Lower emissions and improved fuel economy don't mean a drop in performance for the Audi A3 2.0 TDI. It now comes with stop-start technology to drop carbon dioxide emissions to 115g/km and improve economy to 64.2mpg combined - a figure that was previously 55.4mpg without stop-start.
In three-door form, the A3 2.0 TDI manages 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds, with the five-door Sportback model recording 9.1 seconds. Both models share the same economy and emissions figures thanks to Audi's start-stop system that switches the engine off when the car is at a standstill - so long as the driver puts the gearbox into neutral and takes his foot off the clutch.
This engine and system is also available in the
A3 Cabriolet, which now turns in 61.4mpg combined consumption and 119g/km of CO
2 emissions to qualify for low-rate road tax. All of the revised A3 models come with technology that aims to charge the car's battery via the alternator when it is slowing or braking.
Prices for the three-door A3 2.0 TDI begin at £18,860, £19,400 for the Sportback and the Cabriolet kicks off at £22,635, and all are on sale now.
Alisdair Suttie - 24 Nov 2009