2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Review

Name: 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
Brand: Audi
Rating: 4.2 (29 reviews)

Price Range: $15,998 - $17,590

Read full review See all features & specs

Price & Payment

Select year

Average price: $14,470

Min$

Max$

See listings

Appraise My 2017 Audi

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron model years

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by Jason Kavanagh

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 And now that Audi's diesel offerings have been withdrawn, the A3 Sportback e-tron is the default choice among A3s when fuel efficiency is of paramount concern.

For sale near Ashburn, VA

38 listings

Sort by:

2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium Plus 4dr Hatchback
$14,995
- 83,890 miles
- No accidents, 3 owners, personal use
- 16 mi est. electric range
- Carnova (37 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in Stafford, VA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
34 Combined MPG (N/A City/N/A Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUTPBFF5HA124123
Stock: CSA8056
Certified Pre-Owned: No
2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium 4dr Hatchback
$6,999
- 92,772 miles
- Lemon reported, 2 owners, corporate fleet vehicle
- 16 mi est. electric range
- American Auto Frankford INC (148 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Philadelphia, PA
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Issue reported
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: Yes
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
34 Combined MPG (N/A City/N/A Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUUPBFF4HA060385
Stock: 2391
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 10-03-2025

See all for sale

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.

Compare 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron trim levels

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.

Owners' Opinions

What Owners Like

Owners appreciate the 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron for its smooth and dynamic driving experience, embracing both the electric and hybrid driving modes. This plug-in hybrid is especially favored for its quiet and composed electric mode, offering a refreshing break from traditional gasoline engines. Audi's attention to detail with stylish and quality interior surfaces adds to the overall premium feel, making daily commutes an enjoyable affair. Drivers often highlight the convenience of its plug-in hybrid system, which significantly reduces trips to the gas station while offering spirited acceleration when needed.

Common Issues

Despite its many strengths, several owners note issues with the limited all-electric range, often citing that the car falls short of the expected miles per charge, especially during colder weather. Some users find the braking system needing more finesse, describing it as either too weak or overly abrupt, which can detract from the otherwise smooth driving experience. Additionally, the infotainment system and some of the vehicle's software features can be unintuitive or problematic, with connectivity hiccups occasionally arising, leaving users desiring a more seamless tech integration.

Final Takeaways from Everyday Drivers

Day-to-day, the 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron has proven to be a reliable and efficient vehicle for many, offering satisfaction in terms of fuel economy and driving enjoyment. The peppy drive combined with Audi's signature blend of luxury allows it to stand out in the plug-in hybrid segment. Owners find its practical hatchback design advantageous for urban errands and road trips alike. While its technological quirks and range limitations are noticeable, they are often outweighed by the vehicle's overall comfort and stylish presentation, creating a positive ownership experience for those prioritizing both economy and upscale appeal.

The Owner Opinions section is AI-generated from the text of owner reviews

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

Not EPA tested

$155/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

Year

Make

Model

See pricing history

Reliability

The 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 2 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Recalls

2 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 21V198000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 69BY
Number of vehicles affected:: 153152
Defect Description:: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Audi S3 Sedan, A3 Sedan, 2016-2018 A3 Etron, 2017-2020 RS3 Sedan, and 2015-2019 A3 Cabriolet vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may malfunction and switch off the passenger air bag even when the seat is occupied.
Defect Consequence:: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and update the PODS control module, free of charge. Owners letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69BY.

Recall Number:: 19V474000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: 69Z4
Manufactured from:: 2017-03-28 to 2018-07-13
Number of vehicles affected:: 138896
Defect Description:: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Audi S3 Sedan, 2015-2019 A3 Sedan and A3 Cabriolet, 2016-2018 A3 e-tron, and 2017-2019 RS3 vehicles. An improper electrical contact may cause the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) to falsely detect a malfunction and deactivate the passenger air bag.
Defect Consequence:: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Corrective Action:: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and reroute the cable, free of charge. The recall began September 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 69Z4.

Warranty

4 years / 50,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 4 years / 50,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 12 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 4 years / unlimited miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 1 years / 5,000 miles

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.2

29 reviews

5(62%)

4(17%)

3(10%)

2(4%)

1(7%)

See all 29 reviews of the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron

Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

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?

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% …

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 …

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 …

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

Trim:

1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$38,900
EV Tax Credits & Rebates
Engine Type	Plug-in hybrid
EPA Electric Range	16 miles
Combined MPGe (Electric + Gas)	83 MPGe
Total Charging Time (240V)	2.5 hours
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

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

2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

For sale near Ashburn, VA

2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium Plus 4dr Hatchback

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium 4dr Hatchback

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Driving

Interior

2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron models

Owners' Opinions

What Owners Like

Common Issues

Final Takeaways from Everyday Drivers

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Recalls

Warranty

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Perfect Fit

Fantastic technology

love my Etron

Sweeet hybrid

2017 A3 Sportback e-tron Highlights

Safety

Related Used 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Audi

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium Plus 4dr Hatchback

2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
1.4 TFSI PHEV Premium 4dr Hatchback