Audi A3 1.6 TDI S Line

Although this A3 is made up of some great individual ingredients, they don’t come together to produce a must-buy car. Unless you really need an automatic gearbox or can’t live without the head-turning looks of the S line trim, we’d save £4,200 and plump for the five-speed manual SE. It’s good to drive, still looks desirable, has plenty of standard equipment and, crucially, costs even less to run. It’s a winner.

Here's proof that green cars don’t have to be dull. This A3 S line looks like a hot hatch – but with Audi’s latest 1.6-litre diesel and stop-start, it’s cheap to run. For the first time, we’ve tried the eco-friendly motor with the super-efficient seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch box. How does it stand up?

Compared to the manual, there’s no performance penalty – 0-62mph takes only three-tenths longer, at 11.7 seconds, while the 121mph top speed is the same.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Audi A3

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On the move, the auto works well, changing gears swiftly, while the torquey engine offers great refinement and punch. For extra pace, there’s a Sport mode, which holds on to gears longer before changing up. Plus, steering wheel paddles add to the appeal.

Factor in combined economy of 67.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 109g/km, and this Audi looks like a tempting choice. However, the auto doesn’t combine that well with stop-start. Once you’ve come to a halt, there can be too much of a delay between you demanding power and the engine firing up.

S line trim brings seven-spoke alloys, a roof spoiler and leather seats, giving the already smart-looking A3 extra visual appeal. But there’s a price to pay for standing out. When you specify the £1,450 S tronic transmission, this car costs nearly £23,000.