By Ian Strachan.
The excellent Audi A3 has long been one of my favourite five door medium sized hatchbacks, particularly in Sportback guise. And now it has widened its appeal with plug-in hybrid variant to give you greater efficiency and less guilt.
The A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e is powered by a 1.4 litre petrol engine and an 80kw electric motor. Together, these two units generate 204 bhp and give you a 0-60 mph time of below seven and a half seconds.
When fully-charged the plug-in electric motor will give you up to 37 miles of fuel-free driving, although this can vary depending on your use of the right foot. It will also take over when braking or decelerating.
In design terms the Audi A3 Sportback is a great balance of sporty hatchback and practical family car. It has all the advantages of a hatchback, but you can still have a smart brand on your drive that’s fun behind the wheel.
The first thing you notice about this car is the striking Audi grille. The deep single piece adornment sits as nicely on this car as it does on its bigger cousins, emphasising the vehicle’s pedigree.
Overall design is smart and compact. The big rear door hides impressive load capacity.
The Audi’s 1.4 petrol unit is a responsive and flexible engine – not as quiet as some diesels on the market, but married to a six-speed automatic gearbox it’s pleasing to drive.
Inside the car the A3, like most Audis, puts function over form, with a sporty cockpit-like layout enhanced by black leather front sports seats. The interior is teutonically functional, with everything in the right place. If you want a clear, uncluttered layout and comfortable driving position, you’ve got it.
Specification on the S-Line version that I tested is good. You get smart 18 inch alloy wheels, automatic headlamps, multi-function steering wheel, all round electric windows, dual zone electronic climate control, a good DAB radio with USB and iPod connections and satnav as standard. My test car was fitted with digital matrix headlights at £675 extra, ambient lighting (£110) and heated front seats. (£330).
Handling is spot-on and I thought the ride was fine, although some might find it a bit hard for their tastes.
The Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e S Line comes at £34,245 on the road. Not cheap but this is an Audi, with all that brings including very good residual values.
