Audi A3 hybrid interior, dashboard & comfort

Audi rarely puts a foot wrong when it comes to interior design and the A3 TFSI e is another example of how it gets things right in this area. There's an excellent 'virtual cockpit' display that shows all manner of information behind the steering wheel, but Audi has avoided the temptation to put everything on screens and there are still nice physical controls for the heating and ventilation system. Quality is superb throughout.

Audi A3 hybrid dashboard

The A3's dashboard is full of angles, making it less conservative-looking than the previous model's, and there's also plenty of faux-aluminium trim. Whatever you might think of the design, there's no disputing the quality: everything feels well screwed-together, which bodes well for long-term durability.

Equipment, options & accessories

The A3 TFSI e plug-in hybrid is available in three trim levels: Sport, S line and S line Competition. The first two come with the 40 TFSI e engine, while the third is only offered with the 45 TFSI e. The middle option is expected to make up the bulk of sales, as it has more desirable sporty styling and the difference in price over the Sport doesn't amount to much in the context of a monthly finance deal.

As the hybrid A3 skips the entry-level Technik trim of the purely petrol and diesel versions, it starts off already having a decent amount kit in Sport guise. A set of 17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights and a 10.1-inch touchscreen all feature. S line adds 18-inch alloys, dynamic rear indicators, privacy glass, sports seats, LED interior lighting. S line Competition cars get their own design of 18-inch alloy, along with red-painted brake calipers and some black-painted exterior styling elements.

Infotainment, apps & sat nav

Audi's in-car infotainment systems are among the best of any car manufacturer and its 'virtual cockpit' digital dashboard is particularly well executed. Sat nav, smartphone connectivity, DAB radio and a six-speaker audio system are all standard equipment. All versions of the latest A3 also get the 10.1-inch central infotainment screen as well as the 'virtual cockpit' behind the steering wheel; the latter measures 10.25 inches as standard, but a larger 14-inch version is available as an option on S line cars.