2008 Audi A3

The 2008 Audi A3 – a smaller, less expensive alternative to Audi's premium wagons – gets far more nods from reviewers than Volvo's similar foray into the midpriced market, the Volvo V50 (*est. $26,815 to $31,565). In fact, critics pick the Audi A3 nearly as often as the most-recommended midpriced wagons, the larger Dodge Magnum (*est. $23,420 to $37,905) and the sportier Subaru Outback (*est. $21,995 to $32,195). The Audi A3 gets better safety ratings than any of those three wagons, but it has the least cargo space of the three. Both the Dodge Magnum and Subaru Outback are just as fuel-efficient as the Audi A3, reviewers note, and the Volvo V50's fuel efficiency is even better. But testers can't get over how fun the 2008 Audi A3 is to drive -- more like a car-lover's car than the safety-first family wagon it is. The A3's fun factor pushes it ahead of the more slow-and-steady Volvo V50 in reviews.

We found useful reviews comparing the 2008 Audi A3 against other station wagons at Consumer Reports, ConsumerGuide.com and About.com. Reviews at the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are also comparative and very helpful, ranking the best and worst cars based on crash-test results. Although not a direct comparative ranking, the Institute for Consumer Automotive Research's review of the 2008 Audi A3 station wagon touches on how it stacks up against competitors. The Washington Post offers a thorough road-test and critique of the Audi A3, as well.