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Road Test

Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDi Sport

Test date 21 September 2004  Price as tested £20,840

The original Audi A3, launched in 1996, married the VW Golf Mk4’s humdrum chassis with crisp, sporty styling and an interior and build quality from the class above. It was a sales success and, helped by the five-door version introduced in 1999, sold nearly 875,000 during its production life.

The name ‘Sportback’ brings to mind crossover coupé-estates of the past such as the Reliant Scimitar, Lancia Beta HPE and Volvo 480. All these cars blended pace, space and sporting style in an unusual package, one that differed more from contemporary mainstream cars than the A3 Sportback does.

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