Audi A3 S Line - S-Tronic - 1.4 or 1.8?

S Singh

S Singh

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Hi guys..

I'm a little new/inexperienced to cars.
I am looking to purchase an Audi A3 S line - Automatic Petrol (2013-2017 version) probably sometime next year.
The thing I need advice/help on is whether to get the 1.4 or 1.8 version?

I've got a friend who has the A3 saloon 1.8 so he said the 1.4 would be under-powered but he also said his 1.8 does drink a little bit too.

My past car was a Corsa C 1.4 so I'm not sure if I would feel the "under-powered" part as I'm pretty sure even the 1.4 version would feel like an upgrade? I did look at Auto-Trader and the 1.4 does stand at around 121BHP and the 1.8 is over like 170BHP. 1.8 is more appealing to me as long as the fuel price isn't that much of a difference.

My main concern is fuel consumption between the two though...
Is there a BIG difference or is it a small difference between the 1.4 and 1.8? Because the 1.8 is more appealing to me.. for example in terms of MPG, how much you spend on fuel to fill up and how much range you would get on a full tank. would it be a big difference?

In essence I don't want a slow under-powered car but at the same time don't want to spend like crazy amounts on fuel.
I live in London so would rarely be doing any motorway driving.. Just probably 60mph would be the max on the A roads.
 
Last edited:
Get the 1.8, the fuel cost isn’t much different, the non Quattro has a 7 speed dsg whereas the 6 speed has Quattro.
 
ive the 1.4 version of engine that has the COD system. That is Cylinder On Demand. It shuts down 2 of the cylinders when not needed, ie when barely touching the throttle. This model has 150 bhp and i wouldnt say its under powered. MPG its hard to say as im guilty of short journeys but its easy in the low 40s without trying.

Once the garages are opened again i would try test drive both engines and see how you feel.
 
If you will be happy with a 1.4 there will be much more choice but I think you've answered your own question. If you think you want the power then buy the 1.8 (if you can find one). My 1.8 FWD returned a long term average of 42 mpg indicated, (39 mpg in reality). Quattro makes them more thirsty but less prone to the front end hopping about.
 
Khufu said:
ive the 1.4 version of engine that has the COD system. That is Cylinder On Demand. It shuts down 2 of the cylinders when not needed, ie when barely touching the throttle. This model has 150 bhp and i wouldnt say its under powered. MPG its hard to say as im guilty of short journeys but its easy in the low 40s without trying.

Once the garages are opened again i would try test drive both engines and see how you feel.
Click to expand...
Thanks. This sounds like the best option as it's kind of in the middle in terms of power and would be good for fuel too.. Appreciate it!
 
I have the 1.8 Quattro. you are looking around 28mpg around town and 40mpg on a motorway run (constant 75 set on the cruise control)
remember if you are mainly driving in town around London all the extra power isn’t going to get much use, as traffic is so heavy, slow speed

hope that helps
 
I’ve got the 1.8 Quattro and while I like the performance and handling, I pay for it quite literally in fuel costs. I only drive around town and average 25mpg.

Drive both before buying would be my advice.


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The 1.4 tfsi COD 150bhp EA211 is a very sweet engine with no known problems. 1.8 is only 30 bhp more with same 250Nm torque figure. 0-60 just under 1 sec difference. If running costs are important, 1.4 is lower insurance, and significantly better fuel consumption. Also worth noting that if you buy a 1.4 pre April 2017 car the road tax is only £25.
 
I have a 1.4 (no COD) with 125ps engine and never once has it felt underpowered. As long as you are realistic with your expectations that you are running a 125ps engine you'll be fine . And I have tuned S4 and a BMW 330d as well. Off course you can't compare a 1.4 petrol with 3.0ltr engine but still it goes and goes fast enough for my liking.

Consumption wise, A3 is a daily and has an average of 38.7mpg. The best I've got was 55.6 mpg and 550 miles to a tank (460 motorway and 90 local) and worse is 360 - the latter was all local miles in winters.
 
I came to a 1.8TFSI quattro DSG from a 2003 Honda Civic Type-R back in 2014 and I'm convinced that in real-world driving, the humble A3 is faster than than the Type-R! I've owned it from new and it's now over six years old and still behaving impeccably.
 
1.5 TFSI here with COD and get 55mpg on long runs with some av 50mph speed camera runs

Around town get easily get 40's

perfect for todays roads littered with police camera vans and roads that cnanot take the volume of traffic (post COVID)

matched with the Stronic is a very comfortable and smooth engine
 
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