August 2010

The 2010 Audi A3 Marries Comfort, Style and Fuel Efficiency

Audi is one of the few premium automakers with enough confidence in the quality of its vehicles to defy convention and produce high-class compact hatchbacks for sale in the United States. Sliding behind the wheel of the 2010 Audi A3 and heading out on the road for a quick spin is all it takes to understand exactly why the German brand had no qualms about introducing North American drivers to the pleasures of small-scale luxury.

 

The 2010 Audi A3 (MSRP $27,270) is like no other compact hatch on the market. The vehicle’s exterior “Sportback” styling firmly establishes it as part of the Audi design family with a plunging collar grille up front and the smooth, uncomplicated side panels that help the A3 maintain an imposing presence despite its diminutive size. The A3 is a true hatch, offering four-door convenience and a large rear liftgate without the extended roofline typical of larger vehicles.

 

Inside, the 2010 Audi A3 surprises with the amount of room it offers. In addition to generous space for as many as five passengers, the cargo area immediately behind the rear seats boasts a 19.5 cubic feet capacity, which is far greater than the trunks provided by most midsize sedans. The practical nature of the A3 becomes even more apparent when folding the rear seats forward – revealing the 39 total cubic feet of space that can be devoted to handling luggage and other gear.

 

True to its luxury roots, the Audi A3 can also be outfitted with a number of different equipment packages, which add convenience and comfort to the vehicle’s already impressive list of features. Of particular interest to drivers living in northern climates is the Cold Weather Package, which provides heated outside mirrors and windshield washer nozzles, as well as heated front seats that make starting the car on a cold day that much more bearable. A Convenience Package is also available, and it offers automatic windshield wipers and headlights, a Bose sound system and an automatically dimming rearview mirror that features an integrated compass. 

 

Finally, performance enthusiasts would do well to investigate the Sport and Titanium Sport Packages. The former adds 18-inch wheels and sticky tires to match, sport seats that are aggressively bolstered to better grip the torso through tight curves and a stiffer suspension system that helps the A3 handle sharper steering inputs at high speeds. The latter spruces up the look of the Audi A3 thanks to the addition of black exterior and interior trim, as well as leather sport seats featuring Alcantara inserts.

 

There are two options available to 2010 Audi A3 buyers when it comes to engine choices. The first is the 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder unit that is found in the A3 2.0 TFSI (“TFSI” stands for “Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection”). This engine offers an impressive 200 hp and 207 lb/ft of torque while consuming fuel at a reduced rate, delivering up to 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Base editions of the A3 2.0 TFSI are found with front-wheel drive and the option of either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch S tronic® automatic that features seamless manual shift capabilities accessed through steering wheel-mounted paddles. If drivers select available quattro® all-wheel drive and give their version of the A3 a distinct traction advantage in slippery situations, then the S tronic six-speed automatic becomes the transmission of choice.

 

The second engine choice, found in the Audi A3 TDI®, is new for 2010 and is the reason the A3 TDI won the 2010 Green Car of the Year award. The TDI® 2.0 engine is a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder clean diesel unit with FSI direct injection along with a turbocharger. Common rail direct injection technology and piezoelectric injectors help the TDI clean diesel deliver 140 hp and 236 lb/ft of torque, yet remain amazingly frugal when it comes to fuel consumption. The A3 TDI is good for up to 30 mpg in city driving, and its fantastic 42 mpg on the highway is the best of any luxury car on the American market. Front-wheel drive is standard, as is Audi’s six-speed DSG automatic transmission.

 

The 2010 Audi A3 is the most comfortable, practical and, in TDI trim, fuel conscious luxury hatchback in the United States.


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