Geneva motor show 2012: Top 10 cars - Audi A3

The new Audi A3 didn’t exactly draw gasps of delight as it was revealed, but as people got to sit inside the new car and prod around its cabin, there were grudging looks of admiration.

While the A3 is a bit bigger, and features sharper looks – particularly around its front end – the big gains are in the cabin. Audi’s engineers have pulled some clever tricks, including ditching the handbrake lever (it’s an electronic switch now) and incorporating the infotainment system’s touch-sensitive control in the top of the rotary dial.

The result is a cabin that feels more airy than before, and looks beautifully built. Indeed, the consensus was that the A3’s cabin had the measure of the new Mercedes A-Class’s for quality, if not creativity.

The ‘cautious development’ approach extends to the engines – 1.4- and 1.8-litre petrols at launch, along with a 2.0-litre diesel – but we’d expect the line-up to become more appealing, and interesting, within months of the car’ launch. A little predictable, perhaps, but impressive with it.

Bentley EXP 9 F
Renault Zoe
Seat Toledo
Nissan Invitation
Mercedes A-Class
Ford Kuga
Fiat 500L
Jaguar XF Sportbrake
Volvo V40

John McIlroy

See also: All Geneva motor show 2012 news