2012 Audi A3 TDI: Video Road Test and Review

The Audi A3 TDI is a four door five passenger luxury hatchback from the German automaker that combines the upscale premium compact lift back with a power plant that rivals the range of the best hybrids and doesn’t run on batteries.  At the heart of the A3 TDI is a 2.0 Liter turbo diesel injected four cylinder that produces 140 HP and 236 lb-ft of torque and while it may take 8.9 seconds to reach 60 MPH, the alternatively fueled A3 returns an estimated 30 MPG in the city and as much as 42 MPG on the highway.  Audi offers the A3 TDI in two trim levels: the 2.0 TDI Premium and the 2.0 TDI Premium Plus.  Gone are the days of sooty exhaust pipes and the idea of dirty diesel, because today the TDI clean diesel produces 30% fewer CO2 emissions than a traditional internal combustion engine running on gas.  So with the A3 TDI, not only will you be making less trips to the pump, you’ll be doing less damage to the environment as well.

The base A3 2.0 TDI Premium is well equipped with premium amenities like a set of 17 inch split spoke alloys, a pair of halogen headlamps, dual zone automatic climate control and leather seating surfaces.  Drivers get a six way manually adjustable recliner and a four spoke leather wrapped steering wheel to hold on to, while everyone can enjoy the Audi concert system with AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 stereo with an auxiliary input for mobile media devices starting at $30,250.

The top of the line A3 2.0 TDI Premium Plus gets upgraded with a set of 10 spoke wheels, the signature Audi xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights, an eight way power lumbar adjustable leather wrapped captains chair as well as a premium three spoke multifunction sport steering wheel with paddle shifters and controls for the stereo and obligatory Bluetooth wireless connectivity.  The $32,250 Premium Plus also includes the Illumination Package that not only brings lit vanity mirrors, but the controls as well making for easy readability as well as exclusive Micrometallic inlays dress up the rest of the interior trim.

A list of cars similar to the A3 TDI include the 2012 Acura TSX Sportwagon, 2012 Mini Clubman and 2012 Lexus CT200h.

See more details about the 2012 Audi A3 TDI.