I'm also keen on the Navigation Plus system, the latest version of MMI
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| MMI, and all of its logical controls have migrated to the dash in the Navigation Plus package. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
applied to the A3 and A4. It features the same main rotary knob and clever intuitive 'four corners' that the A6 and A8 have, but the whole system is mounted on the centre console like a traditional navigation system. There is an extra button that non-Navigation Plus models don't have - one that cants the screen towards the driver to reveal a hidden panel that contains two slots to read SD memory cards! The $2,750 option groups the DVD-based navigation system with a six-disc CD changer, satellite radio prep, and Bluetooth hands-free phone capability with a Bose-designed speaker system that fills the interior with rich, warm sound.
With a base price of $44,290, and an as-tested price of $55,210, the A3
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| The A3 is a compact, but has the equipment and the driving dynamics ofa much larger car. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
3.2 V6 carries a hefty price tag. So hefty, that you could walk into a dealership and have a tough time deciding on it, or the larger 255-horsepower A4 Avant. But when it comes down to the bottom line, there's really nothing quite like it on the road. Mercedes-Benz's new B200 Turbo might seem a logical competitor, but it's down a good 57 horses on the A3, not to mention some $2,000 more expensive when comparably equipped. Another competitor might be the 9-2x, but the turbocharged 'aero' version has been discontinued, leaving the less luxurious Impreza WRX Wagon to do battle. The future seems to hold such secrets as the Mazdaspeed3, Alfa Romeo 147 GTA and BMW 1-Series, but until they appear, the A3 3.2 V6 stands alone.
By adding a V6 engine to the A3's lineup, Audi has provided the masses with a vehicle that's equally biased between performance, luxury, functionality and style. It's a modernized TT for those who occasionally need to carry an extra person or two, and who don't care so much about flash or attention (i.e. Me). Having now experienced the A3 3.2 V6, it makes me wonder if Audi will ever put together an S3, and what it will be like - or for that matter, an RS3... I can dream, right?
