Audi had been touting the electrification of its models for quite a while, but it was all talk until January of 2016 when the brand released the 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. In typical Audi fashion, the A3 e-tron was nearly identical to its gasoline and diesel drinking brethren. Well, aside from a hidden charging port and a fancy little badge to demonstrate the cars electrified presence on the road, that is. Available with just one engine, a 1.4-liter four-cylinder, and an electric motor, the e-tron delivers just over 200 horsepower and can hit the 60-mph sprint in less than eight seconds. It’s not wildly impressive, but the car does offer around 31 miles of all-electric driving for those of you with a really short daily commute.

Another cool feature about the e-tron is Audi’s collaboration with SunPower. Through SunPower, Audi is able to offer charging via solar panels at your home. Of course, this probably won’t be cheap, but if don’t mind paying for the technology, it could save you a little money in the long run. Plus, you know, it’s good for the environment too.

For 2017, the A3 e-tron carries over unchanged for the most part. It does take on a couple of small updates, and there are some new options available that really add to the overall luxuriousness of the car. Pricing for the 2017 model year has also changed a bit, but nothing too drastic. With that said, let’s take a look at the 2016 – 2017 Audi A3 e-tron and talk about the minor changes that come with the 2017 model year.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 – 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron.

2016 - 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 - 2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 204
  • Torque: 258
  • Transmission: six-speed s tronic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The e-tron looks like a normal 2013 Audi A3, aggressively normal, even. There are sometimes indicators that a hybrid made out of an existing model is different. Different wheels or a visible charging port are pretty good indicators, but Audi has shunned all of this. Badging will still give it away, but the e-tron's charging port is actually hidden in the front grille, behind the four-ring logo.

This whole section of the grille slides out of the way to expose the port for charging. It seems unnecessary and possibly even gimmicky, but it is at least a good location for easy charging access in a small garage. One also could never accuse Audi of trying to cash in on trendiness of conspicuous conservation with electrified vehicles in certain circles. This is therefore an A3 that looks like an A3, a five-door hatchback that won't turns heads but is certainly an attractive vehicle.

Changes for 2017

As I said before, there aren’t a lot of changes to talk about here, but for 2017, the A3 e-tron now comes equipped with a panoramic sunroof as standard equipment. In addition, it now comes standard with LED running lights. LED headlights are available as an option on Premium Plus and Prestige trim levels. Rounding out the exterior upgrades for 2017 is a new rearview camera that is now also included as standard equipment. It’s not much, but it’s enough to help keep the model fresh for another year.

An additional option comes in the form of the Sport package, which adds an S line roof spoiler and a pair of sexy, 18-inch, 15-spoke Turbine-design wheels with all-season tires. No word on the pricing for the for this package yet, but it also includes a couple of interior updates as well so expect it to hit the wallet at least a little bit.

Interior

The only indicator on the inside of the A3 Sportback e-tron that it is a plug-in vehicle come in the form of a slightly different instrument cluster, which gives battery charging information instead of a tachometer, and the option to display further information on the vehicle's MMI screen. The addition of battery packs has taken up a bit of the cargo area in the back, but it's not as bad as in some other hybrids.

This is because Audi has made the fuel tank smaller as a means of avoiding encroaching on the cargo area any more. Still, you will notice the difference, it means 13.6 cubic feet of cargo area compared to 19.5 in the standard Sportback. The car has the usual interior refinements, and Audi will let you option it up quite a lot. Audi makes a good interior, but it's no better than the interior on the less-expensive conventional version of the car.

Changes for 2017

There aren’t any new standard features to speak of inside the car, but there is a new list of available options in the technology department. First, and most important, on the list is the option for Audi’s virtual cockpit. Eventually, this thing has to become standard equipment across the line, but for now, it is still just an option. For the A3 e-tron, the virtual cockpit comes with a fresh face that is specialized specifically for this electrified hatchback. The biggest unique feature here is the power meter screen that shows range and consumption information not only for the electrical system but for the gasoline system as well. Otherwise, it is similar to the virtual cockpit available in other models, but it’s certainly a nice addition.

Other interior options include the Audi smartphone interface that brings Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration into the mix. There’s also the option to upgrade to Audi connect Prime and Plus, which comes with a six-month trial subscription to go with the optional MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch – all features that are well worth having in a model of luxury.

In addition to this, the Sport package that I mentioned earlier brings a three-spoke, flat-bottom steering wheel into the driver’s hands to go with a pair of shift paddles for that dual-clutch transmission – definitely a necessity if you’re interested in getting into some more spirited driving every now and then. To go with that, the package also includes front sport seats to help you feel a little extra support during more extreme maneuvers.

Drivetrain

Motivating the A3 Sportback e-tron is a 1.4-liter four-cylinder that delivers 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque and an electric motor that delivers 102 horsepower. Despite the math saying otherwise, Audi says the overall output of the engine and motor combo is rated at 204 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Shifting duties are handled by a six-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission that can be equipped with paddle shifters via the Sport package. The electric motor is powered by an 8.8 kWh lithium-ion battery back. Charging time varies by source, but Audi claims an 8-hour charge time on 110 volt, while a full charge takes just two hours and 15 minutes via 240-volt power source. As mentioned before, solar charging is also available through SunPower, however, there is no word on charging times through this method.

All-electric range is said to be around 30 to 31 miles, which falls pretty short of the Chevy Volt, but is decent compared to models like the Prius plug-in and the Ford Fusion plug-in. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 86 mpg-e in the city, 87 mpg-e on the highway, and 86 mpg-e combined. Running on the gasoline engine alone should net you about 34 mpg. Speaking of which, the gasoline engine can also be used to charge the battery when it is depleted, which will ultimately provide you with addition all-electric or electric-assisted range.

As far as performance goes, Audi claims that the A3 Sportback e-tron can hit 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, while the quarter-mile takes about 15.8 seconds. It’s nothing to write home about, but you don’t by something like the A3 Sportback e-tron to run 10s in the quarter, now do you?

Drivetrain Specifications

Engine

1.4-liter TFSI FWD PHEV

Horsepower

204 HP

Torque

258 LB-FT

Transmission

Six-speed S tronic


Prices

For 2016, the e-tron was priced at $37,900 for the Premium trim, $42,000 for the Premium Plus trim and $46,800 for the range-topping Prestige trim level. For 2017, the pricing has changed a little bit, but not a whole lot. The Premium trim now comes in at $38,900, representing a $1,000 price increase for 2017. The Premium Plus trim level remains the same at $42,000 while the range-topping Prestige trim increases by $750 to $47,550. Given the fact that the panoramic sunroof is now standard equipment across the line, these mild price increases really aren’t that bad with the mid-range premium plus apparently holding the best standard value of the line.

2017 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron - Prices

Model

Price

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Premium

$38,900

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Premium Plus

$42,000

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Prestige

$47,550


2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron - Prices

Model

Price

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Premium

$37,900

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Premium Plus

$42,000

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Prestige

$46,800


Competition

Chevy Volt

The Chevy Volt was updated for the 2017 model year and now comes with an all-electric range of 53 miles and a total range of up to 420 miles with a full tank of gas. The gasoline engine is a 1.5-liter unit, however, Chevy has yet to release actual performance specs for the engine. Power is direct to the front wheels. Pricing starts out at $33,220 for the entry-level LT version and $37,570 for the Premier trim level. Rumor has it that the Volt hits 60 mph in 9.1 seconds which is far less than the A3, but not too bad considering it isn’t a car based on performance in any way, shape, or form.

Read our full review here.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive

Plug-hybrids are getting a lot of attention these days in Europe because several European cities are considering banning the use of internal combustion engine in city centers. Should this happen, it might be better to just buy a pure electric. The B-Class Electric Drive has a range of 100 miles and is the nearest pure electric equivalent to the e-tron. The base price is slightly more than that of the Audi, but it would be well worth spending the extra if you had to do a lot of driving in a city where you couldn't use your internal combustion engine.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

The A3 Sportback e-tron definitely requires some compromises on the part of the buyer. For those willing to accept these compromises, there are a few advantages, although these are for such specific circumstances that it's difficult to imagine there being much of a market for it. Driven very carefully and for relatively short distances, it can deliver some good fuel economy numbers, just not quite as good as those of some of its competitors. It's better for performance than those competitors, but driving it hard means unimpressive economy numbers, while still delivering worse performance than a cheaper base A3. For those who want an inconspicuous plug-in, or are too label-conscious to buy a Volt, the e-Tron is a solid choice, although that must be a very niche market.