Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Audi A3 hybrid review

The Audi A3 TFSI e has a sought-after badge, a top-notch interior and low company-car tax, but it's not the best value or most practical plug-in hatchback you can buy

Audi A3 TFSI e plug-in hybrid
Overall rating

3.5 out of 5

Pros

  • Decent electric range
  • Smooth petrol-electric transition
  • Superb interior quality and design

Cons

  • Reduced boot space
  • Ride comfort could be better
  • Skoda & SEAT equivalents better value
ModelElectric rangeFuel economyCO2 emissions
40 TFSI e40 miles283mpg25g/km
45 TFSI e37 miles235mpg29g/km

Compared to German rivals BMW and Mercedes, Audi was a little late to embrace plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology. It still doesn't offer an electrified version of the A4 saloon and estate, but almost every other Audi is now offered as a PHEV, from the A6, A7 and A8 executive cars to the Q3, Q5, Q7 and Q8 SUVs.

Advertisement - Article continues below

You can also get a 'TFSI e' plug-in hybrid version of the A3 Sportback (although not its four-door saloon equivalent). This car shares much under the metal with the VW Golf, Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon, so unsurprisingly it gets the same petrol-electric drivetrains they do. Audi calls them '40 TFSI e' and '45 TFSI e' – the latter is offered in Sport and S line trim, while the latter is exclusive to the S line Competition model.

With 201bhp on tap, the 40 TFSI e is equivalent to the Volkswagen Golf eHybridSEAT Leon e-Hybrid and Skoda Octavia iV, while the 45 TFSI e has the same 242bhp power output as the Volkswagen Golf GTE, Cupra Leon e-Hybrid and Skoda Octavia vRS iV hot hatchbacks.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The A3's electric motor is integrated with the car's six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Unlike some of the higher-end Audi hybrids, the plug-in A3 is front-wheel drive, with no option to add the brand's quattro all-wheel-drive system.

A 13kWh battery stores enough energy for up to 40 miles of pure-electric driving in the Sport trim level, which has 17-inch wheels; the S line versions have larger alloys that bring the number down to 37 miles. Like most plug-in hybrids, there's no rapid-charging capability; it's expected most owners will top up at home overnight from a wallbox, something that should take less than five hours to complete.

Advertisement - Article continues below

That electric range, combined with official CO2 emissions of 25 to 29g/km, are key to the A3 hybrid's appeal to company-car user-choosers. Previously, such buyers would have gone for the most frugal diesel engine in the range, but current Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rates are stacked heavily in favour of plug-ins. The A3 compares well with its primary rival, the Mercedes A 250 e, here – although you need to stick to the 17-inch alloy wheels of the 40 TFSI e Sport model to get into the 8% BiK band; otherwise it's 12%.

For private buyers, the financial case for buying a plug-in hybrid is less clear-cut: while there are definite fuel-costs savings to be made if you mostly do short journeys that can be completed on electric power alone, that has to be stacked against a higher list price than an equivalent petrol or diesel A3 in the first place.

The A3 also isn't as smooth-riding, or practical, as some of its Volkswagen Group stablemates, the aforementioned Leon, Golf and Octavia (all of which are available in spacious estate form, too). But it does have a nicer-looking and better-quality interior, plus the kudos of that four-ring badge on the nose. For a more detailed look at the Audi A3 hybrid, read on for the rest of our in-depth review…

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Nissan’s masterplan: 6 new cars by 2026, including next-gen Micra, Leaf successor and revamped Juke,
New Nissan Future models - Picture 1
News

Nissan’s masterplan: 6 new cars by 2026, including next-gen Micra, Leaf successor and revamped Juke,

Nissan has set itself a target of introducing 30 new models globally over within the next two years
25 Mar 2024
New Genesis Neolun concept paves the way for the GV90 SUV
New Genesis Neolun concept - picture 1
News

New Genesis Neolun concept paves the way for the GV90 SUV

With a host of new technology, the Neolun is the brands first step towards a full-size electric SUV.
27 Mar 2024
Confirmed: New Cupra Formentor will be electric
Cupra Formentor V2
News

Confirmed: New Cupra Formentor will be electric

The future of the Cupra Formentor has been confirmed by the brand’s CEO, Wayne Griffiths. The next generation SUV will be a full EV
22 Mar 2024

More on A3

Top 10 best hybrid hatchbacks 2023
Best hybrid hatchbacks
Best cars

Top 10 best hybrid hatchbacks 2023

A hybrid hatchback is just as practical as a normal hatchback, but with even lower running costs. These are the best on sale in 2023
2 May 2023
Used Audi A3 e-tron buying guide
Audi A3 e-tron
Used buying guides

Used Audi A3 e-tron buying guide

All you need to know about buying a used Audi A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid, produced from 2014 to 2018
22 Feb 2022
2021 Audi A3 plug-in hybrid: prices, specs and release date
plug-in hybrid Audi A3
News

2021 Audi A3 plug-in hybrid: prices, specs and release date

Audi A3 40 TFSI e and 45 TFSI e available to order now; plug-in hybrid powertrains only available in A3 Sportback, not saloon
21 Jun 2021