The A3 has a tasteful but small interior and generous power output. The base hatchback is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. The S-tronic transmission, a manual that shifts automatically, works very well. We found the A3 quite nimble and quick, but the steering is too light at low speeds. A powerful all-wheel-drive version with a 3.2-liter V6 is smoother and quieter, and it handles a bit better. It's based on the Volkswagen Rabbit/GTI and Jetta. Common options easily push the price over $30,000. IIHS crash-test results are impressive. Reliability has been average.