Audi Prices 2010 A3 TDI Clean Diesel at Just $1,200 Above Comparable A3 Gasser
By John O'Dell September 3, 2009Diesel 'Premium' Buys a 41% Combined Fuel Economy Improvement Over 2-Liter Gasoline Model
Audi A3 TDI on the road in diesel mileage marathon event earlier this summer.
Audi, whose top U.S. executive recently questioned the mental acuity of people willing to pay $40,000 (before tax credits) for the upcoming extended-range Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, says it will price its 2010 A3 TDI clean diesel hatchback at $30,775.
(The diesel is likely to qualify for a $1,300 federal clean car tax credit; the Volt already has qualified for a $7,500 credit under the same program)
The EPA has rated the Audi A3 TDI at 30 mpg on the city cycle and 42 mpg on the highway cycle for a combined estimate of 34 mpg.
That compares to a 24 mpg combined mileage rating for the 2-liter, $29,575 gasoline A3 (there really is no fuel efficiency comparison with the Volt because the EPA still hasn't announced a methodology for computing fuel economy in a car that mixes all-electric and gasoline-engine augmented travel and won't go into production until late next year.)
For its $30,775 base price (includes the standard $825 destination charge), the Audi TDI offers a 140-horsepower, 2-liter clean diesel engine that develops 236 ft-lb of torque at max demand. Top speed is 130 mph, but you won't be getting 34 miles a gallon doing that.
Other touches include Audi's front-wheel drive set up and sporty suspension and handling, a top speed of 130 mpg, leather upholstery, 40/60 split and folding rear seats and lots of cup holders.
Options such as Audi Navigation, Bose premium sound, special alloy wheels, wood trim, upgraded leather and those neat LED daytime running lights that make Audis stand out in the crowd all will add a few thousand bucks to the base price.
The 2010 A3 TDI is slated to begin hitting dealer showrooms in November.
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It looks great. Except...it only comes with the DSG transmission? The one they just recalled for all of those problems?
I really hope BMW offers a diesel in the forthcoming X1. Otherwise my choices for fuel-efficient small wagon/crossover/hatchback will apparently be limited to this and its VW stablemates (looks great, but questionable reliability) and the Prius (good reliability, boring driving dynamics.)
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