Audi A3 e-tron (2014 – 2020) Review
Audi A3 e-tron (2014 – 2020) At A Glance
For some drivers, the Audi A3 e-tron will a the better mix of options than a pure EV or fossil fuel-only car. There are some downsides - so-so handling, smaller boot, tyre noise - but the Audi A3 e-tron makes for a sound used hybrid choice and has the appeal of the Audi badge. To find out more, read our full Audi A3 e-tron review.
The 2014 Audi A3 e-tron was Audi's first plug-in hybrid in the UK market. It sat at the top of the premium hatchback tree, owing largely to its very effective blend of perceived build quality, low running costs, useful practicality and gimmick-free styling.
The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron built on this base to produce a car with all that, plus the sort of claimed fuel economy and CO2 emissions to appease a Just Stop Oil protester. That concoction made the Audi A3 e-tron a leader in its (admittedly small) corner of the market when it arrived.
As a plug-in hybrid, rather than the 'self-charging' type favoured by the like of the Lexus CT200 or Toyota Prius at the time, the Audi A3 e-tron could cover up to 31 miles on battery power alone. This was achieved using the same hybrid set-up as the contemporary Volkswagen e-Golf.
That frugality was in ideal conditions at lower speeds, though the e-tron could also drive at motorway pace using just electricity. As a result, Audi said this A3 was capable of 176.6mpg if you made the most of charging opportunities and didn't indulge in the fun offered by its 204PS and 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds.
Plenty of company drivers were tempted into the Audi A3 e-tron thanks to its tax benefits, while private buyers were also seduced by hefty EV grants from the government.
None of those apply now the Audi A3 e-tron is a used car, but road tax is free for the e-tron and running costs will still be low for those who can charge the car easily and rely mostly on its EV power.
Unlike the rest of the Audi A3 range, the e-tron was only offered as a five-door Sportback and with one trim level.
It dishes up a lot of equipment, including 17-inch alloy wheels, MMI HDD-based navigation with seven-inch touch screen, 10GB flash music storage, DAB radio, two-zone climate control, front sports seats, LED headlights, rear LED lights and plenty more.