Ian Lamming goes on a charge in Audi’s latest A3 plug-in hybrid
TO BE honest it wouldn’t have been my first choice, in fact it wasn’t, but then we are a bit spoilt.
When you have the pick of the bunch – the biggest, the newest, the fastest – to choose from, to our shame, it’s easy to forget about the mainstream motors.
The Audi that should have been heading my way was the new Q8 e-tron but it was needed last minute for an event and postponed until later in the year.
Instead an A3 arrived in Tango red metallic looking every bit the hot hatch and not too far removed from the S3; very smart and a tad sporty I’d say.
Now this particular variant is a model with a very long name – Audi A3Sportback S line 40 TFSI e S tronic – so let’s break all that down.
Audi? Well that’s obvious. A3? Bigger than an A1, smaller than an A4, obvs. Sportback means it goes a bit coupe-like at the back. S line is the top trim level so it comes heavily loaded with lots of goodies and embossed leather sports seats – nice.
The 40 puts it just below middle in the Audi model line-up power ranges, which run from 30 to 70. Not really sure what that means as the numbers don’t seem to match power output in any way, but there you go.
TFSI stands for Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection, that means it has a turbo-charger and fuel injection. The ‘e’ means it is partially electrified, in effect it could add the letters PHEVto the already long moniker but that would be silly.
Yes, it is a plug-in hybrid which will do around 40 miles on pure electric. When it is fully charged it takes the load from the 1.4 litre petrol engine and you end up with amazing miles per gallon figures of around 300. When it runs out and the A3 has to rely on petrol expect that to dip to 50mpg. There is some regeneration of the battery when you lift off the throttle, coast and brake and it seems to do this more in sports setting that drive – go figure – but this engine braking is welcome on the twisty stuff.
There’s also a combined power output of 204 PS, that’s a lot for a modest sized car and ittranslates into very willing, spirited performance. This thing fair zips along.
Sharp steering and brilliant suspension make the A3 great to drive cross country, it really is dynamic.
Inside is pure Audi and you’ll recognise the virtual clocks, the touchscreen and the general switches and controls – all good, tactile and top quality. There’s a decent enough boot for your luggage so its practical too.
You don’t need to charge the TFSI e but it is actually worth it. It doesn’t take that long from the mains and it means it will run for longer on the supremely smooth and quiet electric motor. If your daily commute is only 40 miles or so then it will hardly ever use the petrol motor and you will save a fortune on fuel, so why not, particularly as it is so easy to do.
Strangely, it’s not a Q8 e-tron but it does say e-tron on the A3’s dash when you put it in sports mode so it nearly is. It is obviously using some of the same technology and is certainly better for it. Feel free to send me one any day.
Fact File
A3 Sportback TFSI e S line 40
Power: 204 PS
Engine: 1.4 turbo-charged with electric
0-62mph: 7.6secs
Top speed: 141mph
Combined MPG: 217.3
Transmission: S Tronic automatic
CO2 g/km: 30
Price: £40,290.00
