AUDI claims its A3 was the world’s first premium compact hatch when it launched in 1997. It was only available as three-door until the first five-door A3 Sportback arrived in 2005. Then in 2014 the first A3 Sedan went on sale in Australia and marked the beginning of the new small premium sedan niche that would later include Mercedes' swoopy CLA.

Priced to be affordable, the A3 Sedan brings prestige car elements to a smaller package in the same way the hatch did all those years ago. And now it comes with a boot. In effect Audi has created a scaled-down version of its more expensive limos marketed at countries such as China and the United States where hatches are not as popular as sedans.

There are six variants in the A3 Sedan line-up, ranging from the entry 1.4 Cylinder On Demand Attraction for $40,100, plus on-road costs to the snarling sporty S3 for $63,400. We took home the 1.8 TFSI in mid-range Ambition specification to see if the little, premium sedan was as good as it looks.

Click here for the full review...