10 Oct 06
Arguably, this is what it's all about; Audi would be out of business if image wasn't vitally important. Mechanically, all these cars share a lot, but in terms of image they're perceived very differently.
It's all subjective, but you won't find many who don't think the current A3 looks just right. Audi's styling may have gone off the boil in the last few years, with the A6 generally regarded as a bit of a clunker and the Q7 utterly inelegant. But with the A3, Audi's design language talks a lot of sense. The three-door and five-door are substantially different, but both look solid, surefooted, modern and fast.
The Leon's a much prettier, more delicate shape, but Seat's habit of painting it in 'look at me!' colours backfires.
The Octavia isn't one bit pretty - which works in its favour for some - and the Golf is a bloated, big-eyed caricature of its former self.
Cheap choice: Audi A3 1.6 FSI, 2004, £13,000
Nearly new choice: Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI, 2006, £18,500.
Rest of the world: Alfa Romeo 147, 2006, £14,500. Lovely inside, lovely outside, lovely under the bonnet.
