- hatchback 57,251
- 18,000 overpriced
- Joliet, IL
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- autoshopper.com
2010 audi a3 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Terrific, tidy, fun five-door hatchback. introductionthe audi a3 is a compact, yet premium car with excellent driving dynamics from superbly engineered powertrain, suspension and braking systems. It's also quite stylish and luxurious, particularly for a car in its market category. Yet, it's also fuel-efficient and represents a great value for the money. It's so good, and so appropriate for a world that increasingly requires efficiency and long-term satisfaction, that it is one of that group of vehicles we think of as keepers. the a3 is a practical, compact five-door hatchback, but it feels up-market, like a scaled-down a4. We like the a3 for its combination of open-road dynamism, long-haul friendliness, and around-town usefulness. The a3 is an example of the exquisite sensibilities in design and use of materials that distinguishes a contemporary audi. two powertrains are available. With front-wheel drive it is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic s tronic dual-clutch transmission (dsg) with electro-hydraulic control; in quattro form it is available only with the s tronic. With the manual transmission this engine is epa-rated at 21 mpg city, 30 mpg highway. new for 2010 is the 2. 0 tdi clean diesel that makes 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. It is available only with front-wheel drive and the s tronic automatic transmission. With all that torque it has no problem at all moving the a3 down the road or up the hills, even with it fully loaded. Perhaps most significantly, it is epa-rated at 30 mpg city and a remarkable 42 mpg highway. other changes for 2010 include the s line exterior being made standard, a titanium sport package added as an option (it includes titanium-optic wheels, black grille, sport suspension and seats, and leather/alcantara upholstery), bi-xenon headlights standard on the premium plus model, the navigation now includes traffic data, and wood interior trim is available as an option. The audi magnetic ride and the 3. 2-liter v6 engine have been discontinued. We found the a3 models offer superb balance and excellent throttle response that make for a convincing sports-car experience when the road is right. The convenience package 1,000) adds bose premium sound, rain-sensing wipers, and an auto-dimming mirror with compass. Options include a cold weather package 500) with heated front seats, heated windshield washer nozzles and heated exterior mirrors; navigation 2,000), which includes a six-cd changer and two sd card slots; and the moonroof 1,100). safety features that come standard on all models include front and side-impact airbags for the front-seat passengers. All five seating positions get three-point seatbelts and adjustable headrests, while front-seat headrests feature active technology to reduce whiplash injuries. The front seat belts feature height adjustment, automatic pre-tensioners and belt-force limiters. Rear side airbags are optional 350). Active safety features that come standard include electronic stability program (esp); full-time traction control (asr); abs, ebd, brake assist; and an electronic differential lock (edl). walkaroundthe a3 is understated and elegant. Its masterly crafted panels fit just right, the paint is exquisite, and there's an overall expensive look to it that contradicts the usual expectations for a small, affordable car. a compact five-door hatchback can't be a car designer's favorite project. There's only so much that can be done to fit all those doors on a short wheelbase. But audi stylists have done a good job of it. In profile, the downward, coupe-esque sweep of the roofline is supported by a strong shoulder line that joins front, side and rear of the car and leads the eye to the strong rear end, all of which makes it appear as though the a3 is launching forward, springing into action. the front end is particularly distinctive, again projecting a sense of forward motion. Audi's current family-look single-frame grille is flanked by canted headlamp clusters (forming a determined frown) and prominent lower intake grilles. It's an aggressive nose, but it doesn't overly dominate the design, as the eye gets drawn along the distinct shoulder line, which also forms a visual tension with the sloping roof; while bodyside molding and deeply creased lower side panels break up the large door areas into pieces of a well-crafted puzzle. wraparound taillamp clusters accentuate the broad sweep of the rear. They also give the shoulder line a take-off point that makes it look like a small spoiler has been integrated into the hatch just below the window line. Very sporty, as is the pair of bright exhaust tips not so bashfully protruding from below the bumper. interiorinside, the audi a3 feels upscale. Most materials are pleasing, and the cockpit is a model of applied ergonomic science, with logical placement of controls and highly legible read-outs. to evoke the feel of driving a sports car, the seating position is placed low in relation to the high and wide console. We found the seats to be very nice, and legroom adequate, both front and rear. For starters, the luggage area can be increased by folding flat the split rear seatbacks. Indeed, the rear seats flip down easily. This does not result in a perfectly flat cargo floor, but this isn't usually an issue. An accessory roof rack is available in a choice of several different configurations depending on the intended use. the wide doors make it easy to climb in and out. The seatbelt alarm goes off whenever the car is running, annoying when sitting in a parking lot. And we found it a bit too easy to hit the panic button on the remote key fob. the open sky dual sunroof option is very cool, although only the front of the two glass panels opens. We believe in letting the sun shine in, but not on glaring days when it distracts from driving. driving impressionthe a3 suspension is refined beyond the car's price or class and provides both sporty handling and a refined ride quality. And the quattro all-wheel-drive system is ideal both for owners who must brave the ice and snow of winter and also for those who like to get the most out of their machines when the roads are twisty and dry. Yet, it's remarkably easy on fuel, with epa city/highway estimates of 21/30 mpg with the manual transmission and 22/28 with the dsg automatic. there's little turbo lag, and the engine revs smoothly yet quickly through its powerband. Audi says the a3 2. 0 t sprints from zero to 60 mph in 6. 7 seconds, but the raw number doesn't begin to do justice to the engine's throttle response and the chassis' willingness to get from here to there. The tdi diesel gets an epa-estimated 42 mpg highway and has a fuel tank of slightly over 14 gallons, which computes to a theoretical maximum cruising distance of about 600 miles. The tdi diesel produces very useful torque and audi claims it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 9 seconds. the transmission choices illustrate audi's industry-leading technology in transfo. Cruise Control✔ Climate Control✔ Power Windows✔ CD Changer✔ Sport Package✔ Bluetooth✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Alloy Wheels
18,000 Joliet, ILJoliet, IL at autoshopper.com