IT'S a mark of the quality of a manufacturer when, having recently sampled its flagship model, you try out the smallest car in its range and find it equally satisfying.
Not too long after spending a week with the £70,000 Audi S8 I stepped into an A3 1.8T model and - pound for pound - found it just as impressive.
You do notice that when you shut the door there is not the same muted and sophisticated clunk that you get with the larger Audis, but that apart it's quality all the way.
The Golf-sized A3 is a class act, and there aren't too many small cars you can say that about. It looks good. It feels good from behind the wheel and it does exactly what it says on the tin.
With the 1.8 TFSI engine under the bonnet you get an economical yet sporting car - a recipe to suit most people.
The T after the 1.8 stands for Turbo, and the addition of a turbocharger to this already punchy 1.8-litre engine means you get dynamic performance in all of the car's six gears.
Sometimes it's all too easy to forget exactly how much power this car has as you potter along in city traffic. But as soon a you wind the revs up on the open road this car delivers with impressive acceleration as the turbo cuts in.
The sensible side of the car is the FSI bit, which means its direct injection fuel system will ensure frugal fuel consumption for a petrol-powered car. The official average is just over 38mpg but you can add another 10mpg when on a long motorway run.
So in short this is a car you can buy with the heart and the head as it gives you the best of all worlds.
As with all Audis, however, the purchase price is not that low. The base price of my test car was £17,295 but optional extras, including £2,000 for Sport trim, pushed that price up to £22,905. But with this car you are not only buying quality you are also buying an image.
The lowered and firmer suspension that comes in the Sport model ensures excellent roadholding and cat-like grip. The ride is obviously harder but certainly not at the expense of comfort and this setup makes the A3 a far more enjoyable car to drive.
Inside there is a sensible amount of room for a car of this size and front sports seats - leather on my test car - and a leather steering wheel all added to the racey image of the vehicle.
Externally the new deep grille is all part of Audi's corporate image, and certainly make the current A3 look far more macho than its predecessor.
FAST FACTS
Audi A3 1.8 TFSI Sport 3dr
Price: £20,085
Mechanical: 160bhp, 1,798cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 136mph
0-62mph: 8.0 secs
Combined mpg: 39.2
Insurance group: 13
CO2 emissions: 171g/km
BiK rating: 21%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust