The sport package. And those sexy LED daytime running lights. That's why you buy an Audi A3 over a run-of-the-mill compact sedan or hatchback. Balance is why you buy an A3 TDI diesel over a hybrid.
Balance, of course, can refer to things other than limited weight distribution and handling. In this case, we're talking about the tradeoff between performance and fuel economy. As fuel economy requirements continue to tighten, this balance becomes all the more important. Sure, you could get even better fuel economy with a hybrid, but it won't have the same pizzazz as the A3 TDI. Skeptical? Don't be. Audi says that diesel models account for half of all A3 sales.
If you're familiar with the A3 at all, you probably know it is Audi's entry-level car and available as a hatchback only. We're often asked if it's worth the price considering its size, which is small by American standards. To determine this, we had Audi send us a 2010 A3 TDI equipped with the packages that make the difference.
They are the Premium Plus package, a $2,000 upgrade that gives you the A3 Audi's signature LED daytime running lights that we've come to love so much, along with a meaty three-spoke steering wheel, and the $2,000 Titanium Sport package, which adds sport seats, a sport-tuned suspension and 18-in. wheels wrapped in high-performance BF Goodrich tires. You could easily save $600 and go with the standard Sport package and get the same performance results while forgoing the Titanium Sport package's special gunmetal-colored wheels, blacked-out grille and other visual enhancements.
Throw in the optional two-part "Open Sky" sunroof and Convenience package with its auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic headlights and wipers, and Bose sound system, and our tester climbed from a diesel-model base price of $30,775 including destination charge into base A4 territory at $36,875. This is where the value question comes in.
