Author Topic: First Drive: 2015 Audi A3 E-tron plug-in hybrid (Read 12063 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** July 11, 2014, 06:30:39 am »

Jonathan meditates on the Audi A3 e-tron and the rise of the luxury hybrid.

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JRM · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2014, 08:56:10 am »

Now we're talking great exterior styling. I love the understated look in a sea of fluidic creases and curved sheet metal. It all gets rather tiresome after a few years. The only drawback for me is the big rectangular screen directly on top of big round vents in the center stack. Looks very cartoonish.

Silverbird · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2014, 01:57:49 pm »

Price will be the big factor. Hopefully more in line with the rest of the A3 line. THe Q5 hybrid is a huge jump in price compared to the other Q5's

EV-Light · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2014, 02:07:37 pm »

and we expect pricing to be on par with a well-equipped i3

I like the A3 hybrid, but you have to be kidding right? Price for this should be inline with the Jetta Hybrid, not the i3 - a completely different beast with MUCH more technology stuffed into it.

jyarkony · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2014, 11:48:39 pm »

Quote from: kevlar on July 11, 2014, 10:08:41 pm

Well I read quite some time ago that the diesel sportback was approved by the big U S of A so you better believe it's coming as well to Canada

Yup, diesel sportback is coming, in all three trims. Pricing for that also TBA.

dkaz · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2014, 11:56:34 pm »

To everyone complaining about screens in the middle of the dash: You're not the target market!

jyarkony · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2014, 12:30:26 am »

Quote from: DKaz on July 11, 2014, 11:56:34 pm

To everyone complaining about screens in the middle of the dash: You're not the target market!

Yeah, get used to it, or move along. The A3's retracts back into the dash, but I would trade that over-engineering complexity for cooled seats.

Sir Osis of Liver · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2014, 11:46:16 am »

I find it difficult to believe that Chrysler can properly integrate their hmi into the dash while the Germans are satisfied with the J C Whitney look. At least this one retracts I guess.

Sent from my G3 using Tapatalk Pro

Ice · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2014, 09:54:21 pm »

Quote from: Sir Osis of Liver on July 13, 2014, 11:46:16 am

I find it difficult to believe that Chrysler can properly integrate their hmi into the dash while the Germans are satisfied with the J C Whitney look. At least this one retracts I guess.

Sent from my G3 using Tapatalk Pro

I actually like the looks of the Audi one. Even the Mazda3 one isn't too bad. I think it keeps the rest of the dash cleaner but I'm not sure on usability either way. I'd have to sit in some of these cars that have this system.

OliverD · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2014, 10:04:16 pm »

I actually prefer the "tacked on" look over something like this, which I find makes the centre stack too tall:

I do think that the Mazda 3's screen looks a bit nicer than the A3's though.

dirtyjeffer · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2014, 10:11:01 pm »

i prefer the built-in look.

EV-Light · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2014, 10:19:03 pm »

tucked in looks are so outdated in my opinion, unless you have a very large screen...some of my favorites:

dirtyjeffer · « **Reply #12 on:** July 13, 2014, 11:31:54 pm »

Quote from: Tauri13 on July 13, 2014, 10:19:03 pm

tucked in looks are so outdated in my opinion, unless you have a very large screen...some of my favorites:

let me clarify...the audi in the picture you have looks good, because while not flush mounted with the dash, it still looks part of it (see the matching trim line along the bottom)...as well, when the vehicle is off, it moves out of sight/out of mind.

nlm · « **Reply #13 on:** July 14, 2014, 12:15:15 pm »

"Will the diesel-wagon (manual all-wheel drive, of course)..."

Stop teasing!!!

Sir Osis of Liver · « **Reply #14 on:** July 14, 2014, 01:19:34 pm »

^ The BMW one looks fine. It's integrated. The other two look like an iPad is propped up on the dash and look like afterthoughts.

Northernridge · « **Reply #15 on:** July 14, 2014, 01:30:41 pm »

I'd prefer a retractable info screen so the dash/centre stack could be designed clean and without a horrid display. I'd personally keep it retracted most of the time. I'm intrigued by Audi's new design where the display is integrated into the gauge pod and there is no display in the centre stack.

OliverD · « **Reply #16 on:** July 14, 2014, 03:22:42 pm »

Quote from: Northernridge on July 14, 2014, 01:30:41 pm

I'd prefer a retractable info screen so the dash/centre stack could be designed clean and without a horrid display. I'd personally keep it retracted most of the time. I'm intrigued by Audi's new design where the display is integrated into the gauge pod and there is no display in the centre stack.

That's fine when the screens were used primarily for navigation systems but now they display all sorts of unrelated information as well.

My 6 has the factory nav system that retracts. Actually a pretty decent system considering its age though I can't imagine paying nearly $3k for it when new.

Northernridge · « **Reply #17 on:** July 14, 2014, 03:49:14 pm »

Quote from: OliverD on July 14, 2014, 03:22:42 pm

Quote from: Northernridge on July 14, 2014, 01:30:41 pm
I'd prefer a retractable info screen so the dash/centre stack could be designed clean and without a horrid display. I'd personally keep it retracted most of the time. I'm intrigued by Audi's new design where the display is integrated into the gauge pod and there is no display in the centre stack.

That's fine when the screens were used primarily for navigation systems but now they display all sorts of unrelated information as well.

My 6 has the factory nav system that retracts. Actually a pretty decent system considering its age though I can't imagine paying nearly $3k for it when new.

In a FGC all you need to see is the tach, speedo...and the CEL of course.

It would be funny if the retractable info display pops up to show that the CEL has come on. Then there would obviously need to be an additional check-display-function warning light.

mixmanmash · « **Reply #18 on:** July 14, 2014, 09:45:36 pm »

Quote from: Northernridge on July 14, 2014, 03:49:14 pm

Quote from: OliverD on July 14, 2014, 03:22:42 pm
Quote from: Northernridge on July 14, 2014, 01:30:41 pm
I'd prefer a retractable info screen so the dash/centre stack could be designed clean and without a horrid display. I'd personally keep it retracted most of the time. I'm intrigued by Audi's new design where the display is integrated into the gauge pod and there is no display in the centre stack.

That's fine when the screens were used primarily for navigation systems but now they display all sorts of unrelated information as well.

My 6 has the factory nav system that retracts. Actually a pretty decent system considering its age though I can't imagine paying nearly $3k for it when new.

In a FGC all you need to see is the tach, speedo...and the CEL of course.

It would be funny if the retractable info display pops up to show that the CEL has come on. Then there would obviously need to be an additional check-display-function warning light.

Haha. Well played.

Guy · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2016, 04:25:28 pm »

FGC at it's best, the A3 e-tron cannot operate below -28C..

So, a little update from the cold weather no EV (-10C) issue;
Norwegian importer now confirms that EV mode is not available below -10C. Apparently this is because while the battery is cooled in the summer, it has no heating possibilities at all. This is unlike other PHEVs, and BEVs, that have both.

Even worse, it is also confirmed that at -28C or below, the car cannot start at all! This is because the ICE use the EV as a "starter", and at -28C the high voltage (EV) battery can no longer operate.
I Norway we do occasionally (in rare conditions) experience below -28C, like in the mountains when we go skiing, or further north.

https://speakev.com/threads/a3-e-tron-owners-experiences-and-complaints.7732/page-7#post-227575