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2009 Audi A3 Quality Review

July 20, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

benefits from incredible build quality
Car and Driver

all-day comfortable
ConsumerGuide

truly is a 'premium' compact
Kelley Blue Book

The Audi reputation is represented well here, with the 2009 Audi A3 offering plenty of refinement.

In extensive drives of the A3 Audi in Europe and the United States, TheCarConnection.com’s editors feel its standard leather buckets lack the side support needed in such a car and can cause backaches on longer journeys. Rear seat accommodation is acceptable for a car of this size, allowing you to squeeze a pair of adults in there—provided the passengers in front don't mind scooting forward an inch or two. The trunk is very large.

Kelley Blue Book describes the interior of the A3 as "decidedly upscale" with "aluminum-surrounded round front air vents" being "among several touches that echo the stylish Audi TT." Car and Driver says the 2009 Audi A3 "benefits from incredible build quality."

Cars.com contends the "excellent seats deliver good support and their bottoms are fairly long," but points out that "some drivers might find their right knee resting against the center console." ConsumerGuide claims front seats are "all-day comfortable" and "headroom and legroom are plentiful."

With regard to the A3 Audi seats themselves, ConsumerGuide mentions that "the cushion is nicely padded but not long enough for good thigh support." In the backseat, ForbesAutos warns that "larger occupants could feel cramped."

Kelley Blue Book reminds drivers the A3 is a hatchback, meaning "some folks might be disappointed by the size of the rear cargo area." The interior makes good use of space, however, with Car and Driver calling the A3 Audi "roomy." Edmunds touts the easy-to-use comfort, with "straightforward buttons and controls" and an "excellent steering wheel" that "fits the driver's hands perfectly" among the most notable features.

ConsumerGuide notices "some coarse-surface tire thrum on base models," but "wind rush is low at highway speeds," and "both engines sound classy while accelerating."

Conclusion

Luxury touches and exceptional comfort make the 2009 Audi A3 a worthy step up in refinement from budget-priced hatches.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:benefits from incredible build qualityCar and Driverall-day comfortableConsumerGuidetruly is a 'premium' compactKelley Blue Book The Audi reputation is represented well here, with the 2009 Audi A3 offering plenty of refinement. In extensive drives of the A3 Audi in Europe and the United States, TheCarConnection.com’s editors feel its standard leather buckets lack the side support needed in such a car and can cause backaches on longer journeys. Rear seat accommodation is acceptable for a car of this size, allowing you to squeeze a pair of adults in there—provided the passengers in front don't mind scooting forward an inch or two. The trunk is very large. Kelley Blue Book describes the interior of the A3 as "decidedly upscale" with "aluminum-surrounded round front air vents" being "among several touches that echo the stylish Audi TT." Car and Driver says the 2009 Audi A3 "benefits from incredible build quality." Cars.com contends the "excellent seats deliver good support and their bottoms are fairly long," but points out that "some drivers might find their right knee resting against the center console." ConsumerGuide claims front seats are "all-day comfortable" and "headroom and legroom are plentiful." With regard to the A3 Audi seats themselves, ConsumerGuide mentions that "the cushion is nicely padded but not long enough for good thigh support." In the backseat, ForbesAutos warns that "larger occupants could feel cramped." Kelley Blue Book reminds drivers the A3 is a hatchback, meaning "some folks might be disappointed by the size of the rear cargo area." The interior makes good use of space, however, with Car and Driver calling the A3 Audi "roomy." Edmunds touts the easy-to-use comfort, with "straightforward buttons and controls" and an "excellent steering wheel" that "fits the driver's hands perfectly" among the most notable features. ConsumerGuide notices "some coarse-surface tire thrum on base models," but "wind rush is low at highway speeds," and "both engines sound classy while accelerating." ConclusionLuxury touches and exceptional comfort make the 2009 Audi A3 a worthy step up in refinement from budget-priced hatches. 2009 AUDI A3 STYLING | [7 out of 10] Edmunds: "the most noticeable styling changes include a sculpted chin spoiler and redesigned headlights" Car and Driver: "the instrument lighting has switched from Audi’s characteristic red to a more generic white" ConsumerGuide: "less space than a ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Look to Japan and the Infiniti EX has all-wheel drive as an option, but the base car is a rear-driver spun from the hot-handling G35 sedan, one of our favorite luxury sport sedans. A traditional wagon such as the BMW 3-Series or the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen might not include all-wheel drive, but each has more cargo room than the more compact Audi A3—and in the Jetta's case, a coming diesel option. If you're in the market for a wagonlike vehicle with sporting pretensions and can spend $30,000, there are some interesting choices outside of the 2009 Audi A3.

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See the Audi A3 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Comments (1 total)

  1. By  Tom Audi A3 fan #2, Posted: 8/17/2009

    Yeah, it's really balanced car, hope to test it soon. But it's too expensive here in our dealers

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