Small Car Review of the Audi A3

In a culture in which the axiom "bigger is better" is quickly becoming an anti-SUV catch phrase, the Audi A3 is perhaps the most affordable answer to a large-car obsessed nation to scale it down a bit. With Svelte lines and a classy exterior treatment, as well as the optional Quattro all-wheel drive to keep things interesting on the sporty side, this five-door hatch has all the amenities you would want out of a $50k + sport coupe, blended with all the practicality of a grocery getter. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety chose the Audi A3 as its' top safety pick for 2008, and other accolades laden on the Audi A3 include a "10 best engines award" from Ward's AutoWorld, Forbes.com "Best under $50K luxury cars, and "Auto trophy 2007" by Auto Zeitung. All accolades aside, however, the truth is that the Audi A3 is a smart, sleek four-door with a roomy interior, and may be just what you're looking for in your next small car.

The Audi A3 gives you the option of choosing two engines: The base engine is a 200-hp 2.0L turbocharged four, while the sportier Audi A3 gives you the 6-cylinder 3.2L dual-overhead cam engine that is good for 250hp. Both give impressive acceleration, and the 2.0 gets moderately good gas mileage, although Audi A3 engineers would do well to get those numbers bumped up before Japanese automakers such as Lexus, Mazda and Acura start bringing out their own competition in this already tight field. The 3.2L engine is the engine of choice for the S-line Audi A3, and sends this lightweight car through turns at very athletic speeds, plenty enough to scare the pants off whoever you might be taking to soccer practice (should that practice just happen to be on the other side of a twisty mountain road.) Don't think that the Audi A3 2.0 is any slouch, however, as you will find the 2.0 with a six-speed manual loads of fun to drive, and every bit the competition to the Audi A3 's nemesis, the Subaru WRX and Volkswagen GTI.