Test Drive: 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (04:30)

The 2016 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is the automaker's first foray into the hybrid market.

"Where the A3 succeeds," according to Motoring TV's Graeme Fletcher, "is its total lack of compromise.

"It rides and drives like a regular car in spite if its hybrid roots."

And speaking of those hybrid roots, the A3 Sportback e-tron is powered by a combination of a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder and an electric motor mounted between the engine and transmission.

The gas engine delivers 150 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, while the electric motor provides an additional 102 horsepower and 243 lb.-ft. of torque, impressive numbers for a car of the A3 Sportback e-tron's diminutive stature.

That's good for a run from 0 to 100 km/h of 7.6 seconds, while delivering fuel economy figures of 6.1 L/100 km combined over the course of our test.

"It's got plenty of power, it handles very nicely, and yet it returns better-than-average fuel economy," Graeme says.

"And it does all of that without compromise."

This segment originally appeared on Episode 15 of Motoring 2016.