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Audi A3 honoured as best small hatch in the UK car of year awards

Where the Audi A3 is concerned, a panel of the UK's most accomplished motoring experts has collectively reached the same conclusion as tens of thousands of UK Audi customers - they believe that it is the pick of the class, and have rubber stamped their decision by honouring it with a coveted 2014 UK Car of the Year Award.

The plaudits which led to the Best Small Hatch Award for the Audi A3 came from the 27-strong UK Car of the Year judging panel, which comprises a broad spectrum of leading motoring journalists from across the industry. All judges write for a range of digital and print media outlets that have the potential to reach more than 80 million consumers a month.

Commenting on the winning formula that has now been carried over to the sleek new A3 Saloon, accomplished freelance writer and design expert Nargess Shamanesh Banks said: "Audi has balanced the proportions perfectly with the A3 Saloon, without taking away the close relationship with its hatch sibling," while Editor-in-Chief of Autotrader Jon Quirk added: "Great image and residuals, combined with big car refinement and technology; the A3 would make downsizing a pleasure."

Further praise for the "no-nonsense, everyday practicality, combined with peerless build quality and superior ergonomics" came from respected writer Anthony Ffrench-Constant, while Editor of Fleet World Steve Moody called the Audi A3 Sportback "the small hatch most buyers aspire to, and most manufacturers want to copy."

A3 - now there are four

The Audi A3 range now extends to four separate variants, appealing to the broadest customer base in the history of the premium compact. Prospective buyers can choose from a three-door hatch, the versatile five-door Sportback, the spacious saloon and the all-new four-seater Cabriolet, which now features a fully concealable fabric hood.

A host of efficient and powerful engines can be specified in the A3 three-door and Sportback, from the 105 PS 1.2 TFSI to the 184 PS 2.0 TDI quattro. Prices start from £18,280 to £29,435 OTR, with a £620 premium for equivalent Sportback models.

Notable as the first ever ‘three-box' A3, the spacious new saloon offers more seats-up luggage capacity than the five-door Sportback and the same deceptively generous helping of cabin space. The engine line-up starts with the entry-level 1.4 TFSI engine with Cylinder-on-Demand, which is capable of up to 60.1mpg on a combined cycle and emits just 109g/km of CO2 when fitted with S tronic transmission (58.9mpg combined and 111g/km for six-speed manual versions). A 180 PS 1.8 TFSI tops the petrol selection, while the 74.3mpg 1.6 TDI with 105 PS and 68.9mpg 2.0 TDI with 150 PS complete the diesel contingent. Prices start from £22,825 OTR, rising to £27,905 OTR.

Completing the line-up, the new A3 Cabriolet is now ready to order, priced from £25,790 OTR for the 1.4 TFSI SE with Cylinder-on-Demand to £32,420 OTR for the 1.8 TFSI in S line specification.

Performance enthusiasts can also choose their Sportback or Saloon in 300PS, quattro-equipped S3 form. S3 prices start from £30,640 OTR, £31,260 OTR for the Sportback, and from £33,240 OTR for the S3 Saloon.