Audi A3 Saloon (2013 - present)

Audi A3 Saloon prices from £9,599   Finance from £160 per month

This saloon version of the Audi A3 hatchback is a relatively new concept. It was only made available to Britain’s drivers in mid-2013, as the company sought to replicate the popularity of its larger A4 saloon sibling at a lower price point.

It’s now approaching the end of its life cycle and as a result the range of trims levels and engines isn’t as expansive as it was at the time of the car’s introduction, there are three diesel options but only a single petrol to choose from. For those seeking a small saloon with a smart image though, that’s unlikely to be a problem, as it remains a fundamentally good car. Plus, used car buyers now benefit from plenty of choice, with more affordable older models and more stylish newer models to choose from.

Competing with the more up-to-date Mercedes CLA, the A3 saloon range costs from £26,735, with three trim levels to choose from; the entry-level Sport, mid-range S Line (£28,885) and the flagship Black Edition model (£30,325).

The engine range has been scaled back for new models, so there is now only one petrol unit, referred to as the 40 TFSI. It’s a 2.0-litre, 190hp four-cylinder unit and is only available with an automatic and quattro four-wheel drive.

There’s more choice for drivers who want a diesel-powered model, with 30 TDI, 35 TDI and 40 TDI versions, and manual or automatic gearboxes as well as the option of Audi’s quattro system. For the lowest prices, emissions and fuel economy, it has to be diesel with this car.

It’s a handsome saloon and that impression of style continues inside the car. The A3 might be getting on in years, but its dashboard’s design has aged well. That’s because it’s relatively simple, with a minimalistic layout that ensures it’s both intuitive to live with and easy on the eye.

Compared with any other new Audi and key rivals such as the Mercedes CLA, there are areas where the A3 saloon is showing its age. For example, the media system has a screen that can be lowered into the dashboard at the touch of button, but because it’s only seven inches in size, it can prove a bit of a strain on the eye when trying to decode sat-nav instructions.

Sensibly, however, while many rivals have media systems that can only be used through a touchscreen, this system has a rotary controller, located down near the gearstick. This is far less distracting for the driver to use while on the move, though this may confuse passengers initially, as they’ll instinctively reach out to make adjustments. However, despite this, the Audi media system is logical to operate and you can easily control a number of the car's functions through steering wheel controls and a display between the car's dials.

If you want to do more through the wheel, you can order the optional Virtual Cockpit, which offers even more options, as you can display sat-nav maps and music information within the driver’s digital instrument cluster and change settings quickly and easily.

The rest of the controls and features are straightforward, especially the climate control system. And you’ll be sitting comfortably, as the seat and driving position adjust every which way and the seat itself offers good support.

It’s not quite the same story in the back seats. That’s because headroom is restricted, so average height adults will find their head is touching the roof and anyone taller will have to kink their neck to one side, so if you need to carry passengers on a regular basis, that could be an issue.

Still, high-back child seats fit without a problem, while the level of legroom is reasonable as feet fit comfortably under the chairs in front. But three people abreast the back seat will be a squeeze. An Audi A4 is significantly more spacious.

Compared with the A3 Sportback, the saloon has a larger boot. It carries 425 litres of luggage, which is 60 more than the hatchback. But if you pick a model with quattro four-wheel drive, that drops to 390 litres. The back seats split and fold 60/40, but their drop function is only accesible from inside the car itself - nothing deal breaking, just something to be aware of. Needless to say, it can’t carry as much clobber as the hatchback in this respect, because you can't load up to the roof in the boot as you can in the hatchback.

In terms of driving experience, the saloon is perhaps even better than what you get with the hatchback. Its body is stiffer, helping the car feel a fraction more precise on the road, especially the steering response, while the suspension gives stable roadholding even if the ride comfort proves slightly on the firm side and tyre noise isn’t as hushed as some might like.

In Euro NCAP crash tests, performed in 2012, the A3 hatchback (which offers fundamentally the same level of protection as the saloon in the event of a forward-facing impact) was awarded a maximum five-star rating, scoring 95% for adult protection and 87% for children. There are two ISOFIX mounting points for child seats on the outer rear seats. Do remember, however, tha the crash test procedure has become much more challenging over the last few years, so while the A3 is safe, cars that have scored five stars more recently may be significantly safer - especially when it comes to crash avoidance technology, which now contributes to car's safety scores.