Test Drive: Audi 'entry' A3 fun but gets pricey fast

Audi's A3 is another of the cheap expensive car, or expensive cheap cars that luxury automakers seem to be doing nowadays..

They trumpet a $30,000 starting price, but you'll be north of $35,000, maybe even at $40,000, before you get the "entry" luxury sedan you want.

Audi's renewed, redesigned, reconstituted A3 line of compacts began rolling out in May, starting just shy of $31,000 including shipping.

Audi sold an A3 in the U.S. previously, but it only came as the Sportback — a small front-drive wagon. That's now replaced by a sedan/convertible lineup. The Sportback returns the second half next year as the Eco-minded model powered by the TDI diesel engine or configured as an "e-tron" plug-in hybrid.

The idea of trying to field a team down close to $30,000 is that so many buyers are spending that much, or more, on well-furnished mainstream models that a true luxury badge for the same price should be irresistible.

Mercedes-Benz began this food fight with the 2014 CLA four-door sedan last fall, pitched as a real M-B for less than $30K. It was neither, in our view.

The test cars that M-B provided then were, let's be honest, junky in some cases. Big gaps in trim. Noise. Harsh ride. Handled nicely, though. And we presume the interior gaffes aren't in showroom models.

The actual base price of the 2014 M-B CLA 250, including inescapable destination charge, was $30,825, raised to $32,425 for the 2015s.

The 2015 Audi A3, starting at $30,795, comes across as more truly worthy of the "luxury" designation.

Main treats:

•Sweet to drive. All engines deliver power in satisfying fashion. The two different types of six-speed automatic transmissions snick through their shifts quickly, precisely. You'll be tempted to keep stopping and then accelerating flat out just to fell feel the exceptional gearboxes in action.

Flat cornering, responsive and well-tuned steering, right-by-golly-now brakes — a driver's joy for the most part, without the overly harsh or stiff ride often dictated by good-handling suspensions.

The base 1.8-liter four is the least impressive powerplant, no surprise, and exhibited a lag between pedal-down and car-go modes. Still, it hustled harder than its power ratings would suggest.

It's a price play, though, not a mileage choice. The optional, more powerful, 2-liter four is an mpg match, and way more fun.

•Easy on the eyes, inside and out. Audi's been a paragon of class, restraint, elegance, and the A3 varies not. Largely unadorned dashboard. Few and mainly simple controls. Navigation/control screen that retracts when not in use, pops up when the car's started.

•Features a-plenty. Audi thinks the key is providing well-equipped models at the base prices, to give the cars more appeal than just their luxury brand names. So, standard leather, huge sunroof, upmarket headlights. The infotainment setup can be had with 4GLTE connectivity.

General Motors is hustling to make 4GLTE available across the board, so there soon should be industrywide competition to offer better in-car service.

•Good mileage. Audi's a unit of Volkswagen Group and shares VW's new generation of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, which are outstanding.

Diesel is the best example: 37 mpg in heavy-footed city and suburban driving.

Audis and VWs with the new-gen engines seem generally to use less fuel than we expect, especially considering how much we like those infamous "jack-rabbit starts" that driver's ed instructors and hyper-milers so loathe.

•Convertible's on the menu. Nobody seems to give much thought to open-air driving nowadays, so it's refreshing that Audi includes a drop-top in the line.

But ...

You have to cut somewhere to field a lower-price car with luxury persona.

Audi does it by scrimping on size — which is common — and that translates to tight rear-seat room. There's little leg and knee space between the back of the front seat and rear seat cushion if a slightly tall person is in front.

Buyers of machines in this price and size class seem not to care much, though.

And — Test Drive finds this astonishing and unsettling — a backup camera isn't standard. Never mind that rear-view cameras are all-but-certain to be required by government safety regulations. If it's a luxury brand, it ought to make something as useful and expected as a backup camera a standard feature.

Instead, your attention is distracted by the standard leather upholstery, standard huge sunroof, standard upscale headlights and so on.

None of which will matter a whit the first time you crush a tricycle because you had no low-angle rear view. You can, of course, get a backup camera as an option — part of the $1,400 "driver assistance" package.

What's more, other features that we think buyers of these kinds of cars will want also come in pricey options packages. We tallied about $7,000 in options on the test car we thought had the features we'd want to justify the "luxury" designation.

Another gripe, not necessarily a result of cost-cutting: Audi altered the console-mounted controls on its MMI (multimedia interface). We think it's now harder to use.

In some cases, it might tempt you to switch your focus from the road ahead, and even a moment's distracted driving is worrisome.

The 2015 A3 lineup is appealing for its high-level driving experience, classy presentation and excellent fuel economy.

But be sure you're careful about which features you're actually getting, and that they are the ones you want for the price you're willing to pay.

2015 Audi A3 highlights:

•Handling: Excellent

•Features: Odd mix; leather and huge sunroof are standard, backup camera isn't

•Interior: Elegant, high-class

About the 2015 Audi A3

What?

Small, entry-level four-door sedan and convertible as Audi rejoins the entry-luxury market. Available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or QuattroCQ all-wheel drive (AWD).

When?

1.8-liter and 2-liter gasoline versions on sale since May. Cabrio (convertible), diesel and S3 high-performance models have since joined the line.

Where?

Made in Gyor, Hungary.

How much?

Sedan starts at $30,795, including shipping. Cabrio (convertible), $36,525. TDI (diesel), $33,495. S3, $41,995.

What makes it go?

Base is 1.8-liter, turbocharged, gasoline four-cylinder rated 170 horsepower at 4,500 rpm, 200 pounds-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm.

Optional: 2-liter turbo gasoline four rated 220 hp at 4,500, 258 lbs.-ft. at 1,600.

Optional: 2-liter turbo four diesel rated 150 hp at 3,500, 236 lbs.-ft. at 1,750.

S3 high-performance model: 2-liter gasoline turbo four rated 292 hp at 5,400, 280 lbs.-ft. at 1,900.

All use six-speed automatics.

How big?

Compact class; several inches shorter, slightly narrower than rival Mercedes-Benz CLA, and on shorter wheelbase.

A3 weighs 3,175 - 3,583 lbs.

Luggage space: Sedan, 12.9 cubic feet, Cabrio, 10 cu. ft.

Turning circle diameter, 36.1 ft.

How thirsty?

1.8-liter rated 23 mpg in the city, 33 highway, 27 combined (sedan), 24/35/28 (Cabrio).

2-liter: 24/33/27 (sedan), 24/32/26 (Cabrio). TDI: 31/43/36. S3: 23/31/26.

Two test cars driven most, 2-liter quattro sedan and TDI sedan, in mix of city, suburban driving, often with hard-throttle acceleration and including some cold-weather, keep-warm idling, registered:

2-liter: 24.6 mpg (4.07 gallons per 100 miles).

TDI: 37 mpg (2.7 gal./100 mi.)

Gasoline engines burn premium, diesel burns ultra-low-sulfur diesel.

Tank holds 13.2 or 14.5 gal., depending on model.

Overall:

Exceptional performance, handling and mpg, but illogical array of what's standard vs. optional.