In business for more than 100 years, Audi is an automaker that makes luxury cars and SUVs. The company was born in Germany and has remained Deutschland-based to this day. “Audi Automobile Works” entered the German car-manufacturing business in 1910 and remained independent until the Great Depression.

• Audi A3

Audi’s entry-level A4 has been moving on up ever since its arrival more than 10 years ago. Back in the 1990s, this entry-luxury compact was big on value thanks to its low $20Ks base price, but today a bare-bones A4 hits the register at more than 28 large before even the most basic options are selected. Thankfully, there’s a more affordable way to get in on the Audi ownership experience: the 2008 Audi A3 compact hatchback wagon.

Slightly smaller than its pricier sibling, the A3 is now Audi’s least expensive car. Although it has been on sale in Europe since 1996, U.S. buyers didn’t get a crack at it until the second-generation A3 arrived here for the 2006 model year. This delay has been attributed to Americans’ general dislike for hatchbacks and wagons, but with gas prices and environmental awareness rising (not to mention the A4’s price), Audi gambled that its versatile luxury hatchback could win a few converts.

As such, the 2008 Audi A3 is a bit of an enigma. In terms of body style and base price, one could cross-shop it against performance hatchbacks and wagons like the Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 or Subaru WRX. At the same time, the A3’s Audi badge puts it into consideration with other entry-level luxury cars, and only the Volvo V50 and Saab 9-3 SportCombi come close to being direct competitors.

• Audi RS 4
• Audi A4
• Audi S4
• Audi A5
• Audi S5
• Audi A6
• Audi S6
• Audi A8
• Audi S8
• Audi Q7
• Audi TT
• Audi R8