Audi S3

How it looks when you see on the street: The modern, signature shape of the Audi design form carries over in the slight tight S3 package.

How it makes you feel when you get in: Nimble, athletic and ready to rev. The kids loved this car. Audi’s streamlined interior is delightfully uncluttered. The S3 has sporty seats and racy shaped steering wheel.

How it drives: Refreshing fun! It’s got a nifty amount of performance potential due to the 2.0-liter turbo-four engine that produces 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission, which carries the S3 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.Fuel economy is so-so — 23 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.

Space for people and things: We drove with a family of four including one kid in a booster, and no one complained about cramped leg or head room. Trunk space is not ample as some others in this segment, but enough for daily getting of things.

Best Features: The available Technology package, which adds the Virtual Cockpit digital gauge display above the wheel, in-dash navigation, and the banging Bang & Olufsen stereo system.

How much does it cost: It starts at $45,800.