The Audi A3 family is pretty massive for 2015 – with the new sedan just the first in the offensive that will include the A3/S3 Cabrio, A3 Sportback and Sportback Hybrid, an S3 sedan and even the Q3 mini SUV.

So there is a lot riding on this compact exec’s shoulders – not least a worry that it might be overpriced and under-amazing.

But that is not the case in the slightest. What we discovered after flogging Audi’s latest machine around Lake Lanier, Georgia last week is a fun, peppy car with outstanding driving characteristics, very intuitive steering, and a contender for world’s-best-transmission in the S-tronic seven-speed DSG.

But most of all, we were thrilled by the A3’s interior design – which fathfully carries Audi’s well-earned cabin reputation and even enhances it with the latest MMI touch controls down below and the slide-up TFT panel in the low-cowl dash shape.

Overall, the video above shares a 1080P impression of all these insights in real time – with a few full-throttle blasts to boot.

It is no wonder that the 2015 Audi won the Atlanta Auto Media Association’s 2014 Family Car of the Year award in its category. It definitely won me over with a playful dynamic, even compared with the also-excellent Mazda3 and many other serious contenders.

Priced from $29,900, the test car with leather and various other goodies seems remarkably affordable with an out-the-door price of just above $32,000.

2015 Audi A3 1.8T Sedan Review