SALOONS are desirable and fashionable in the US, China and India but not nearly as much so in the UK - unless it's a classic model or something special.

Hatchbacks, with their rakish, sporty rears and versatility have dominated showroom forecourts in Britain for several decades.

Small saloons in the main have failed to cut a dash in Britain but the new Audi A3 saloon could prove the turning point.

This compact executive sedan is good-looking and though its foundations are identical to that of the hatchback, no body panel is the same.

The front, however, is unmistakably A3 while the rest is a neatly contoured triumph with its coupe-esque-like profile.

No attempt here to simply add extra metal and graft a boot on to a hatchback body. It is basically a fresh idea from the wheels up.

Those tweaks and re-shaping may not be significant but the stylists have achieved the desired effect by melding, blending and morphing the metal into a shape attractive to the eye.

The profile is all the more impressive because it is compact. Designers have a much easier time with yards of metal to play with to achieve an attractive shape.

Despite the small footprint, there's good room for four, though the rear sloping roof may be restrictive for tall occupants, but those up to the six-foot mark should be okay. The cabin is what you expect from the German car maker - quality and class of a standard associated with more expensive models.

The car was powered by a surprisingly alert 1.4-litre petrol unit which projects the car from 0-62mph in a decent 8.4 seconds and reaches 134mph, while boasting an official average fuel return of 60mpg.

With mixed, real-time driving on A, B and motorway routes - on this occasion in regular icy conditions - the combined fuel figure was nearer 50mpg. Nothing wrong with that, especially in a saloon clad with winter wheels and tyres.

The increased use of aluminium and high-strength steel has resulted in a cleaner and more efficient engine over the one it replaces - and is 21kg lighter.

The 138bhp turbocharged unit is impressively athletic and smooth and is also subdued, Even when the pressure is piled on the unit responds well through the equally slick S-Tronic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission without sounding harsh.

Shifting up and down the autmatic box it was hard to detect the changes. It's a lovely drivetrain but you pay £1,500 for the privilege of this over the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

The 'Sport' saloon (there's only one other option, the higher-specced S line) automatically comes with a sports suspension - lowered by 15mm. It adds to the crisp, controlled handling and the car's equilibrium.

The trade-off is a firmer, but not uncomfortable ride. However, you can opt for the so-called 'standard' suspension if you prefer - at no extra cost.

Steering is precise, firming up at higher speed though there's not a great deal of feedback. This, plus the small, restrictive rear window, wide rear pillars and a firm ride are the few quibbles.

There's plenty of technology invested in this civilised but sprite compact saloon, including the CoD - cylinder on demand. At low speed or in gentle cruise, the engine fires off two rather than four cylinders.

It all helps reduce the fuel bill and whittle down CO2 emissions to an impressive 109g/km. No doubt cylinder deactivation will soon be as common in cars as stop-start technology.

With a five-star NCAP crash test rating and seven airbags, a pedestrian-friendly active bonnet, driver tiredness monitor and generous electronic driver aids as standard, the on-the-roadprice of £24,305 seems reasonably justified for a saloon of this calibre.