Audi’s so dowdy

Can’t see many wanting to join the Q3

Here’s a thought. I wonder if the value of used plug-in hybrid cars, or PHEVS, will rise as we get nearer the 2030 deadline for the ban on sales of new petrol or diesel cars?

A couple of years ago we were regularly testing new PHEVS.

But now there are so many more pure EVS coming onto the market fewer new PHEVS are being developed. For many, though, they still make a lot of sense.

Audi has a substantial range of PHEVS in its catalogue. The latest to arrive is the Q3 which has

Audi’s 45 TFSIE powertrain, which means a 150PS 1.4-litre petrol engine combined with a 114PS electric motor for an overall power output of 245PS.

As usual with VW Group powertrains, it’s shared around all the brands – so you’ll find it in the Skoda Octavia VRS iv, VW Golf GTE and Seat Tarraco e-hybrid among others.

The Q3 is available in regular boxy SUV guise or as the more sloping back Sportback style.

We’re testing the straight SUV in S line trim. The most impressive economy numbers come with the entry-level Technik model which manages 173mpg against this one’s – and the Black Edition and Vorsrung spec models’ – 141mpg.

As we’ve discussed many times about PHEVS, the official economy numbers are meaningless if you always plug your car in overnight and only do short journeys.

And that’s simply because you’ll get virtually unlimited miles per gallon as you’ll be running the whole time on electric.

For many, the key figure will be the 44g/km emissions which result in only 11% benefit-in-kind tax.

A 13kwh battery stores enough energy for a maximum of 31 miles of electric running, and recharging takes 3hrs 34min when using a home wallbox.

The Q3 has a top speed of 130mph, reaching 0-62mph in 7.3sec. That latter figure is quite impressive and is well into ’90s hot hatch territory.

Inside, you get the usual Audi rather dark and boring interior but with good quality plastics and excellent fit and finish.

All Q3 plug-in hybrids come with a 10.1in infotainment screen and a 10.25in driver’s display which Audi calls Virtual Cockpit. As is often the case with PHEVS, the batteries rob some luggage space because they are using the platform of a car designed for a petrol or diesel engine.

And so it is with the Q3 PHEV which holds 380 litres with the seats in place (against 530 litres for a petrol model) and 1,375 litres with them folded flat (against 1,524 litres).

In this S line trim, the Q3 PHEV costs £43,715 – or about two grand more than the entry-level Technik – for which you’re getting 19in alloys and slightly more sporty detailing on the outside.

Although I think you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference.

There are plenty more interesting alternatives to this car, including several in the Volkswagen Group itself – the Skoda Octavia VRS iv for one.

Many customers, I suspect, will overlook it completely in favour of a pure electric motor.