2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Review
2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
byJason Kavanagh
Senior Vehicle Test Engineer
Jason joined Edmunds' testing team in 2006 as a vehicle testing engineer. Jason believes true appreciation of modern cars stems from owning really, really bad old ones.
Pros
- Sporty characteristics make driving fun
- Plug-in hybrid technology for the entry-luxury category
- Vrsatile hatchback body style
- Stylish, well-built cabin
Cons
- Modest all-electric range
- Cozy backseat
What’s new
For 2017, the A3 Sportback e-tron receives a modest styling face-lift and a new Virtual Cockpit expanded instrument cluster option. Features such as forward collision avoidance and enhanced smartphone integration are now standard.
Vehicle overview
The 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is unique among A3s. Not only is it a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, it's also the only A3 variant that's a hatchback. Being a plug-in, the A3 e-tron allows you to drive short distances primarily on electric power, while longer trips are easily supported by the gasoline engine. And now that Audi's diesel offerings have been withdrawn, the A3 Sportback e-tron is the default choice among A3s when fuel efficiency is of paramount concern.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 6AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of N/A undefined in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
Not EPA tested for A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium
A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium
vs
$174/mo
Avg. Compact Car
With a full charge, its electric-only range is a modest 16 miles, but this is enough to support local errand runs. Once you run out of electric-only juice, the EPA says you can still expect 34 mpg in combined driving; for comparison, the the most frugal gas-powered A3 model achieves 27 mpg combined. This hybrid isn't some powerless slug either: It's able to sprint to 60 mph in an estimated 7.6 seconds.
Notwithstanding its hatchback body style, which gives you so added cargo-carrying utility, the e-tron is unmistakably a member of the A3 family. The charging port is hidden in the grille behind the typical Audi rings, and it shares its well-trimmed cabin with the standard A3 sedan and convertible.
If you're shopping for a luxury-branded plug-in hybrid in the A3's price range, your choices are few. BMW offers its 330e sedan, which is more powerful than the Audi but doesn't match its fuel economy or have as much electric range. There's also the BMW i3, which is primarily an electric vehicle that can be optioned with a small gas engine. Other than that, we suggest taking a good look at the Chevrolet Volt hatchback. It's not as fancy or premium as the A3, but it counters with superior all-electric range (53 miles) and a lower price. The Ford C-Max Energi and Toyota Prius Prime are two other plug-in choices, albeit similarly less upscale ones. Overall, though, we think you'll be pleased with the A3 e-tron and its mix of luxury and green appeal.
All A3 Sportback e-trons come standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front side and knee airbags, side curtain airbags, a rearview camera and a forward collision mitigation system with automatic braking. The Prestige trim adds lane departure intervention and blind-spot monitoring.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
The 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron offers all the goodness of the regular A3 plus 16 miles of all-electric range. It's a compelling car if you want a premium plug-in hybrid without breaking the bank.
Driving
Our time testing the A3 Sportback e-tron has been brief, but so far we've been impressed with its supple ride along with commendable handling and responsiveness for a vehicle of this type. We'll update this review once we've put an A3 Sportback e-tron through its paces on the track and on our local roads.
This plug-in hybrid accelerates away from stoplights with some spirit, courtesy of the extra bump of torque provided by its electric motor. The automated transmission shifts rapidly and unobtrusively. Despite carrying a few hundred additional pounds of hybrid hardware, the low placement of the batteries below the rear seats hasn't drastically raised the car's center of gravity. As such, the car feels quite stable when in motion. It's eerily quiet when in electric-only mode, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that the A3 e-tron's cabin is well-hushed even when the gasoline engine fires up.
Interior
Though the 2017 A3 Sportback e-tron carries a substantially different powertrain than garden-variety A3s, they all share virtually the same cabin. That's a good thing because the interior is well-trimmed with quality materials and intriguing details such as elegant rotary vents and a screen that retracts seamlessly when not in use.
A power meter in the A3 Sportback e-tron's instrument cluster takes the place of where a tachometer resides in the regular A3. There's also an information display in the center of the gauge that shows range calculations and gasoline and electricity consumption.
Front seat space in the A3 Sportback e-tron's cabin is reasonably commodious for the segment, though backseat headroom and legroom won't suit full-size adults. Its 13.6-cubic-foot cargo area isn't especially large either. Audi doesn't provide a figure for maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded, but it should be more than the Volt's total space and closer to what you can fit in a Ford C-Max or Toyota Prius Prime.
2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron models
The 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is a compact four-door plug-in hybrid hatchback. It is available in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige.
Standard equipment on the base Premium trim includes 17-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights and taillights, automatic wipers, a panoramic sunroof, heated side mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, eight-way power front seats (with four-way power lumbar adjustment), leather upholstery, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, LED interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, Audi's MMI electronics interface with a 5.3-inch central display, a forward collision warning system with automatic emergency braking, Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera, and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite and HD radio, and a USB interface.
The Premium Plus trim adds LED headlights, upgraded trim inside and out, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Move up to the Prestige trim and you'll enjoy heated power-folding exterior mirrors with driver-side auto-dimming, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure intervention and the Technology package (includes a Virtual Cockpit expanded instrument cluster, blind-spot monitoring, an upgraded MMI system with an improved display and a touch-sensitive controller, Audi Connect online services with 4G LTE mobile Wi-Fi, smartphone app integration, voice controls and a navigation system).
The Technology package and Bang & Olufsen sound system are available as options on Premium Plus models. A Sport package available for all trim levels adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a spoiler, sport front seats and a sport steering wheel.
The 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter, four-cylinder gas engine teamed with an electric motor. A rechargeable 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack is mounted beneath the rear seats. Total system output is rated at 204 hp and 258 lb-ft when both the engine and electric motor are in full swing.
Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch (S tronic) automatic transmission. Note that all-wheel drive, something Audi usually offers, is not available for the e-tron.
According to the EPA, the 2017 A3 e-tron Sportback achieves 83 mpg equivalent in mixed driving, factoring in the 16-mile EV range. After that, expect 34 mpg combined in regular gas-electric hybrid mode. As with all plug-in hybrids, actual mileage will vary greatly and is heavily dependent on how much all-electric travel you do.
The maximum speed achievable in pure EV mode is 80 mph, so the e-tron is fully functional even when it's running solely on battery power. Audi's estimated 7.6-second sprint to 60 mph is achieved when both the electric motors and gasoline engine are summoned for their total 204 combined horses.
The A3 e-tron's battery can be charged from a 240-volt outlet in 2.5 hours using the factory-supplied charging cord and in about 8 hours from a standard 110-volt outlet. As with regular hybrids, onboard regenerative braking also adds some juice to the battery while the A3 e-tron is being driven. There's a driver-selectable switch that engages the gasoline engine and shuts out the electric drive — useful if you want to save electric power for specific occasions.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron.
5 star(62%)
4 star(17%)
3 star(10%)
2 star(4%)
1 star(7%)
29 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Perfect Fit
Jim C., 09/29/2016
2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium Plus 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
We bought this car for my wife. She's wanted a plug-in electric as she has driven hybrids since 2007. We looked at the e-tron and the Volt. She was impressed with the Volt but after driving the e-tron, she said there was no comparison. She has never stated that a car was fun to drive. She did after driving the Audi. To her a car is an appliance. There is compromises with the e-tron … particularly wit the range. In our case my wife has a 5 mile commute to work. The 16 miles of electric is sufficient. So far, she has ranged from a low of 16 miles, (90+ degrees out, AC running non-stop) to 23 miles (70 out, minimal AC). On a trip from our home in Hershey Pa to Charlottesville, VA we ran it on hybrid mode and got 42 mpg. Other than that road trip, she's not needed gas. It's been 4 weeks since we last filled it, driven 400 miles and it's still on Full. If the etron fits your needs - buy it! If you need more range, then the Volt is an excellent car too.
In our case, with a short daily commute, the Audi is a perfect fit. With discounts, credits etc. we are in for $37k on the Audi versus $35k for the Volt. But we got power seats & moon roof for that difference in price.
Update - We took a road trip from Hershey PA to Hackettstown, NJ. Approx. 100 mi. each way. We averaged 45 mpg running in Hybrid mode. We've now learned all the nuances of the selectable driving modes. For road trips, we put it in Hybrid mode to optimize the gas/electric mileage. For the daily commute, she leaves it in the default EV (electric only) and runs without the gas engine.
Update 8 months of ownership - First off the gas engine's turbo blew at 3500 mi. Not a good sign. We've had it back awhile but since my wife uses it mostly on electric it hasn't been truly tested. As for the electric - it's great. She goes 600-800 miles between gas fill ups due to her short work commutes. She's averaging 89.0 mpg! Great little car. Now let's see.
Great car that fits our needs perfectly!
Update 18 months of ownership - the car has been perfect since the turbo issue. It's extremely reliable gets great mileage. My wife is up to 110 mpg since she can commute to work and back on electric. The interior is still perfect. The handling rock solid. My wife loves this car like none before it. She loves to drive it. She has said she'll get a new one when she's ready. Great car that fits our needs.
Update after 2+ years - the car has not had an issue since the turbo issue. We are at 15,000 miles. Average mpg is 110. with the short work commute and most days it's electric only. Great little car, versatile with the sportback and a blast to drive.
Update @ 5 years, 35k - perfect car. Not a single problem since the initial one. Had a recall on the battery housing. Upon inspection, Audi decided to put a new battery in! It had a tiny hole in a seal. It’s like new!
What I have to question is why Audi does not bring the new version to the US. It’s been out in .Europe for 2 years. We’d buy one in a heartbeat.
Update 6 years - the car is still in perfect condition with 54k miles. Runs great. There was a recall due to seals on the battery casing developing holes. They found a microscopic hole on ours and gave us a new battery free! That’s an $8000 battery! It’s like getting a new car!
Why oh why does Audi not bring the updated version in from Europe?
5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic technology
Jenci bergen, 04/25/2016
2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Prestige 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
I sold my VW Jetta sportwagon TDI (which I loved) to take advantage of newer technology and safety features. It took me a couple tanks of gas to figure out how to use the computer system...but now that I understand, the results have been very impressive. I'm in sales and spend a lot of time on the highway...which is not the best place for a hybrid, but my fuel economy is still 40% … better than my diesel. If I'm taking a short trip, I leave the computer in the default EV mode. Otherwise, I immediately put the system in the hybrid mode and the computer does a very effective job of balancing the battery and engine use. With about 5,000 miles on my car, I've been averaging 58 miles per gallon (with a lot of highway driving)....about 20 mpg better than my diesel. If you only drive highway miles, a hybrid might not be the best choice...but if you're like most people, a hybrid does an amazing job. This week I've done mostly local driving and I'm averaging around 74 mpg.
5 out of 5 stars
love my Etron
LN, 09/13/2019
2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium Plus 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
The most I got out of one tank was about 1400 miles. That was plugging in at home and plugging in at work. 23 electric miles in the summer when the battery is warmer is what you will get in full electric and in the teens in the winter on a full charge. 28 bucks to fill the 10.5gallon fuel tank. Love this car it has almost eliminated my fuel budget. Pretty much tap down the … transmission to stop it at red lights so dont use my brakes much. They might last to 100k before needing redone. I put custom 19s on it and it looks great! My 3 year lease is up in 5 month and I will be buying it out. - WA
UPDATE: Best car I've ever owned and I used to be an Audi salesperson for 15 years. Mileage is fantastic and she is a looker with the 19's I put on it. Literally my only complaint is my local Audi service department sucks. I've tried to get in for recalls and haven't been able to so I just drive on without recall fixes which doesn't really matter. Just about to hit 70k and I am the original owner. I bought it when I worked at Audi because it had the best sales incentives on the lot and we couldn't give them away at the time. Fast forward to the last couple years where gas has been through the roof this thing is a lifesaver. Love it!! Would buy another used one since they only made these in 16 17 and 2018. Full Electric is not the way to go, plug in hybrid is the best. Best driving too I would give is clock the shifter between sport and drive as the brake rather then braking and you will feel it slow you and preserve your rotors and pads ALOT!!!!! Audi brake squeak in cold sometimes happens which is prevalent in all Audis.
5 out of 5 stars
Sweeet hybrid
Dan, 09/18/2017
2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron 1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium Plus 4dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric hybrid 6AM)
The ev range appears to be pretty much as advertised. Upon starting a trip, you have the option of selecting ev only, hybrid, or maintain battery. If your trip is ~20miles, the ev only works well. If it is over ~20 miles, then selecting hybrid appears to net between 60 - 70 mpg. Running purely on gas it appears to be in the region of 40 - 45 mpg. The ride is pure Audi - very quick … and secure. Other then the increased mpg, there is no difference between the feel of this car verses a pure gas version. The integration of the electric and gas engines is completely smooth - you can't tell when one starts and the other leaves off. Very well done!
I have had the car for a year and it has been flawless. Because of where I live (nearest town is 14 mile RT, large town is 50 miles RT) I have gotten as low as 60, and as high as 100 mpg on a fill up of gas. This does not take into account what it costs to charge the car, but we have not noticed any change in our electric bill since having the car, so the electric cost to recharge is negligible. It is a pleasure to drive.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, so we've included reviews for other years of the A3 Sportback e-tron since its last redesign.
2017 A3 Sportback e-tron Highlights
1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $38,900 |
---|---|
EV Tax Credits & Rebates | $4,000 |
Engine Type | Plug-in hybrid |
EPA Electric Range | 16 miles |
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas) | 83 MPGeMPGe is the official metric that the EPA uses to measure the efficiency of alternative-fuel (including electric) vehicles. Just like regular MPG shows how far a car will travel on one gallon of gas, MPGe shows how far a vehicle will drive on 33.7kWh of electricity - the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Combined MPGe is the combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe. |
Total Charging Time (240V) | 2.5 hours |
Seating | 5 seats |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the A3 Sportback e-tron include:
- Back-up camera
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Lane Departure Warning
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Pre-collision safety system
- Post-collision safety system
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