We review the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron from price to economy and all its features

HERE’S a car worth thinking about – Audi’s first petrol/electric plug-in hybrid.

The A3 Sportback e-tron does 130mpg in real driving conditions, has a range of 584mph, yet still glides to 137mph.

Pure electric … Audi A3 e-tron

It can even do up to 80mph for 31 miles on PURE ELECTRIC.

The A3 e-tron isn’t a direct rival to the futuristic BMW i3 but it is an alternative and a smaller step into electric cars. VW are launching an e-Golf too.

We spotted Rodin’s famous statue, The Thinker, on a test drive in Vienna (see, I was listening in art class, Mr Broadbent) and here are my thoughts…

No brainer … plug-in hybrid makes perfect sense

FIRST IMPRESSIONS? Half-year sales for alternative fuel vehicles are up 51 per cent to 23,337 in the UK — so Audi’s timing is perfect. The A3 e-tron is available to order later this month from £29,950 (including £5,000 Government grant) with first deliveries in January.

It looks like a normal A3 Sportback and pretty much drives like one. But you get a bit of e-tron bling, LED lights front and rear, and 17in alloys. The charging connection is cleverly hidden behind the four rings in the front grille.

HOW DOES IT DRIVE? Great fun — with instant torque and that super-smooth Audi ride and handling.

The six-speed 1.4litre TFSI petrol engine, linked to a 75kw electric motor, produces 204bhp and does 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. I got close to 130mpg-plus on normal roads and I wasn’t driving like your granny either.

So you get good performance AND efficiency with just 37g/km CO2 output — that means no road tax or congestion charges.

There are four settings — pure electric, hybrid auto (petrol/electric), hybrid hold (keeps battery charge for later use) and hybrid charge (which uses the petrol engine to recharge the battery).

And when you brake or coast downhill, the battery gets a boost.

Good thinking … charging point hidden behind rings

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? Clean and stylish — the quality you expect from a premium German motor.

I like the pop-up 7in display screen and Bang & Olufsen sound system. The car doesn’t make much noise but you can.

The rev counter has been replaced by a power meter which shows battery charge and driving efficiency. There’s two easy-reach cupholders and the CD player/SD card reader is in the glovebox.

The battery is under the rear seats but there is no compromise on space. This is still a decent five-seater. The boot is 280litres and can easily fit a pram.

WHAT ABOUT CHARGING? The A3 takes 4hrs to fully charge at home. Public charging — or a wallbox fitted at home — takes 2hr 15min.

Both charging cables are supplied and the A3 battery with its eight-year warranty is included in the price of the car. A special app lets you start charging, and set your air con temperature, from your smartphone. Cool.