Audi has boosted its Q3 small SUV range with the addition of an electrically boosted plug-in hybrid version.
Available as a Q3 45 TFSi e or coupé-backed Q3 Sportback 45 TFSi, the compact PHEV pairs Audi’s 1.4-litre TFSi petrol motor with a 13kWh battery pack that delivers a WLTP electric range of 31 miles. Interestingly, that’s 10 miles less than you can expect from the A3 PHEV, which also has a 13kWh battery.
The 85kW electric motor housed in the six-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission is capable of powering the Q3s at speeds of up to 87mph, though don’t expect to match that WLTP figure if you test it out.
Combined with the 148bhp petrol it delivers a total of 242bhp, making the TFSi e more powerful than the petrol-only 2.0-litre 45 TFSI Quattro, though the PHEV sends its 400Nm to the front wheels only.
Put both petrol and electric engines to work and they’ll get you to 62mph in 7.3sec, and on to a top speed of 130mph. And all but heavy braking is handled by the electric motors, which can recover up to 40kW of power and store it in the battery.
The Q3’s default ‘Auto-Hybrid’ mode blends the two power sources, though the cars pull away in electric mode unless you stand on the accelerator. And pressing the ‘EV’ button keeps the action all-electric until the charge runs out.
Audi says the battery pack is mounted below the floor in front of the rear axle, but it still manages to eat into boot space: the regular Q3 offers a handy 530 litres, but this drops to 380 litres in the hybrid cars.
Plugged into a domestic AC wall box via a Type 2 connector, the TFSi e can be charged in 3h 45mins, and owners can remotely control the charging process via the free myAudi app.
Audi won’t release prices until closer to the May 2021 on-sale date but given the Q3 starts at £30,885, and the Sportback, £33,685, even the most basic Technik-trim PHEV isn’t going to be cheap, and you can expect to pay almost £50k for a fully-loaded Vorsprung.
Keyword: Audi adds plug-in hybrid option to Q3 and Q3 Sportback