘always on’ connectivity via 4G, Google search, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, handwriting recognition, and voice input.
Lastly, the A3 1.0 has a simpler rear suspension setup – a torsion beam, compared to the 1.5’s multi-link setup. Whether or not this will translate to a big difference in comfort remains to be seen – we’ll test the A3 1.0 soon and post a review, so check back to find out more.
We’ve covered the Audi A3 extensively – read our review of the A3 1.5 Sedan and the A3 1.5 Sportback, and watch our walkthrough video above for all you need to know about the car in Singapore.
We’ve also driven the fire-breathing RS 3 models, again in Sedan and Sportback form, and driven them on track in our video above!
Could it have been even cheaper? It’s not so simple…
The price of the A3 1.0 could have been even lower, however it qualifies for a Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES, basically pollution penalty/rebate) band of B, which is neutral. That’s worse than the 1.5, despite the 1.0 having a smaller engine and the same mild hybrid system.
In contrast, the A3 1.5 is less polluting and nabs a VES band of A2, worth a $15k rebate. Why? Our guess is that the 1.0-litre engine might emit a bit more of a certain pollutant type. VES scores cars on carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), and a car only needs to hit the zone for one to fall into the next band.
ALSO READ: Car review: Audi A3 Sedan impresses with premium-feeling cabin with excellent functionality
This article was first published in CarBuyer.
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