Audi A3

Driven: 2010 Audi A3 TDI. 2010 Audi A3 TDI Sign up for our DailyNewsletterGet daily news, spy shots and more! A base A3 2.0 TDI FWD S-Tronic runs $29,950. The VW Golf TDI we recently tested runs $23,090. In the review of that car we mentioned how the $7k discount for the Golf might be the way to go. After all, you can’t get this flavor of Audi with quattro AWD, which would differentiate the Audi diesel from the Volkswagen. And both share a chassis, a 2.0-liter turbocharged motor good for the same juice—140hp and 236 pound-feet of torque—and get identical fuel economy as well, 30 city/42 highway. But the counter argument is that you can get baubles with the Audi that the VW doesn’t offer. Would we opt for the $2,000 Premium Plus package that features Xenon headlights and slick LED daytime running lights as well as Bluetooth phone syncing?

So that’s pushed the car to roughly $32,500, well more than that Golf. Which is a false comparison, actually. Which is also a sin the S-Tronic is guilty of. Audi A3 Photos, Prices, Reviews, Specs. The Audi A3 is a compact, luxurious hatchback that's been on the market since 2013. It was initially unique to its segment, before the Lexus CT200h and Volvo C30 came onto the scene. It’s one of the few Audis that shares its underpinnings with a Volkswagen—the Golf in this case—which means the A3 is riding on a chassis that’s been around for a decade.

For more information on the A3 range, including options, prices, and specifications, see our full review of the 2013 Audi A3. The current Audi A3 is due to be entirely refreshed with an all-new generation for the 2015 model year. Already on sale in Europe as a hatchback, the new A3 will be sold in the U.S. as a four-door sedan, a new body style for the smallest Audi. That first 2006 A3 offered several different combinations of running gear. Of all the Audi A3 models offered, the clean-diesel TDI is our editors' favorite. Audi A3. Introduced a decade ago in Europe and brought to the United States in 2006, the A3 is Audi's entry-level model for the North American market. Smaller and lighter than an A4 2.0T Avant Quattro, the front-drive Audi A3 presents a strong argument for buying a bargain sport wagon, provided one goes easy on the options. And just because this is Audi's entry-level car doesn't mean the company cuts corners on quality.

The cabin's design and materials are up to the lofty standards Audi has set for the industry, meaning everything fits tightly, moves with precision and looks and feels top-shelf. The A3 remains an alternative choice -- few luxury automakers bother making small hatchbacks. As such, it's an upscale alternative to more mainstream hatchbacks, a cheaper alternative to a regular luxury wagon and, with the clean-burning diesel engine, an extremely-fuel efficient alternative to hybrids. Current Audi A3 The Audi A3 is available in Premium and Premium Plus trim levels. 2011 Audi A3 Reviews, Pictures and Prices - U.S. News Rankings and Reviews. The 2013 Audi A3 ranks 3 out of 13 Upscale Small Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of published reviews and test drives of the Audi A3, as well as reliability and safety data.

Though the 2013 Audi A3 has cramped rear seats, auto reviewers still think its ample cargo space and fuel-efficient diesel engine make it one of the more versatile models in its class. The 2013 Audi A3 can come with a turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine or a turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine. Critics find that models with the standard gasoline engine are the most enjoyable to drive, but they’re also impressed with the diesel’s fuel economy ratings of 30/42 mpg city/highway, which is significantly higher than the base model’s 21/30 mpg.

Both engines have a standard six-speed manual transmission, though a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is optional. Other Cars to Consider The Acura ILX offers more standard features than the Audi A3, including Bluetooth and a USB port. VWvortex.com. A3 & S3 (8P) Audi A3 / S3. Audi A3. Welcome to AudiForums.com Welcome to AudiForums.com You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today! Audi's frugal gourmet. Audi's upcoming RS 5 coupe savours rather than sips every precious litre of premium octane gasoline.

Savouring rather than sipping: it's a concept tied to driving for the joy of it, remote from the experience of driving automobiles intended to save the planet. Only a few cars can compare with Audi's newest sport coupe - going on sale in Europe in June and coming to North America in the autumn of 2011 - in pleasure gained per litre consumed. In this sense, the RS 5 is as an affirmative response to petroleum currently becoming recognized as a precious resource - albeit a powerhouse that is diametrically opposed to the fuel-conserving vehicles called for by governments around the world. Some, to be sure, will condemn the RS 5 as simply irresponsible, just as they frown on a BMW M3 or Jaguar XFR. Whatever your personal reaction, Audi boasts the RS 5 has garnered a fuel consumption rating of 10.8 litres/100 km in the European test cycle, no small achievement for a 450-horsepower V-8.