The front passenger also enjoys a well-sculpted, supportive seat. In the back, I was surprised by the reasonable amount of legroom available. And lateral support provided by the rear seatbacks is commendable too. My passengers and I unanimously liked how the climate control system effectively kept the interior comfortable.

The stereo in my tester got the approval of my music-loving friends, especially since road and wind noise is reduced to a minimum, even at 120 kph.

The 2.0T is a high-performing yet fuel-efficient engine.

Power and grip
The A3 boasts many sought-after attributes. For instance, the precise steering makes the car easy to maneuver while providing good road feedback. On the other hand, the gear selector was too low and the throws were too long to my liking, which took some of the driving fun away. Personally, I would opt for the optional Tiptronic autobox with paddle shifters.

That said, I loved how the 200 horsepower of the 2.0L, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine are sent to the front wheels. Nimble in the city, the A3 is also quite stable on the highway. The real fun is found on byroads, where the little Audi dives into corners with poise and agility thanks to good tires and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP). I could have driven for days.

Performance figures for the A3 2.0T are as follow: 8 seconds from 0 to 100 kph and less than 5 seconds from 80 to 120 kph, making for safe passing maneuvers. Based on this data, I was expecting sub-par fuel economy, but no: I wound up with a combined city-highway average of 10.5 L/100 km. Braking performance is equally impressive; it took less than 37 meters to stop from 100 to 0 kph.

Well-rounded
Audi wanted to offer a nicely-equipped entry-level car with excellent driving dynamics. Furthermore, the A3's deceptive size hides a generously roomy interior. Those after a versatile premium hatchback should take notice.


Photo Credit : Audi