2006 Audi A3 2.0T Road Test

The compact Autobahn cruiser

In order to keep costs down, car manufacturers have been reducing the sheer number of unique platforms and powerplants. Most of the builders are sticking to a couple of high-tech skeletons that can easily be modified to accept different drivetrains or for various types of vehicles. Volkswagen is not a rookie in this business. Their fourth generation Golf/Jetta chassis served as a basis for the New Beetle, the previous A3 and even for a few Seat and Skoda models. The trick is to build a good backbone and work with it.

This road test has found me soaking up every kilometre in a 2006 Audi A3. This is the first time that North America gets the A3. It has been around in Europe for a while and only now can we finally get to see them on our roads. The A3 is actually built on the same platform as the new fifth generation Volkswagen Jetta and upcoming Golf. They also share many mechanical components.

Base price is $32,950. If one was to add all available options, the price would be of over $56,000. I tested a DSG equipped 2.0T with the premium package. It retails for $39,650.

Styling

The A3 is available in 1 body style for the moment: a 5-door hatchback. A 3-door should arrive in the near future. The car is very elegant and receives the same level of attention as does its more expensive siblings. It shares the corporate horse collar front grille and rising beltline which have become synonymous (for me anyways) with absolute class. The overall design of the car is simple enough, however it is clear that every line and angle received careful attention. 2006 Audi A3 2.0T Road Test from (http://www.auto123.com/en/audi/a3/2006/review?carid=1060600500&artid=53767)

2006 Audi A3 2.0T Road Test

(Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

When a company such as Audi builds a car such as the A3, the result is a peculiar combination of grown-up stuff like quality, history and heritage, as well as kid stuff, like a turbo, a hatchback configuration and a monster stereo. So, let's say you've just become the envy of your University buddies and scored a sweet job and need a matching ride. Maybe you've got a young family on the go and don't want to trade your formative years and youthful guise in for a set of sliding doors and soccer lessons. Either of these scenarios being the case, the A3 is probably already on your list.

But I'm going to warn you right now that if you don't like being stared at, or if you have any sort of cardiovascular problems, you don't want one of Audi's little hatchbacks. That's because the first thing it does is get stared at, constantly, by everybody. Old people love it. Young people love it. Everybody wants to check this car out wherever it is. If you've ever walked around with a very young golden retriever puppy, or an equally-adorable breed, you'll know what I mean. In fact, if you were to get out of the A3 with a cute puppy, you'd likely be followed home.

(Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

The second thing the A3 does is set your heart racing at a mere glance. This all happens while the A3 is still parked. So if you're going to take it on, you'd better have a full bottle of nitro-tabs and some tinted glass to avoid heart palpitations and the public inquiries about it in every parking lot and gas pump.

After some time spent on European shores, Audi brought the A3 over to North America, where it was met with open arms by enthusiasts and tuner junkies alike. For the droves of people who complain and grumble about how Europe gets better cars than we do (and are correct), it was a great day.

The A3 rides on the same platform used by other VW models like the Jetta and Golf. For Audi duty, the platform houses a lean and compact body, complete with the new menacing trademark grille that threatens to suck up small roadgoing objects, and an ambitious and daring wedge shape to the windows on the five-door hatchback configuration. It's unmistakable as anything but an Audi, from any angle, wherever it rolls up. 17-inch wheels finished in a two-tone color scheme broke up the intense gloss red finish on my tester. With forward swooping lines created from the windshield pillar that recur in the fender flares as well as the grille and bumper, the A3 looks coiled back to attack, even at rest. 2006 Audi A3 2.0T Road Test from (http://www.auto123.com/en/audi/a3/2006/review?carid=1060600500&artid=66099)