It's easy to dismiss the Audi A3 as a triumph of style over substance. After all, it's basically a VW Golf in a fancier suit. Except it doesn't feel like a Golf.

From its gorgeous interior to its sporty drive, the A3 has a character all of its own. And if you look beyond the Golf's headline-grabbing starting price, you'll see that model for model the A3 is barely any more expensive.

Company car drivers in particular would do well to consider the plug-in hybrid e-tron model, which combines low running costs with good performance.