Auto Express – August 07, 2019

70 7August2019 http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

BUYINGCARS Usedtwintest

AudiA3e-tron BMWi3

AudiA3Sportbacke-tron

Years:2014to2018
Engine:1.4-litre4cylpluselectricmotor,201bhp
Insgroup: 29 Officialecon/CO 2 :166.2mpg/38g/km
Why?Cheapertobuy,greaterflexibilityforlong-
distancedrivers,largerandmorepracticalthani3.

Pricesfrom: £11,489

BMWi3RangeExtender

Years:2014to2018

Engine:647cc2cylpluselectricmotor,168bhp

Insgroup: 21 Officialecon/CO 2 :171.6mpg/12g/km

Why?Beautifullydesignedandbuiltinterior,

relaxingtodrive,excellentfueleconomy.

Pricesfrom: £12,950

THEA3e-tron’spetrolengineisbackedup
byanelectricmotorandbatterypackthat
giveanofficial(NEDC)29-milerange,soit’s
hardertorunonelectricpower.Assuch,the
Audicannevermatchthei3foreconomy
andemissions,butitsCO 2 figuresarestill
lowenoughtobenefitcompanycardrivers.
WhiletheA3isheavierandslowerthan
thei3,it’salargercaranditsstandardkit
includesaseven-inchinfotainmentscreen,
cruisecontrolandautoemergencybraking.

DESIGNEDfromthegrounduptobeaneco

car,thei3offersbetterfueleconomythan

thee-tron,thankstoitsrange-extending

engine,whichactsasageneratorforthe

batteries;theBMWismorefuntodrivetoo.

Thei3hasafarlargerelectric-onlyrange

ofaround125miles,andifyouusethepetrol

engineyoucango206miles.Plusthei3is

capableofDCrapidcharging,unliketheA3.

However,strongusedvaluesmeantheBMW

commandsa£1,000premiumovertheAudi.

Verdict

1

2

e-tron looks likeany other A3, but can

run on electric powertocut emissions

BMW’s i3 stands out forits futuristic

styling,both outside and in the cabin

BMWi3★★★★★

DESPITEbeingmoreexpensive,theBMWi3isastrongperformerthatmixes

incredibleefficiencywithagreatersenseofindividualitythantheAudi.

AudiA3e-tron★★★★★

THEe-troniswellequippedandwellpriced,butitsimplyisn’tasaccomplished

asthei3,relyingonitspetrolenginemoreandtakinglongertocharge.

Switchedonforthecity

Electrification is all the rage, so we look at twopremium used options that can run on battery-poweralone