Driving the family
During my outings in the A3 S line, I was floored by how much fun this little people hauler is to pilot and how responsive it is to every driver-issued nuance. This car is extremely agile, with feline-like reflexes. Steering inputs are immediately acted upon, slight as they may be. I found no torque steer or tramming to complain of- just point-and-shoot performance.

A razor sharp steering and a firm ride make for a very fun to drive little hatch.

If there's a downside to the S line's tarmac tenacity, it is ride quality. The car is by no means punishing as it contends with road rubble but it does ride firmly. I'd be prepared to swap a modicum of pavement sear for a touch more absorption underfoot. Still, others may find the S line blend of handling ability and ride comfort just right, and that's okay by me.

An aspect I'm sure we'd all agree upon is brake performance. The A3 S line squats slightly when the binders snap as it instantly and predictably eradicates speed without loss of composure. All brake systems should function this well. The antilock discs are wired into Audi's Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to add a greater margin of safety when vehicle control is under attack.

Powering the family
In saving the best for last, it's time to examine the heart of Audi's hatchback rocket. The A3 S line is powered by a 3.2 litre DOHC V6 capable of 250 horsepower and 236 pound-feet. This powerplant's boastful exhaust note is backed up by a 0-96 kph (0-60 mph) time of less than six seconds; no doubt, this car is fast. It also pulls strongly in the passing lane, which is an important autobahn feature.

Adding to my tester's brawniness was its S tronic, automatic manual transmission (formerly known as Audi's Direct Shift Gearbox or "DSG" for short). Automatic manual transmission- there's an oxymoron you might say. Without getting all fancy-pants about it, the S tronic is capable of shifting gears in as little as 0.2 seconds without any noticeable interruption in the flow of power.

The extremely rapid, crisp shifts of S tronic technology can be controlled via two steering-wheel-mounted paddles, ala Formula 1 racing. After passing through the S tronic box, power heads out to all four wheels thanks to Audi's renowned 'quattro' all-wheel-drive technology. Four-point traction keeps the A3 well planted in the corners and well motivated when roads become slippery.

The 3.2L V6 is used in many Audi products.