Those maximum miles per hour figures that show up on a car speedometer — routinely 100, 150 even 200 mph — are essentially advertising ploys.

They make the plodding family runabout seem fast and the sleek roadster appear even faster.

But the gauge that tops out at 160 mph on the new Audi A3 turbodiesel is more than a generic marketing tool; it sends a message to buyers.

That is, don’t get fooled by the hatchback’s status as an entry-level model, its modest-sounding 140-horsepower engine and impressive but unsporty-like 30 miles per gallon in the city and 42 mpg on the highway based on EPA estimates.

A more realistic number for the 2.0-liter motor is the 236 pounds-feet of torque, the measure of a vehicle’s twisting force and usually associated with its acceleration and capacity to “get-up-and-go.” Horsepower and torque numbers are typically similar, so a torque figure that’s 80 percent higher than the hp is quite unusual.

Or, note that the engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a double clutch, thus permitting the driver to push the shifter into “sport” mode and go through the gears via paddles on the wheel like a race-car driver.

What’s more pedestrian is the price. The 2010 A3 turbodiesel starts at $29,950. By comparison, gas-powered A3s are priced about $2,000 less. But the turbodiesel comes with a sport package that includes 17-inch alloy rims which costs an extra $1,500 on the gas versions. “For $500 (extra), you can get a diesel,” said Scott Firth, general manager of McDaniels Audi in Charleston.

McDaniels received its first model this week and is expecting more to come right away, he said.

The manufacturer is promoting diesel, a technology that’s make huge leaps in pollution controls from decades ago, as fuel-efficient and long-lasting. “The part I like best is you have a tune up, that’s it,” Firth said.

Audi earlier this year introduced a diesel version of the larger Q7 crossover, which Firth said was a big seller.

The A3 turbodiesel, manufactured in Germany, combines fuel efficiency and performance, Firth said.

Auto editors drove the model from New York to Los Angeles in 2008, averaging 44 mpg and sometimes reaching 50 mpg, Firth said. In a separate test, drivers clocked the car at a top speed of 124 mph.

Safety is stressed, too. Among the standard features are eight air bags, including side curtain bags with shields so that flying glass can’t puncture them in a crash; and seats that provide extra protection for back, neck and head.

Interior perks of the A3 turbodiesel are leather seats, all-aluminum trim such as on the click turn air vents, dual climate control, 12-volt plugs front and back, built-in and expandable cup holders, two-tier glove compartment and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

The liftgate opens to reveal a large cargo hold. Rear seats can fold down in a 60-40 configuration, and there’s a small door that can open and close between the cargo area and back seats, so long items such as skis can fit.

In a recent afternoon drive, the A3 turbodiesel displayed many strengths. Handling is superb whether shifting lanes in traffic or on tight turns. The wagon accelerates smoothly and in manual mode moves through the gears deftly. Brakes are fine, although they can bring the car to a bit too abrupt stop at lights.

Well-placed buttons on the steering wheel can raise and lower stereo volume and change radio stations. The center console could be more user-friendly, though. While the front seat climates are controlled separately, there’s only one knob for the fan.

Seating is spacious in the front but leaves riders in the back a little cramped when the front seats are pushed back. The driver side has power seats, with manual adjustment on the passenger side.

The tested model included about $4,000 in extras, including a $1,100 skylight that covers the back seats and the front.

All in all, the A3 turbodiesel’s pros — great fuel mileage, safety, lots of cargo space and long-lasting diesel technology — far outweigh the cons.

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com

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