Since our first drive of the A3 3.2 roughly one year ago, changes to Audi’s smallest offering have been kept to a minimum. Some package differences were made - the DSG transmission re-dubbed “S-tronic” though largely it’s an unchanged car. Why then, after spending a week in a 2007 example would we go out on a limb in saying the car could have been badged S3 and few would have been the wiser? At the end of the day, such an impression by our staff is purely based on an improved impression, of which our much-more-charismatic 2007 example has in spades. Unfortunately, it’s also got a heavyweight price point to go with that improved demeanor.

Back in 2006, the silver A3 3.2 S-line we sampled was impressive to drive, though it went to the Clark Kent class of eye-catchology. It may have well have been wearing horn-rimmed spectacles, as it’s boring-if-handsome wheels and overcast silver shade, also overly common, made it the deepest of sleeper. The resulting anonymity was enough to make even the most self-confident enthusiast driver wish for a little bit of cross-lane love....

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What a beautiful car that is.

It's even better in dark colors like Lava Grey.

Nice, but I like the 3-door version better. Good review too.