2010 Audi A3 2.0 TDI rated at 30mpg in city driving! Is the Lexus HS250h in danger?

The HS is not in danger because the A3 lacks that "green car" aura. I feel like many Prius and hybrid owners buy hybrids simply to make a green statement.

I wonder what percentage of Prius sales are due to the green image, and what percentage are due to paying less for fuel. My guess is 80/20

are they bringing this to the USA? That would be nice.

Probably not. Anything we actually want doesn't make it over.

Yes, they are bringing it over and will be sold at the dealer in Fall-Winter 2009-2010. Check out the Audi website and you will read about it.

This doesnt compete at all with the HS, good lords. The 2 have nothing in common.

1. Lexus HS is a midsize car. Audi A3 is a compact car.

Length:
Length 4,690 mm (184.8 in)
Audi A3: 4,285 mm (168.7 in)

Wheelbase:
Lexus HS: 106.3 in (2,700 mm)
Audi A3: 101.5 in (2,578 mm)


2. Despite one class larger size, the Lexus HS is more efficient (also because gasoline requires significantly less crude oil to make than diesel) and also faster (0-60 in 8.6 seconds, when compared with ~9 seconds for the Audi A3).


3. Lexus HS burns fuel cleanly by design, it only needs a single catalyst. The Audi A3 with its dirty diesel engine, requires an oxidation catalyst, a particulate filter and a NOx reduction catalyst. This increases likehood of failures which will be very expensive to maintain.


4. Audi automated transmission is very complex and fragile too. The DSG issues thread on VW forum becomes more and more swollen, with 600+ posts already in place:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3968936

Owners also consider filing a lawsuit against Volkswagen of America:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4465016

This is one of the reasons while Volkswagen is at the rock bottom of dependability studies:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4515573

Unreliable and fragile actuators of the wearable double clutch and gear cogs mechatronics makes user bleed money on repairs and feel uncomfortable with their vehicles. This will badly affect residuals in the future.

Audi A3 shares the exactly the same DSG transmission as any front wheel drive Volkswagen.


At the same time, the Lexus HS features one of the simplest and most reliable transmission in the world. It needs no clutches, no actuators, no electronics, no sensors, just lubrication. It's a single set of permanently coupled gear, blending power from the engines and electric motors. It's very similar to a differential gear and equally durable.


5. To improve over ordinary gasoline cars, Audi A3 needs a very complex engine with a turbocharger (with variable vanes), heavier engine block, very expensive and precise high pressure fuel pump and injectors with similar characteristics. Replacement cost of any of these parts will be very high.

At the same time, the Lexus HS hybrid needs one of the simplest and most durable (due to little overload and stress) Atkinson cycle gasoline engines.


6. The NiMH battery in the Lexus is very light, at just 90 pounds (41 kg).

This is the most misguided post I have ever seen. Clearly you are not an engineer. Diesel engines are inherently more efficient due to the higher stored energy of diesel fuel itself. Then to knock a diesel engine for being more complicated when a diesel engine itself has less rotating parts, is built to withstand higher compression, and will therefore last several hundred thousand miles more than a gasoline engine. Granted that the turbo or tranny in this car may not last as long, but neither will the battery in a hybrid, especially a NiMH battery. And green? The amount of energy and costs that go into producing these large batteries, sourcing the raw materials from europe that are shipped to japan to be assembled, and the disposal and recycling of these batteries when they must be replaced. I could go on and on. Also, most diesels have much better real world mileage where most hybrids have dissapointed compared to their EPA values.

Each vehicle has its own strengths. Certainly a diesel hybrid would yield even better results.

Call me when they actually bring it over.

And Euro ratings are usually higher.

HS250 can probably get 40MPG rating there.

The HS is disgusting. Should have never been badged a Lexus. It looks like trash and brings the Lexus name down imo. Audi FTW.

Here we go again another flamer headline, what next;

Which is better Lexus or BMW?

Who makes a better sports car Ferrari of Lexus?

Which is Better the ZR1 or GTR?

If you lived in Kurdistan is a diesel of hybrid better.

Really this form are full of the same protester and fanboy’s reciting their stale spin.

God I can’t wait till September 15th when the Frankfurt auto show starts and we have real news.

Nice thing though is that I can actually chip the A3 and make it go faster.. the HS will still sound like wind is blowing...
I can assure you that the A3 will be a whole lot more fun to ride and the A3 is a whole lot more practical!
And the A3 will get even better mileage than that.
Look at the Audi TDi marathon.. the A3 constantly got more than 50 mpg..

Holy crap!? Am I stupid or what?

0-100 km/h times:

HS250h = 8.6 seconds
A3 2.0 TDI = 9 seconds

WOW! WHAT AN AMAZINGLY HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!

NOT.


Are those factory claims? Because in general German marques tend to underrate their performance figures which means the A3 is faster than 9 seconds and probably just as fast at the HS250h. By the way...WHO CARES!? Measuring how long a car takes to reach 100 km/h from a standstill is a poor way of finding out which car is better or isn't. Only silly little kids (aka 99% of Autolies) think in those primitive caveman terms).

Jesus friggin Christ. *Facepalm*

If you haven't noticed, Lexus underrates their performance figures too. The IS350 for example does 0-60 in 5.6 seconds according to Lexus when in fact it did 4.9 seconds in real tests.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=2&article_id=4462

HS250h is a Toyota with Lexus Badge! LOL, Pure and simple.

The Lexus has a different suspension that costs thousands more yum yum!

well for all those who like to bring up old reviews of the a3 2.0 tdi, the one that is coming out here in the US is not the same as the old one you people point to in reviews. you can try reading something current like this car and driver entry:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/08q4/2009_audi_a3_2.0_tdi-first_drive_review

the old one used Pumpe-Düse aka pump injector while the new one coming out here is using common rail injection. it supposed to make for a smoother ride but "feels" slower, no surge of power. the reason why a person pays more for an audi a3 vs a vw golf would be because of the options that are available on the audi, the service from the manufacturer, and the quality control as well. granted its on the same frame but it is not the same car. the audi a3 suspension is tuned different from the golf, it is also quieter (might not be the case with the mark vi never been in it yet) suspension noises do not travel into the car as much and the interior of the a3 is quite a step up from a golf (i hate the cd player) as for the criticism of the dsg tranny for being complicated vs the hybrid synergy powertrain, i think you gotta do some homework on whats more complicated LOL.