Audi A3: Anything But Your Typical Wagon
Audi delayed releasing the A3, which they to this day avoid describing as a wagon, for 10 years here in the US afraid of disdain for hatchback wagons in the States. It debuted in 2006. And for once the marketing of a vehicle stays true to the reality that the Audi A3 "is the first four-door car with the sportiness of the TT Coupe".
It's reasonably priced too starting at $26K. And for the money, you get a refined interior and with sporty suspension and great maneuverability. And in reality, the design is low-slung and camouflages any bulky wagon qualities you might expect. The bonus is you get the practicality of wagon, although it's a bit small in back, without any concessions that would dull the A3's slick performance. Be wary of option packages that can drive the reasonable starting price up though.
It's hard finding competitors that deliver this caliber of luxury and performance without costing more. One option is the Volkswagen Passat Wagon which also has more cargo space. It's a touch less luxurious though. Another alternative is the Subaru Outback Sport which has leather seats and AWD.
A recent article identified a short list of vehicles that offer the most value this year. By evaluating multiple sources and results such as value ratings, customer service satisfaction, reliability history, depreciation rates and consumer perception of brands, Forbes has arrived at a list of the "Most Value-Packed Cars".
