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If you’re impatient out of very slow corners, you can expect to spin the tyres
The e-tron’s balance is reassuring, but it can be difficult to slow the car accurately
A tendency to understeer and overworked brakes make the e-tron feel unsuited to fast driving
by Nic Cackett 7 January 2015 Follow @@autocar Share
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‘A stake in the ground’ was how Audi described the plug-in hybrid A3 e-tron .
The firm’s flirtation with electric propulsion has been prolonged – the original R8-styled e-tron concept was shown at Geneva five years ago – but the Sportback is the first production model to actually adopt the badge. Its not the only Audi or Volkswagen Group member to adopt a hybrid system, with the Q7 e-tron, Golf GTE and Passat GTE all part of the fraternity.
Audi employed hybrid power in its R18 to win Le MansNic CackettRoad tester
The wait, says Audi, is due to its insistence that a zero-emissions-capable Audi ought not to be either a second-car compromise or too huge a leap for its buyers to understand.
Thus its EV comes packaged as a plug-in hybrid that doesn’t require a great deal of plugging in, has grunt to spare and is virtually indistinguishable from any other A3. Even after the A3 range was given a mild facelift in 2016 – the e-tron was also given a light makeover.
It also comes with some easily understood headline claims: 37g/km of CO2, 7.6sec to 62mph and a 580-mile range.
The implied lack of trade-off is compelling, and with only its sister car – the Volkswagen Golf GTE and the BMW 330e – for immediate company, Audi’s initial electrified offering seems uncannily well judged.
Could this be the consummate petrol/electric hybrid we’ve been waiting for? Read our review to find out whether it’s a lit bulb or a blown fuse.
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Verdict Model tested: Rating:
Audi A3 Sportback e-tron 2014-2018
GoodPristine, inviting interiorBig range and recharge potentialA business user fortune-saverBadUntidy on-limit handlingOccasionally sloppy power source mixLimited battery range