Audi is a German automobile manufacturer known for building luxurious, high-performance vehicles. The company was started in 1932 in Zwickau, Germany. Today, it is one of the most successful luxury car brands in the world and is known for its minimalist designs and racing heritage.
Audi offers a wide variety in its lineup, from hatchbacks to sedans to full-size SUVs. Vehicles like the Audi A4 and the Q7 SUV have given Audi the reputation of being so good at what it does that its cars can feel clinical in how well they are engineered.
The Audi A3 model was designed to bring luxury features to a more economical price point. The A3 Sportback is Audi’s entry-level family hatchback, but this does not mean the car is timid. It features power and class in true Audi fashion, and the Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron is no different. The E-Tron badge indicates the vehicle is a plug-in hybrid, meaning it has a battery pack that, when fully charged, can propel the car for a decent distance without requiring the use of the engine, conserving gas. This dramatically improves the A3 Sportback E-Tron’s fuel economy and carbon emissions. The Sportback badge indicates the car is a hatchback.
Audi did end up discontinuing the A3 Sportback E-Tron in 2018 in favor of other models, but the car is still available on the used market.
Price and Value
A used 2018 Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron goes for between $21,133 and $29,953. Considering other comparable non-hybrid vehicles from the same year like the 2018 Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen Golf R start at $29,625 and $27,236 respectively, the Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron does seem like a good value. If you factor in the fuel economy and the fact that it is a plug-in hybrid, the Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron becomes the superior choice. As it’s also a reliable car, it won’t require expensive trips to the mechanic.
Size and Seating Capacity
The Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron is a small, family hatchback. Measuring 169.8 inches long, 77.4 inches wide, and 56.1 inches high, it’s compact enough for comfortable driving in the city and parking in tight spots. The A3 Sportback E-Tron can accommodate five passengers comfortably and has a trunk capacity of 13.6 cubic feet, which can be extended to 33.7 cubic feet with the rear seats brought down.
The A3 Sportback E-Tron offers 38.7 inches of headroom in the front seats and 37.5 inches of headroom in the back seats. It also offers 35.4 inches of legroom between the front and rear seats, which is a little tight for individuals with long legs. It’s perfectly adequate for children, though.
The A3 Sportback E-Tron has a curb weight of 3,616 pounds, which is 475 pounds more than the regular Audi A3 Sportback. This is due to the heavy battery pack in the trunk and the dual electric motors. The extra weight can be felt, but the dual motors do also provide the car with 66 more horsepower than the standard A3 Sportback, which is arguably more noticeable.
Battery, Range, and Engine Specs
The Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron features a turbocharged, 1.4 liter, in-line four-cylinder engine that produces 150 horsepower alone, but when used in combination with the dual electric motors when the car is in hybrid mode, the vehicle can produce up to 204 horsepower. The vehicle also features a 6-speed automatic transmission as standard and has a front-wheel drive transmission.
The Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron features an 8.8 kWh battery pack beneath the rear trunk that powers the two electric motors with up to 102 horsepower when fully charged. The car is able to run on battery power alone for the first 31 miles after a full charge or until the vehicle exceeds the speed of 40 mph. At this point, the car will run in hybrid mode, where the engine is activated to provide additional power to the wheels.
Trim and Features
The Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron features a similar trim to the non-hybrid Audi A3. This includes a well-trimmed interior, with high-quality soft-touch plastics on the dashboard, heated front seats, a leather steering wheel, a premium design, and an illuminated, locking glove box.
The car also features a large infotainment screen that is touch-operated and supports Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity. It also has 10 speakers, including a subwoofer, to enhance the audio experience in the car. The system integrates a reversing camera and a Day-Night rearview mirror as well.
In addition, the car features 17-inch alloy rims with 225/45R17 all-season tires, parking sensors, and the plug-in charger in the trunk.
Safety
The Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron is a very safe car. The 2014 model managed to score a perfect 5 out of 5 stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests. It was able to achieve impressive scores such as an 82% in adult occupant safety and a 78% on child occupant safety, which is quite impressive for any vehicle, let alone one of this size and price point.
The A3 Sportback E-Tron also features multiple safety systems such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), front airbags and knee airbags for the driver, belt pre-tensioners for the front seats, and belt loadlimiters for all the seats.
All these factors put together mean the Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron can be trusted to take you and your family wherever you need to go safely.
Reliability
JD Power has not been able to test the Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron, but the company has rated the Audi A3 sedan, which is the standard, non-hybrid variant. It received a great rating of 86 out of 100 in reliability and quality.
Edmunds gave the Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron above average reliability. Owners of the car rate it on various attributes, and on average, they gave the car four stars. Although there have been reported cases of mechanical failures, in general, the vehicle has very few shortcomings.
Audi does reinforce this by offering a generous long-term warranty under its basic coverage of four years or the first 50,000 miles.
The Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron is an ideal family car. Due to its plug-in hybrid design, it is good for short commutes and city driving where the battery pack can be fully utilized. For highway driving or road trips, the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine is more than enough to give you a fun, sporty ride. The car has numerous safety features and a great infotainment system that is easily connectable to your phone, and with its high-quality trim and heated seats, you will be looking forward to your daily commute. If these features sound good to you, try the Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron for a sporty, safe, and efficient family car.
