LOOKS
First let’s talk size: The A3 sedan is one of the smallest Audis you can buy, definitely a compact ride, with quite limited room in the back seat and trunk. Don’t expect to carry lots of folks around in this vehicle, and if the driver is tall you don’t want to sit behind him.

This is a luxury car, so it is attractive and comfortable inside, but it’s not quite as luxurious in terms of materials as some of the larger and more pricey Audi models. It’s got a minimalist German look to it, with the controls being small and the opposite of garish. Sometimes they nearly blend into the surroundings.

The A3 is not going to be a vehicle that dazzles in terms of looks. It’s got an efficient and somewhat attractive design, but doesn’t look overly flashy. You do get that distinctive Audi grille, so everyone will know what you are driving from far away.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
The A3 I tested featured a 2.0-liter TDI clean diesel engine, which provided 150 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque. The power in the A3 wasn’t anything to write home about -- not disappointing, but at the same time not great. You have both manual and automatic transmission options in the A3.

The engine is a tad bit noisier due to being a diesel, but nothing too outlandish. It’s not like you’re driving a semi-truck, and you quickly grow used to the slightly different sound.

The A3 takes a little while to get moving, but once it’s going the ride is quite smooth. That probably won’t bother most A3 customers, who aren’t expecting a vehicle to enter in a drag race. This is a small car, so it hugs the turns well; handling is impressive and there is minimal road noise.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
The tech interface on the A3 fits well with the car's minimalist setup.

The Audi MMI screen hides inside the dashboard until you turn on the vehicle, then it pops up; Controls for the screen are in the center console, and again are small and unobtrusive. Just part of the car. The tech works well overall when controlled manually, with voice commands also performing as expected.

Another impressive optional feature is the 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system -- which provided one of the most sonically impressive performances I have heard in a vehicle lately.

MPG
This is the stat that will jump out to potential customers and the biggest argument for getting the vehicle.Official numbers are 31 city/43 highway and 36 combined. Those numbers are actually low, as I did much better. During my time in the vehicle, I came close to 50 mpg on a few trips, and my average was about 42 for the entire time in the vehicle. Those are numbers you would expect out of hybrid vehicles, and a reason why I could see diesel offerings grow in the coming years.
WIth the potential to go up to 700 or 800 miles on a tank of gas, the A3 TDI has a big selling point here.

SAFETY
Many of the latest safety features are offered as options on the A3, but are not standard. You can opt in for a rearview camera, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, frontal collision warning and more. In crash-test ratings, the A3 received top marks, so small doesn’t mean unsafe in this case.

PRICE
My test vehicle started at $32,600 and had reached $43,295 by the time all options were added. That’s definitely not cheap, but not unexpected considering the luxury nameplate and all that comes with it.

BOTTOM LINE
If you’re looking for strong fuel mileage in a compact luxury ride and don’t want to go for a hybrid, the 2015 Audi A3 TDI might just be calling your name. It’s luxurious to a point, but in the end it’s all about fuel efficiency and how far the car can take you.
And you’ll get really far in this ride.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.