Audi A3 2.0 TDI, with its start-stop technology, has become the most efficient and economical option in its segment. An opinion, of course, but an opinion supported by stats and facts that speak for themselves.

Back in October Audi announced that the next gen of Audi A3 will feature both start-stop and recuperation system: two of the company’s most economy focused technologies and for optimal results; the high-tech S-tronic will be available for an extra £1,420.

At the time test figures were impressive and, as usual, performance and efficiency were kept at the highest possible levels while emissions were reduce considerably with the Audi A3 1.6 TDI registering a sector-leading figure of only 109g/km of CO2.

The ongoing Audi crackdown on emissions has yielded yet another efficiency breakthrough within the A3 range, this time for the Audi 2.0 TDI models, which became the cleanest at their level within the premium sector this month.

Thanks to the addition of start-stop and recuperation technology, the ever-popular diesel three-door and five-door A3 Sportback and A3 Cabriolet variants now benefit from major CO2 cuts of up to 20g/km or around 16 per cent, bringing output down to as little as 115g/km for three-door and Sportback versions.

The improvements apply immediately to all Audi A3 2.0 TDI models equipped with six-speed manual transmission. They help to increase economy by at least 8mpg across the board and cut CO2 output by up to 20g/km (16%), boosting the three-door and five-door A3 2.0 TDIs from a combined total of 55.4mpg to 64.2mpg, thus cutting emissions from 134g/km to 115g/km. The Cabriolet benefits from an 8.1mpg increase to 61.4mpg and a 20g/km CO2 reduction to 119g/km, another lowest-in-class figure in the premium Cabriolet category.

In terms of company car taxation, this significant downward shift repositions the A3 2.0 TDI in the 13% BIK category, the movement from its original 18% position equating to a saving in annual tax liability of £373 for the three-door standard hatchback model, which will now cost a [40%] tax payer £972.

The new technology which they adopt from these highly focused alternatives has had no bearing on their prices, which for fixed head Audi 2.0 TDI 140PS versions range from £18,860 OTR to £23,630 OTR, and for Audi A3 Cabriolets from £22,635 OTR to £26,865 OTR.