Long on fun and style, short on comfort and utility
By Christian Wardlaw
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January 31, 2006
Introduction
TO THE POINT What’s New? The 2006 Audi A3 is a new entry-level luxury car or premium-grade hatchback, depending on your world view.
Selling Points: Turbocharged 2.0T engine; Sport Package suspension tuning; five-door hatchback configuration; stylish design inside and out
Deal Breakers: Cramped and noisy interior; DSG is more hype than substance; aggravating MMI system; annoying ergonomic glitches
Our Advice: Buy your 2006 Audi A3 2.0T with the Sport Package and xenon headlights, saving thousands of $$$ and your sanity. Read the owner’s manual in detail. Use the car as a performance driving machine that can carry passengers or cargo in a pinch. Don’t look back.
Small, premium-brand hatchbacks have not fared well in the United States, where any vehicle with a giant cargo opening and folding seats but which cannot go off-road is considered to be an economy car that people buy because they have to and not because they want to. Never mind the obvious utility of such a body configuration, the improved fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine, the ease of parking a small car, and the fact that some hatchbacks are equipped with all the luxury accoutrements of other upscale automobiles – Americans are always about appearances.
BMW was first to give the segment a try with the underpowered 318ti and failed. Then Mercedes-Benz attempted success with the C230 Sport Coupe only to find that consumers weren’t fooled by the nomenclature. Now Audi hits the market with a luxury hatchback called the A3. But with fuel prices rising, parking spaces getting tighter, and the resurgence of small-car popularity, Audi might just make a go of its new 2006 A3.
After a week behind the wheel, the 2006 Audi A3 2.0T proved to be a fun drive in a stylish package. But unfortunately, the way our test vehicle was equipped, that was all. Cramped seating, a loud interior, the aggravating Multi Media Interface (MMI) for the stereo and navigation systems, and annoying ergonomic glitches made the A3 a bit of a chore to live with unless we were flinging it down a favorite back road. That’s too bad, because this is the first European hatchback to wear a luxury badge that comes remotely close to getting it right thanks to its two extra doors and entertaining performance.
Model Mix
Key Points: • Base price is $26,860 including destination charge
• A loaded A3 2.0T can crest the $38,000 barrier
• Main option packages are Sport, Premium, Convenience, and Cold Weather
• Key options include navigation, Bose audio, sunroof
Upon its introduction in May of 2005, the 2006 Audi A3 came in a single trim level, called 2.0T, starting at $26,140 plus a $720 destination charge. The base A3 is equipped with automatic climate control with dust and pollen filter, one-touch up/down operation for all four power windows, power door locks with keyless entry, cruise control, cloth upholstery, aluminum interior accents, floor mats, a 140-watt audio system with CD player, and a first-aid kit. The options list is rather extensive, and a loaded A3 can crest the $38,000 barrier.
The main option packages are mutually-exclusive and called Sport and Premium. The Sport Package ($1,800) includes multi-spoke alloy wheels, summer performance tires, sport-tuned suspension, aluminum beltline trim, sport leather-wrapped steering wheel with multi-function control, roof spoiler, front fog lights, and leather sport seats. The Premium Package ($2,025) includes multi-spoke alloy wheels, a HomeLink universal transmitter, a trip computer, an auto-dimming rear view mirror with light and rain sensor, a power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, aluminum beltline trim, front fog lights, and leather upholstery. A Convenience Package ($675) can be ordered in with the Sport Package and includes select goodies from the Premium Package.
Audi also offers a Cold Weather Package ($700) with heated front seats, a ski sack, heater washer nozzles, and heated exterior mirrors. The Audi Navigation Plus and Sound Package ($2,850) includes a navigation system and a Bose audio system. The Bose audio is offered as a stand-alone item ($900) in conjunction with the Sport or Premium package, and includes a six-disc in-dash CD changer. There’s also a giant, gaping sunroof called the Open Sky System ($1,100); xenon headlights ($500); metallic paint ($450), Bluetooth wireless communications ($435); XM or Sirius satellite radio ($350), and rear side airbags ($350).
We test drove a 2006 Audi A3 2.0T optioned up with Pearl Effect paint ($450), a Direct Shift Gearbox ($480), a Navigation Plus & Sound Package ($2,850 – includes a navigation system and a Bose audio system), a Sport Package ($1,800 – with), a giant Open Sky sunroof ($1,100), xenon headlights ($500); and XM satellite radio ($350) for a grand total of $33,910.
Performance
Key Points: • 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder with direct fuel injection
• 200 horsepower between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm
• 207 lb.-ft. torque between 1,800 and 5,000 rpm
• Six-speed manual or Direct Shift Gearbox
• Front-wheel drive
Audi says that its new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is the first force-fed motor equipped with gasoline direct injection technology. Audi calls it FSI and says it helps blend good gas mileage with a free-revving response from the engine. All you’ll care about is that the 2006 Audi A3 2.0T loves to rev, charges hard, and returns an average of 24.2 mpg in the process.
Of course, to benefit from the 2.0T’s maximum potential, you’ll need to run it on premium fuel for optimum performance, but the engine will digest regular if you’re pinching pennies. On premium the engine outputs 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque to the front wheels, and that torque is available all the way from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm, making for an extremely responsive automobile. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, but if you believe Audi’s acceleration data, the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) is the way to go. With the manual, the A3 scoots to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, while paddle-shifting the DSG drops the trap time to 6.7 seconds.
DSG produces faster acceleration because it employs twin electrohydraulic clutches to deliver lighting quick manual gear changes without requiring the driver’s left foot to operate a clutch pedal. Shifting is handled by toggling the gear selector between the seats, or smacking the paddles mounted to the steering wheel. If you don’t feel like selecting gears, DSG can operate as a traditional automatic transmission. You can even choose between normal and sport modes.
Audi’s DSG is best of its breed (which includes BMW’s Sequential Manual Gearbox), but in sport mode it produces too much engine braking and in regular mode it results in an irritating delay off the line. Shift for yourself using the paddles, but beware that because they’re fixed at the 9:30 and 2:30 positions it’s hard to swap cogs in the middle of a turn if you tend toward shuffle steering. We found it natural, and most preferable, to use the gear selector to change gears. Another demerit against the DSG is the delay when shifting between park, reverse, and drive. Making a three-point turn, the transmission took its sweet time switching gears, so make sure you’ve got plenty of clear roadway to work with.
Hammer the 2006 Audi A3 down your favorite stretch of twisties, and you’ll find the powertrain an absolute delight, responsive and producing plenty of oomph. With DSG’s rev-matching feature, the exhaust emits a funny sounding, flatulent burble between gears, but it adds rather than detracts from the drive. We even pulled off that 24.2-mpg average over the course of a week, without trying to hoard our A3’s precious fuel.
Handling
Key Points: • MacPherson strut front, four-link rear suspension
• Electro-mechanical, speed-sensitive steering
• Four-wheel-disc ABS with EBD and Brake Assist • 17-inch wheels standard
• Stability and traction control are standard
This Audi A3 is a nose-heavy car, saddled with a 61/39 front/rear weight distribution, but engineers have done a great job of erasing as much of the A3’s forward weight bias in real-world driving as possible. The result is surprisingly neutral handling for a front-driver, a car that pulls itself out of corners with authority even if the inside wheel does break traction every now and again.
Keep in mind, however, that our 2006 Audi A3 2.0T test car came equipped with the optional Sport Package, a $1,800 bundle of worthwhile goodies like P225/45R17 Continental SportContact 2 summer performance tires and a suspension tuned for better handling. The tires proved quite sticky but not loud, a benefit since no good driver wishes to announce his velocity to all within earshot. Despite carrying 61-percent of its weight over the front axle, the A3 handled bumps and dips extremely well, body roll was nicely controlled, and though the ride quality is stiff the sport-tuned A3 doesn’t beat you up.
Like any proper sporting machine, the 2006 Audi A3 communicates clearly with the road and exhibits little excess body movement. Steering is direct and linear with decent feel and an extra-meaty wheel to grip. This is a very entertaining car to drive, no matter what kind of driving you’re doing.
If we have to complain, it would be about the brake pedal. Around town, it proved tough to modulate, feeling grabby and sticky and making smooth stops almost impossible. But, when you’re driving hard, the brakes work brilliantly, just when you need them to be most effective.
Interior Comfort
Key Points: • Cramped seating
• Lots of road noise
• Sport Package seats unkind to larger people
• Back seat bad for tall passengers
• Unpleasant greenhouse effect with Open Sky sunroof
If comfort is your thing, you might want to skip the 2006 Audi A3 and spend your $30,000 on something bigger, because this car has a cramped interior. The leather-clad sport seats inside our test car were comfortable and supportive, and it was easy to find a perfect driving position thanks to a tilt and telescopic steering column, a manual seat height adjuster, and articulating head restraints. However, anyone with an elevated Body Mass Index will despise the hard bottom bolsters and feel pinched around the middle by the seatbacks. Bigger people will be further hampered by an intrusive B-pillar and those seat bolsters when they try to enter or exit with any amount of physical grace.
If you fit the driver’s seat properly, you’ll find the steering wheel an absolute delight to grip and spin, and that the center armrest is height adjustable for optimum comfort. But if you like to rest your elbow on the window sill for highway cruising, you’ll be dismayed by the hard materials and the curved design that puts the edge too far away. Further discomfort comes when diving fast into left-hand turns and you brace your right leg against the hard, unyielding plastic of the dashboard’s center control stack.
If you think conditions are tight up front, try the back seat. Four tall people aboard the 2006 Audi A3 will make for a contentious road trip, even to the corner 7-11. With six-footers sitting in the front chairs, similarly sized rear passengers will enjoy full leg contact with the hard plastic front seatbacks, so the only way they’re coming along for the ride is by splaying their legs wide. Also, the back bottom cushion is quite firm, the rear backrests are set at an uncomfortable angle, and if your trip includes a run through the Starbucks drive-thru, remember that the people in back don’t get cupholders for their venti triple-shot caramel macchiato caffeine and calorie bombs. However, thanks to the manual adjusters for the front seat, space underneath them is generous for those with large feet, so the A3 has that going for it.
Getting in and out of the A3 is restricted by the lack of interior space, but also by stiff door detents that are great for holding them open on a hill but terrible to metering out precise degrees of access or egress in a crowded parking lot. Also, if you opt for the giant Open Sky sunroof, prepare yourself for a greenhouse effect that makes your head feel hot and the rest of your body feel cold. Sure, the sunroof is made with dark tinted glass that can be covered by a rather flimsy screen that we predict won’t last much past the A3’s four-year/50,000-mile standard warranty. But on bright, sunny, summer days, the sunroof creates a greenhouse effect that the automatic climate control has difficulty overcoming. Another problem on bright, sunny days regardless of season is the glare off the aluminum-trimmed interior.
Finally, don’t expect a quiet car along with the premium price you pay for a 2006 Audi A3. The cabin fills with road noise at all speeds, and when traveling over 75 mph, wind roar over the sunroof is irritating, too. There are no squeaks and rattles, but this car is not quiet inside, making an argument for the purchase of the upgraded Bose audio system.
Interior Design
Key Points: • Real aluminum interior trim with Sport Package
• Front, front side, and side curtain airbags are standard
• Rear side airbags are optional
• Open Sky sunroof is optional
• Optional MMI system not much fun to use
Audi is known for crafting beautiful interiors, and if its new entry-level 2006 A3 isn’t as plush as its larger luxury sport sedans, it is nevertheless constructed with high-quality materials. At a glance, our A3’s cabin appeared dour dressed all in black, but the real aluminum trim, silver-stitched leather upholstery, and light gray woven mesh headliner brightened the environment just enough to appear upscale. The dashboard is a single piece made of a soft material that we wish also covered the door panels and center console, and the controls are laid out in a logical fashion. All four power windows offer one-touch up and down operation, a feature difficult to live without once you get used to it.
In terms of safety, the 2006 Audi A3 is packed full with front, front side, and side-curtain airbags, and the active front head restraints are intended to reduce whiplash injury in the event of a rear collision. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), however, those head restraints didn’t work well enough for the A3 to score better than “Acceptable” in rear impact crash tests. In offset frontal- and side-impact tests, the A3 scored a “Good,” giving it an overall “Silver” rating from the IIHS. The NHTSA has not yet tested the 2006 Audi A3.
If there’s anything to dislike about the A3’s interior, aside from its size, it’s the optional navigation system control, which Audi calls a Multi Media Interface. We call it a Major Mo’fo Irritant. For more vitriolic criticism of the MMI, see the next page.
*photo courtesy of Audi
Control Layout
Key Points: • Order navigation, and the stereo is bundled with MMI
• MMI is an aggravating distraction, but navigation programming is easy
• A3 is full of ergonomic annoyances
Audi gives you a great reason to save a couple thousand dollars and buy a map, and it’s called the Multi Media Interface (MMI). Order your A3 with the optional navigation system, and Audi will bundle your premium Bose stereo functions, among the most often used controls inside any vehicle, into the MMI. Then, each time you fire your A3’s ignition and want to listen to your stereo, you’ll be forced to check in with a squadron of lawyers to promise that you won’t be distracted by the MMI while driving. This is patently ridiculous, akin to asking a hormone-riddled teenage boy not to look at the Playboy magazine you just plopped into his lap. As anyone who has ever used MMI, or BMW’s iDrive, or the COMAND system from Mercedes-Benz knows, it is impossible not to become distracted by these ergonomic disasters while searching through menus for oft-used functions that used to be controlled by simple knobs and buttons located on the dashboard in the days before people decided expensive navigation systems were a better deal than a $5 map. Thus, the corporate safety disclaimer and your forced agreement not to sue if you miss that turn in the road trying to dial up the bass on the latest Ludacris track.
Bottom line, if you need a disclaimer, and you’ve gotta stuff the glove box full of CD changer in an age when in-dash disc changers are commonplace, then you’ve got a counterintuitive design that should not be placed inside any automobile. Lexus manages to offer the same level of feature content in a simple and logical manner. The wizards in Germany ought to take a look at that solution and copy it – immediately. That said, we hate the distraction MMI causes by simply scrolling through radio stations to find one we like, but admit that once you set your station preferences the spin dial on the steering wheel works OK. Mostly, we just turned our 2006 Audi A3’s stereo off and listened to the exhaust fart between the DSG’s gearshifts.
Surprise, surprise, programming the navigation system is easy enough, but a touch screen (like a Lexus) would be so much better than Audi’s MMI spin dial. The navigation system also offers interesting features like finding restaurants near a destination, destination routing with a stopover, seasonal road restriction notification, and the ability to find an address by telephone number. It proved difficult to reset the map’s orientation and view distance, but was easy to cancel navigation when desired.
The 2006 Audi A3’s ergonomic annoyances don’t stop with the MMI. The climate controls are mounted low on the dash, with ratcheting knobs for adjusting temperature. Annoying. There’s no “off” button for the climate control. Annoying. Our test car’s average fuel economy computer re-set itself every day. Annoying. Programmed destinations take over the center display of the gauge cluster and seemingly cannot be replaced by trip computer data unless the destination is reached or navigation canceled. Annoying. Audi replaced its brilliant twist knob sunroof control with a three-button setup in the A3. Annoying. The cruise control is completely obscured by the lower left steering wheel spoke. Annoying.
Storage and Cargo
Key Points: • Two cupholders in front, none in back
• Cargo space behind rear seat = 12.4 cu.-ft.
• Maximum cargo space = 55.6 cu.-ft.
Hatchbacks are supposed to be about utility, about giving their owners everything they need in a single set of wheels, but the 2006 Audi A3 has trouble delivering on this front, too. Starting with the A3’s merits, the rear seat is a 60/40-split folding design with a center pass-through for carrying long objects. Folding the back seat creates a maximum cargo volume of 55.6 cubic feet, which is generous for a vehicle of this size, and the cargo cover is very easy to remove – unlike many vehicles of this ilk. Liftover height is low for easy loading, and there’s a grab handle to assist tailgate closing. Cargo nets on the side of the luggage space and on the cargo floor offer places to put parcels so that they won’t fling about during the spirited drive home. As for interior storage, two big bins are molded into the front door panels, there’s a large lined glove box, and a storage tray slides forward from underneath the front passenger’s seat.
Demerits include a load floor that is not flat when the rear seats are folded down, a front passenger’s seat that doesn’t fold flat to carry long objects inside the car, and a glove box stuffed full with oversized owner’s manuals and the CD changer. The bin under the center armrest is lined but too small, the small front ashtray doubles as a coin holder (thereby encouraging smokers to pitch their cancer sticks out the window), and there are no map straps, no card clips, and no place to put sunglasses. Finally, rear seat riders get neither storage space nor cupholders, and just try using the closely grouped front cupholders for two drinks at the same time.
Exterior Design
Key Points: • Five-door hatchback
• Bold Audi single-frame grille
• Dual exhaust outlets
• Multi-spoke alloy wheels with Sport Package
In case you hadn’t noticed, new Audis are sporting what the company calls a “single-frame” grille that is claimed to be a heritage design cue from the good old Auto Union AG (i.e., pre-Audi) days of the 1930s. Of any modern Audi, the 2006 A3 wears this grille best, and it gives the otherwise innocuous car an angry face full of attitude. Combine this mug with the A3’s stubby butt, clean flanks, and spirited driving character, and an endearingly scrappy personality is born.
This is a look that will wear well over time, punctuated at the rear with dual exhaust outlets to announce the car’s performance intent and decorated with standard 17-inch alloy wheels. On the standard model, those wheels are gray-painted five-spokers wearing all-season rubber. Our Sport Package-equipped test car came with beautiful brushed aluminum multi-spoke alloys shod in low-profile performance tires. The trouble with these wheels is they are difficult to clean, so low-maintenance types might wish to stick with the standard five-spoke alloys.
Quality
Key Points: • Four-year/50,000-mile free maintenance
• Terrific interior build quality
• Impressive exterior build quality
• Excellent interior materials
• Cheap-sounding seatbelt buckles
Quality has long been an Audi bugaboo, usually associated with electronic maladies. Since we cannot predict what’s going to happen with the 2006 A3’s wiring, we base our recommendation on what we can see and feel, and it appears as though this is one rock-solid little ride.
Starting with the interior, the materials quality is excellent. The soft-touch single-piece dashboard imparts the sense that Audi’s bean counters didn’t cut corners, and the matte-finish plastics have a rubbery feel to rid the A3 of any unpleasant clickety-clackiness. Our test car’s sport seats were covered with nice leather that was just a bit rough to the touch, and the Sport Package also includes real aluminum door and console trim. Everything inside the Audi A3 makes you feel like you got your money’s worth until you click the seatbelt home in its buckle. The sound it makes is cheap and tinny, a shame since you hear it every single time you drive the car.
Despite seatbelt buckles that sound as substantial as your average McDonald’s Happy Meal toy, our A3’s interior build quality was terrific. The door grips squeaked a bit when squeezed, the lower gauge bezel was a bit wiggly under pressure, the sunroof shade seemed thin and vulnerable to tears and sagging, and the center console hinge sounded like it might bust as soon as the warranty expires. Regardless, nothing was egregiously loose or crooked or ill-fitting.
Outside, the Audi A3’s fit and finish was almost as good as the interior. The hood and tailgate were both a tad misaligned, and the rubber window seals had already faded and discolored in spots on our low-mileage test car, but otherwise nothing was amiss. Let’s hope that, over time, Audi’s electrical gremlins have also taken an extended holiday.
Specifications
Key Competitors: Acura RSX, BMW X3, Chrysler PT Cruiser GT, Jaguar X-Type Sportwagon, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Mini Cooper S, Nissan Murano, Saab 9-2X, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Passat, Volvo V50
Test Vehicle: 2006 Audi A3 2.0T
Price of Test Vehicle: $33,910
Engine Size and Type: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Engine Horsepower: 200 between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm
Engine Torque: 207 lb.-ft. between 1,800 and 5,000 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox
Curb weight, lbs.: 3,329
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 25/31
Observed Fuel Economy: 24.2 mpg
Length: 168.7 inches
Width: 69.5 inches
Wheelbase: 101.5 inches
Height: 56 inches
Leg room (front/rear): 41.2/34.8 inches
Head room (front/rear): 38.1/36.9 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Five
Max. Cargo Volume: 55.6 cu.-ft.
Competitors: Acura RSX, BMW X3, Chrysler PT Cruiser GT, Jaguar X-Type Sportwagon, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Mini Cooper S, Nissan Murano, Saab 9-2X, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Passat, Volvo V50
2nd Opinion – Blackett
Key Points: • Fun to drive
• Good looking
• Costs too much with options
• Lacks utility
• Not enough to trump the competition
It only took a few minutes of driving our 2006 Audi A3 tester, equipped with the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission, to figure out that even cars with a flatulence problem can make a good impression. No, it wasn’t a case of that rotten egg smell that came from my old Pontiac Grand Am. It was more like when my dog has eaten too fast – a “poof” sound comes from her rear end, causing her to become alarmed and look with fear to her hind quarters. Oh, my, that’s funny stuff.
In the Audi, the “poof” comes from the exhaust, a result of upshifts orchestrated by the DSG. With regular and sport modes, as well as manual shifting with either the shift lever or paddles on the rear of the steering wheel, the DSG-equipped A3 offers drivers a variety of ways to move the gears. Leave the tranny in drive for seamless shifts that take place at lower revs for a more tranquil ride. Drop into sport mode to keep the revs up longer for better acceleration. Or bump the shift lever to the right and flick it up and down for manual shifts. But, for the most fun, fly through the gears using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, which can be used regardless of whether the Audi A3 is in drive, sport, or manual mode.
That sublime gearbox is connected to an equally fun, turbocharged engine that offers impressive acceleration across most of the rev range, and remains composed even when pushed for all it’s worth. Add to that laudable powertrain the A3’s sharp handling and powerful brakes, and the result is something you don’t see all that often – an extremely fun wagon.
Of course, the 2006 Audi A3 does have its drawbacks, not the least of which is the as-tested price of $33,910. After depressing the throttle, that turbocharged engine takes what feels like a full second before opening up the gates, serving to put a crimp on your grin. The cabin is filled with durable leather, aluminum on various interior bits, and padded surfaces in some key areas. The materials are appropriate for a $33K+ car, but detractions include a few large gaps, hard window sills, a center navigation screen that washes out in sunlight, and narrow front buckets. Rear seat accommodations are tight, with small door openings and headrests that poke into passengers’ necks when in the down position. Our tester also had the dual sunroofs, which are nice, but with only mesh sunshades, you’re never able to fully block out sunlight.
From a design perspective, the 2006 Audi A3 is a mixed bag. Inside, there are the tight seats, but outside are fluid lines, gorgeous 17-inch alloys (included on our tester with the Sport Package), and the most attractive use of Audi’s massive new grille. It just may be the best looking small wagon on the market. On the flip side is the interior’s storage capability, which aside from the cargo area is lacking. There’s a generous pocket in the front center armrest and two front door storage areas, but there are no seatback pockets, no other console storage of any value, and no rear door storage. There’s some space in the rear fold-down center armrest, but it’s filled with a first-aid kit.
Then there’s the competition to consider, including vehicles like the Saab (Subaru) 9-2X and the Volvo V50. Both are in the same ballpark price range, but come with standard or optional all-wheel drive, offer more available horsepower and torque, and provide significantly more cargo room. And, for my money, the competitors’ added traction, power, and versatility trump the A3’s style and fun factor.
2nd Opinion – Chee
Key Points: • Stylish design
• Fun to drive
• Too expensive with options
• Cramped interior
• Troublesome ergonomics
Zippeedeedoodah. It is a wonderful day when you spend it behind the wheel of a 2006 Audi A3, scooting around like a fox on a golf course and generally behaving in a very un-Teutonic way.
Ach. The car will make you do that. Stylish and fun, the Audi A3 is the car everyone wants to take home but no one is willing to buy, because, after adding the options that make this car fly, you take a $26,000 price tag and turn it into almost $35 grand. Not that those options are overvalued. Consider the Sport Package, which runs around $1,800 and includes stiffer suspension tuning, a 15mm lower ride height, aluminum interior trim, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, fog lamps, roof spoiler, leather seating and sport seats.
Without the Sport Package, the A3 is just a pretty hatchback dressed up for dinner, especially when you consider that the new VW Golf, the A3’s low-priced twin, is just around the corner and ready to go on sale. As with most Audis, the A3 was made for drivers, not commuters, so it is a bit odd to see one posing as an “economical” hatchback. Come on. I know what you really are. You’re an Audi – let’s go for a drive! When you’re there, behind the wheel with the shift paddles under your fingertips and the A3’s sport suspension whipping around corners like an angry snake, you will become slightly intoxicated, and think to yourself that yes, you could do this car. You could pay the extra, live with the cramped back seat, the useless cupholders, and small hatch area.
You blip into the fourth gear of the A3’s six-speed (standard is a manual, optional is Audi’s Direct Shift Gearbox), and think again, yes, it would be fine to live with the hard, cold interior plastics. After all, you get a sweet and smooth inline four-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection that makes 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft of torque and sings like a bird. For that, you can put up with the emergency brake between you and your latte, and can even get over the poorly marked audio and environmental controls. Those clever German engineers love to be different, and snotty car enthusiasts the world over have, over the years, foolishly bought into it. For Joe Commuter, however, it’s nice when things are easy to use.
But enough complaining. Perhaps we’re spoiled by the efficiency of Japanese instrument design, and perhaps this is part of the Audi’s charm. But ineffective design, no matter how cute, is still a frustrating waste of time. As for the 2006 Audi A3, driving one is hardly a waste. This is a fun car that brightens your daily drive, and does it at a clip of 25/31 mpg. For the $26,000 base price, you get a nice cloth interior and a fun A3 – but not nearly as much fun as the one with the Sport Package, which will run you around $28,000. At that price, with those restrictions on trim offerings, it’s easy to see that the A3 will sell well – to Audi-loving hat ch freaks with too much money. The rest of us will wait for the Golf, while continuing to dream the sweet dream of an Audi on the open road.
Key Points: • Base price is $26,860 including destination charge
• A loaded A3 2.0T can crest the $38,000 barrier
• Main option packages are Sport, Premium, Convenience, and Cold Weather
• Key options include navigation, Bose audio, sunroof
Upon its introduction in May of 2005, the 2006 Audi A3 came in a single trim level, called 2.0T, starting at $26,140 plus a $720 destination charge. The base A3 is equipped with automatic climate control with dust and pollen filter, one-touch up/down operation for all four power windows, power door locks with keyless entry, cruise control, cloth upholstery, aluminum interior accents, floor mats, a 140-watt audio system with CD player, and a first-aid kit. The options list is rather extensive, and a loaded A3 can crest the $38,000 barrier.
The main option packages are mutually-exclusive and called Sport and Premium. The Sport Package ($1,800) includes multi-spoke alloy wheels, summer performance tires, sport-tuned suspension, aluminum beltline trim, sport leather-wrapped steering wheel with multi-function control, roof spoiler, front fog lights, and leather sport seats. The Premium Package ($2,025) includes multi-spoke alloy wheels, a HomeLink universal transmitter, a trip computer, an auto-dimming rear view mirror with light and rain sensor, a power driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, aluminum beltline trim, front fog lights, and leather upholstery. A Convenience Package ($675) can be ordered in with the Sport Package and includes select goodies from the Premium Package.
Audi also offers a Cold Weather Package ($700) with heated front seats, a ski sack, heater washer nozzles, and heated exterior mirrors. The Audi Navigation Plus and Sound Package ($2,850) includes a navigation system and a Bose audio system. The Bose audio is offered as a stand-alone item ($900) in conjunction with the Sport or Premium package, and includes a six-disc in-dash CD changer. There’s also a giant, gaping sunroof called the Open Sky System ($1,100); xenon headlights ($500); metallic paint ($450), Bluetooth wireless communications ($435); XM or Sirius satellite radio ($350), and rear side airbags ($350).
We test drove a 2006 Audi A3 2.0T optioned up with Pearl Effect paint ($450), a Direct Shift Gearbox ($480), a Navigation Plus & Sound Package ($2,850 – includes a navigation system and a Bose audio system), a Sport Package ($1,800 – with), a giant Open Sky sunroof ($1,100), xenon headlights ($500); and XM satellite radio ($350) for a grand total of $33,910.
Performance
Key Points: • 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder with direct fuel injection
• 200 horsepower between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm
• 207 lb.-ft. torque between 1,800 and 5,000 rpm
• Six-speed manual or Direct Shift Gearbox
• Front-wheel drive
Audi says that its new 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is the first force-fed motor equipped with gasoline direct injection technology. Audi calls it FSI and says it helps blend good gas mileage with a free-revving response from the engine. All you’ll care about is that the 2006 Audi A3 2.0T loves to rev, charges hard, and returns an average of 24.2 mpg in the process.
Of course, to benefit from the 2.0T’s maximum potential, you’ll need to run it on premium fuel for optimum performance, but the engine will digest regular if you’re pinching pennies. On premium the engine outputs 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque to the front wheels, and that torque is available all the way from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm, making for an extremely responsive automobile. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, but if you believe Audi’s acceleration data, the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) is the way to go. With the manual, the A3 scoots to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, while paddle-shifting the DSG drops the trap time to 6.7 seconds.
DSG produces faster acceleration because it employs twin electrohydraulic clutches to deliver lighting quick manual gear changes without requiring the driver’s left foot to operate a clutch pedal. Shifting is handled by toggling the gear selector between the seats, or smacking the paddles mounted to the steering wheel. If you don’t feel like selecting gears, DSG can operate as a traditional automatic transmission. You can even choose between normal and sport modes.
Audi’s DSG is best of its breed (which includes BMW’s Sequential Manual Gearbox), but in sport mode it produces too much engine braking and in regular mode it results in an irritating delay off the line. Shift for yourself using the paddles, but beware that because they’re fixed at the 9:30 and 2:30 positions it’s hard to swap cogs in the middle of a turn if you tend toward shuffle steering. We found it natural, and most preferable, to use the gear selector to change gears. Another demerit against the DSG is the delay when shifting between park, reverse, and drive. Making a three-point turn, the transmission took its sweet time switching gears, so make sure you’ve got plenty of clear roadway to work with.
Hammer the 2006 Audi A3 down your favorite stretch of twisties, and you’ll find the powertrain an absolute delight, responsive and producing plenty of oomph. With DSG’s rev-matching feature, the exhaust emits a funny sounding, flatulent burble between gears, but it adds rather than detracts from the drive. We even pulled off that 24.2-mpg average over the course of a week, without trying to hoard our A3’s precious fuel.
Handling
Key Points: • MacPherson strut front, four-link rear suspension
• Electro-mechanical, speed-sensitive steering
• Four-wheel-disc ABS with EBD and Brake Assist • 17-inch wheels standard
• Stability and traction control are standard
This Audi A3 is a nose-heavy car, saddled with a 61/39 front/rear weight distribution, but engineers have done a great job of erasing as much of the A3’s forward weight bias in real-world driving as possible. The result is surprisingly neutral handling for a front-driver, a car that pulls itself out of corners with authority even if the inside wheel does break traction every now and again.
Keep in mind, however, that our 2006 Audi A3 2.0T test car came equipped with the optional Sport Package, a $1,800 bundle of worthwhile goodies like P225/45R17 Continental SportContact 2 summer performance tires and a suspension tuned for better handling. The tires proved quite sticky but not loud, a benefit since no good driver wishes to announce his velocity to all within earshot. Despite carrying 61-percent of its weight over the front axle, the A3 handled bumps and dips extremely well, body roll was nicely controlled, and though the ride quality is stiff the sport-tuned A3 doesn’t beat you up.
Like any proper sporting machine, the 2006 Audi A3 communicates clearly with the road and exhibits little excess body movement. Steering is direct and linear with decent feel and an extra-meaty wheel to grip. This is a very entertaining car to drive, no matter what kind of driving you’re doing.
If we have to complain, it would be about the brake pedal. Around town, it proved tough to modulate, feeling grabby and sticky and making smooth stops almost impossible. But, when you’re driving hard, the brakes work brilliantly, just when you need them to be most effective.
Interior Comfort
Key Points: • Cramped seating
• Lots of road noise
• Sport Package seats unkind to larger people
• Back seat bad for tall passengers
• Unpleasant greenhouse effect with Open Sky sunroof
If comfort is your thing, you might want to skip the 2006 Audi A3 and spend your $30,000 on something bigger, because this car has a cramped interior. The leather-clad sport seats inside our test car were comfortable and supportive, and it was easy to find a perfect driving position thanks to a tilt and telescopic steering column, a manual seat height adjuster, and articulating head restraints. However, anyone with an elevated Body Mass Index will despise the hard bottom bolsters and feel pinched around the middle by the seatbacks. Bigger people will be further hampered by an intrusive B-pillar and those seat bolsters when they try to enter or exit with any amount of physical grace.
If you fit the driver’s seat properly, you’ll find the steering wheel an absolute delight to grip and spin, and that the center armrest is height adjustable for optimum comfort. But if you like to rest your elbow on the window sill for highway cruising, you’ll be dismayed by the hard materials and the curved design that puts the edge too far away. Further discomfort comes when diving fast into left-hand turns and you brace your right leg against the hard, unyielding plastic of the dashboard’s center control stack.
If you think conditions are tight up front, try the back seat. Four tall people aboard the 2006 Audi A3 will make for a contentious road trip, even to the corner 7-11. With six-footers sitting in the front chairs, similarly sized rear passengers will enjoy full leg contact with the hard plastic front seatbacks, so the only way they’re coming along for the ride is by splaying their legs wide. Also, the back bottom cushion is quite firm, the rear backrests are set at an uncomfortable angle, and if your trip includes a run through the Starbucks drive-thru, remember that the people in back don’t get cupholders for their venti triple-shot caramel macchiato caffeine and calorie bombs. However, thanks to the manual adjusters for the front seat, space underneath them is generous for those with large feet, so the A3 has that going for it.
Getting in and out of the A3 is restricted by the lack of interior space, but also by stiff door detents that are great for holding them open on a hill but terrible to metering out precise degrees of access or egress in a crowded parking lot. Also, if you opt for the giant Open Sky sunroof, prepare yourself for a greenhouse effect that makes your head feel hot and the rest of your body feel cold. Sure, the sunroof is made with dark tinted glass that can be covered by a rather flimsy screen that we predict won’t last much past the A3’s four-year/50,000-mile standard warranty. But on bright, sunny, summer days, the sunroof creates a greenhouse effect that the automatic climate control has difficulty overcoming. Another problem on bright, sunny days regardless of season is the glare off the aluminum-trimmed interior.
Finally, don’t expect a quiet car along with the premium price you pay for a 2006 Audi A3. The cabin fills with road noise at all speeds, and when traveling over 75 mph, wind roar over the sunroof is irritating, too. There are no squeaks and rattles, but this car is not quiet inside, making an argument for the purchase of the upgraded Bose audio system.
Interior Design
Key Points: • Real aluminum interior trim with Sport Package
• Front, front side, and side curtain airbags are standard
• Rear side airbags are optional
• Open Sky sunroof is optional
• Optional MMI system not much fun to use
Audi is known for crafting beautiful interiors, and if its new entry-level 2006 A3 isn’t as plush as its larger luxury sport sedans, it is nevertheless constructed with high-quality materials. At a glance, our A3’s cabin appeared dour dressed all in black, but the real aluminum trim, silver-stitched leather upholstery, and light gray woven mesh headliner brightened the environment just enough to appear upscale. The dashboard is a single piece made of a soft material that we wish also covered the door panels and center console, and the controls are laid out in a logical fashion. All four power windows offer one-touch up and down operation, a feature difficult to live without once you get used to it.
In terms of safety, the 2006 Audi A3 is packed full with front, front side, and side-curtain airbags, and the active front head restraints are intended to reduce whiplash injury in the event of a rear collision. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), however, those head restraints didn’t work well enough for the A3 to score better than “Acceptable” in rear impact crash tests. In offset frontal- and side-impact tests, the A3 scored a “Good,” giving it an overall “Silver” rating from the IIHS. The NHTSA has not yet tested the 2006 Audi A3.
If there’s anything to dislike about the A3’s interior, aside from its size, it’s the optional navigation system control, which Audi calls a Multi Media Interface. We call it a Major Mo’fo Irritant. For more vitriolic criticism of the MMI, see the next page.
*photo courtesy of Audi
Control Layout
Key Points: • Order navigation, and the stereo is bundled with MMI
• MMI is an aggravating distraction, but navigation programming is easy
• A3 is full of ergonomic annoyances
Audi gives you a great reason to save a couple thousand dollars and buy a map, and it’s called the Multi Media Interface (MMI). Order your A3 with the optional navigation system, and Audi will bundle your premium Bose stereo functions, among the most often used controls inside any vehicle, into the MMI. Then, each time you fire your A3’s ignition and want to listen to your stereo, you’ll be forced to check in with a squadron of lawyers to promise that you won’t be distracted by the MMI while driving. This is patently ridiculous, akin to asking a hormone-riddled teenage boy not to look at the Playboy magazine you just plopped into his lap. As anyone who has ever used MMI, or BMW’s iDrive, or the COMAND system from Mercedes-Benz knows, it is impossible not to become distracted by these ergonomic disasters while searching through menus for oft-used functions that used to be controlled by simple knobs and buttons located on the dashboard in the days before people decided expensive navigation systems were a better deal than a $5 map. Thus, the corporate safety disclaimer and your forced agreement not to sue if you miss that turn in the road trying to dial up the bass on the latest Ludacris track.
Bottom line, if you need a disclaimer, and you’ve gotta stuff the glove box full of CD changer in an age when in-dash disc changers are commonplace, then you’ve got a counterintuitive design that should not be placed inside any automobile. Lexus manages to offer the same level of feature content in a simple and logical manner. The wizards in Germany ought to take a look at that solution and copy it – immediately. That said, we hate the distraction MMI causes by simply scrolling through radio stations to find one we like, but admit that once you set your station preferences the spin dial on the steering wheel works OK. Mostly, we just turned our 2006 Audi A3’s stereo off and listened to the exhaust fart between the DSG’s gearshifts.
Surprise, surprise, programming the navigation system is easy enough, but a touch screen (like a Lexus) would be so much better than Audi’s MMI spin dial. The navigation system also offers interesting features like finding restaurants near a destination, destination routing with a stopover, seasonal road restriction notification, and the ability to find an address by telephone number. It proved difficult to reset the map’s orientation and view distance, but was easy to cancel navigation when desired.
The 2006 Audi A3’s ergonomic annoyances don’t stop with the MMI. The climate controls are mounted low on the dash, with ratcheting knobs for adjusting temperature. Annoying. There’s no “off” button for the climate control. Annoying. Our test car’s average fuel economy computer re-set itself every day. Annoying. Programmed destinations take over the center display of the gauge cluster and seemingly cannot be replaced by trip computer data unless the destination is reached or navigation canceled. Annoying. Audi replaced its brilliant twist knob sunroof control with a three-button setup in the A3. Annoying. The cruise control is completely obscured by the lower left steering wheel spoke. Annoying.
Storage and Cargo
Key Points: • Two cupholders in front, none in back
• Cargo space behind rear seat = 12.4 cu.-ft.
• Maximum cargo space = 55.6 cu.-ft.
Hatchbacks are supposed to be about utility, about giving their owners everything they need in a single set of wheels, but the 2006 Audi A3 has trouble delivering on this front, too. Starting with the A3’s merits, the rear seat is a 60/40-split folding design with a center pass-through for carrying long objects. Folding the back seat creates a maximum cargo volume of 55.6 cubic feet, which is generous for a vehicle of this size, and the cargo cover is very easy to remove – unlike many vehicles of this ilk. Liftover height is low for easy loading, and there’s a grab handle to assist tailgate closing. Cargo nets on the side of the luggage space and on the cargo floor offer places to put parcels so that they won’t fling about during the spirited drive home. As for interior storage, two big bins are molded into the front door panels, there’s a large lined glove box, and a storage tray slides forward from underneath the front passenger’s seat.
Demerits include a load floor that is not flat when the rear seats are folded down, a front passenger’s seat that doesn’t fold flat to carry long objects inside the car, and a glove box stuffed full with oversized owner’s manuals and the CD changer. The bin under the center armrest is lined but too small, the small front ashtray doubles as a coin holder (thereby encouraging smokers to pitch their cancer sticks out the window), and there are no map straps, no card clips, and no place to put sunglasses. Finally, rear seat riders get neither storage space nor cupholders, and just try using the closely grouped front cupholders for two drinks at the same time.
Exterior Design
Key Points: • Five-door hatchback
• Bold Audi single-frame grille
• Dual exhaust outlets
• Multi-spoke alloy wheels with Sport Package
In case you hadn’t noticed, new Audis are sporting what the company calls a “single-frame” grille that is claimed to be a heritage design cue from the good old Auto Union AG (i.e., pre-Audi) days of the 1930s. Of any modern Audi, the 2006 A3 wears this grille best, and it gives the otherwise innocuous car an angry face full of attitude. Combine this mug with the A3’s stubby butt, clean flanks, and spirited driving character, and an endearingly scrappy personality is born.
This is a look that will wear well over time, punctuated at the rear with dual exhaust outlets to announce the car’s performance intent and decorated with standard 17-inch alloy wheels. On the standard model, those wheels are gray-painted five-spokers wearing all-season rubber. Our Sport Package-equipped test car came with beautiful brushed aluminum multi-spoke alloys shod in low-profile performance tires. The trouble with these wheels is they are difficult to clean, so low-maintenance types might wish to stick with the standard five-spoke alloys.
Quality
Key Points: • Four-year/50,000-mile free maintenance
• Terrific interior build quality
• Impressive exterior build quality
• Excellent interior materials
• Cheap-sounding seatbelt buckles
Quality has long been an Audi bugaboo, usually associated with electronic maladies. Since we cannot predict what’s going to happen with the 2006 A3’s wiring, we base our recommendation on what we can see and feel, and it appears as though this is one rock-solid little ride.
Starting with the interior, the materials quality is excellent. The soft-touch single-piece dashboard imparts the sense that Audi’s bean counters didn’t cut corners, and the matte-finish plastics have a rubbery feel to rid the A3 of any unpleasant clickety-clackiness. Our test car’s sport seats were covered with nice leather that was just a bit rough to the touch, and the Sport Package also includes real aluminum door and console trim. Everything inside the Audi A3 makes you feel like you got your money’s worth until you click the seatbelt home in its buckle. The sound it makes is cheap and tinny, a shame since you hear it every single time you drive the car.
Despite seatbelt buckles that sound as substantial as your average McDonald’s Happy Meal toy, our A3’s interior build quality was terrific. The door grips squeaked a bit when squeezed, the lower gauge bezel was a bit wiggly under pressure, the sunroof shade seemed thin and vulnerable to tears and sagging, and the center console hinge sounded like it might bust as soon as the warranty expires. Regardless, nothing was egregiously loose or crooked or ill-fitting.
Outside, the Audi A3’s fit and finish was almost as good as the interior. The hood and tailgate were both a tad misaligned, and the rubber window seals had already faded and discolored in spots on our low-mileage test car, but otherwise nothing was amiss. Let’s hope that, over time, Audi’s electrical gremlins have also taken an extended holiday.
Specifications
Key Competitors: Acura RSX, BMW X3, Chrysler PT Cruiser GT, Jaguar X-Type Sportwagon, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Mini Cooper S, Nissan Murano, Saab 9-2X, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Passat, Volvo V50
Test Vehicle: 2006 Audi A3 2.0T
Price of Test Vehicle: $33,910
Engine Size and Type: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Engine Horsepower: 200 between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm
Engine Torque: 207 lb.-ft. between 1,800 and 5,000 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed Direct Shift Gearbox
Curb weight, lbs.: 3,329
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 25/31
Observed Fuel Economy: 24.2 mpg
Length: 168.7 inches
Width: 69.5 inches
Wheelbase: 101.5 inches
Height: 56 inches
Leg room (front/rear): 41.2/34.8 inches
Head room (front/rear): 38.1/36.9 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Five
Max. Cargo Volume: 55.6 cu.-ft.
Competitors: Acura RSX, BMW X3, Chrysler PT Cruiser GT, Jaguar X-Type Sportwagon, Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Mini Cooper S, Nissan Murano, Saab 9-2X, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen GTI, Volkswagen Passat, Volvo V50
2nd Opinion – Blackett
Key Points: • Fun to drive
• Good looking
• Costs too much with options
• Lacks utility
• Not enough to trump the competition
It only took a few minutes of driving our 2006 Audi A3 tester, equipped with the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission, to figure out that even cars with a flatulence problem can make a good impression. No, it wasn’t a case of that rotten egg smell that came from my old Pontiac Grand Am. It was more like when my dog has eaten too fast – a “poof” sound comes from her rear end, causing her to become alarmed and look with fear to her hind quarters. Oh, my, that’s funny stuff.
In the Audi, the “poof” comes from the exhaust, a result of upshifts orchestrated by the DSG. With regular and sport modes, as well as manual shifting with either the shift lever or paddles on the rear of the steering wheel, the DSG-equipped A3 offers drivers a variety of ways to move the gears. Leave the tranny in drive for seamless shifts that take place at lower revs for a more tranquil ride. Drop into sport mode to keep the revs up longer for better acceleration. Or bump the shift lever to the right and flick it up and down for manual shifts. But, for the most fun, fly through the gears using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, which can be used regardless of whether the Audi A3 is in drive, sport, or manual mode.
That sublime gearbox is connected to an equally fun, turbocharged engine that offers impressive acceleration across most of the rev range, and remains composed even when pushed for all it’s worth. Add to that laudable powertrain the A3’s sharp handling and powerful brakes, and the result is something you don’t see all that often – an extremely fun wagon.
Of course, the 2006 Audi A3 does have its drawbacks, not the least of which is the as-tested price of $33,910. After depressing the throttle, that turbocharged engine takes what feels like a full second before opening up the gates, serving to put a crimp on your grin. The cabin is filled with durable leather, aluminum on various interior bits, and padded surfaces in some key areas. The materials are appropriate for a $33K+ car, but detractions include a few large gaps, hard window sills, a center navigation screen that washes out in sunlight, and narrow front buckets. Rear seat accommodations are tight, with small door openings and headrests that poke into passengers’ necks when in the down position. Our tester also had the dual sunroofs, which are nice, but with only mesh sunshades, you’re never able to fully block out sunlight.
From a design perspective, the 2006 Audi A3 is a mixed bag. Inside, there are the tight seats, but outside are fluid lines, gorgeous 17-inch alloys (included on our tester with the Sport Package), and the most attractive use of Audi’s massive new grille. It just may be the best looking small wagon on the market. On the flip side is the interior’s storage capability, which aside from the cargo area is lacking. There’s a generous pocket in the front center armrest and two front door storage areas, but there are no seatback pockets, no other console storage of any value, and no rear door storage. There’s some space in the rear fold-down center armrest, but it’s filled with a first-aid kit.
Then there’s the competition to consider, including vehicles like the Saab (Subaru) 9-2X and the Volvo V50. Both are in the same ballpark price range, but come with standard or optional all-wheel drive, offer more available horsepower and torque, and provide significantly more cargo room. And, for my money, the competitors’ added traction, power, and versatility trump the A3’s style and fun factor.
2nd Opinion – Chee
Key Points: • Stylish design
• Fun to drive
• Too expensive with options
• Cramped interior
• Troublesome ergonomics
Zippeedeedoodah. It is a wonderful day when you spend it behind the wheel of a 2006 Audi A3, scooting around like a fox on a golf course and generally behaving in a very un-Teutonic way.
Ach. The car will make you do that. Stylish and fun, the Audi A3 is the car everyone wants to take home but no one is willing to buy, because, after adding the options that make this car fly, you take a $26,000 price tag and turn it into almost $35 grand. Not that those options are overvalued. Consider the Sport Package, which runs around $1,800 and includes stiffer suspension tuning, a 15mm lower ride height, aluminum interior trim, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, fog lamps, roof spoiler, leather seating and sport seats.
Without the Sport Package, the A3 is just a pretty hatchback dressed up for dinner, especially when you consider that the new VW Golf, the A3’s low-priced twin, is just around the corner and ready to go on sale. As with most Audis, the A3 was made for drivers, not commuters, so it is a bit odd to see one posing as an “economical” hatchback. Come on. I know what you really are. You’re an Audi – let’s go for a drive! When you’re there, behind the wheel with the shift paddles under your fingertips and the A3’s sport suspension whipping around corners like an angry snake, you will become slightly intoxicated, and think to yourself that yes, you could do this car. You could pay the extra, live with the cramped back seat, the useless cupholders, and small hatch area.
You blip into the fourth gear of the A3’s six-speed (standard is a manual, optional is Audi’s Direct Shift Gearbox), and think again, yes, it would be fine to live with the hard, cold interior plastics. After all, you get a sweet and smooth inline four-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection that makes 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft of torque and sings like a bird. For that, you can put up with the emergency brake between you and your latte, and can even get over the poorly marked audio and environmental controls. Those clever German engineers love to be different, and snotty car enthusiasts the world over have, over the years, foolishly bought into it. For Joe Commuter, however, it’s nice when things are easy to use.
But enough complaining. Perhaps we’re spoiled by the efficiency of Japanese instrument design, and perhaps this is part of the Audi’s charm. But ineffective design, no matter how cute, is still a frustrating waste of time. As for the 2006 Audi A3, driving one is hardly a waste. This is a fun car that brightens your daily drive, and does it at a clip of 25/31 mpg. For the $26,000 base price, you get a nice cloth interior and a fun A3 – but not nearly as much fun as the one with the Sport Package, which will run you around $28,000. At that price, with those restrictions on trim offerings, it’s easy to see that the A3 will sell well – to Audi-loving hat ch freaks with too much money. The rest of us will wait for the Golf, while continuing to dream the sweet dream of an Audi on the open road.
Photos by Ron Perry