Audi A3 E-Tron Sportback already getting residual value love

It's a tricky game, but the folks at Auto Bild and market research institute Schwacke are looking into the future. Through the mists of future time, they say that they think that buying an Audi A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid today is going to look like a smart buy in a few years. The German automaker likes what it sees in terms of resale value for the plug-in hybrid A3, Audi's first mass-produced plug-in, and the car has already been named a "Wertmeister." That's the "value champ" designation that Auto Bild hands out every year.

Audi says the A3 e-tron has the "most stable residual value in its class," and is expected to retain more than 57 percent of its original value four years after rolling off the dealership lot. That gives the plug-in hybrid bragging rights to the "Wertmeister" award for the Compact Car category. Audi also won second place in the Full Size category with its Audi A6 Avant 3.0 TDI

The German automaker started sales of the A3 e-tron last summer in Germany, pricing the model at about $51,500. The cars has 204 horsepower, can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than eight seconds and has an all-electric range of up to 31 miles. Check out Audi's press release below, and take a look at our First Drive impressions of the model here.

Audi A3 Sportback e‑tron is "Wertmeister 2015"

Auto Bild crowns Audi A3 Sportback e‑tron "Wertmeister 2015"

Audi A6, Audi A7 and Audi Q3 also awarded top‑three places

Ingolstadt/Berlin, February 5, 2015 – the Audi A3 Sportback e‑tron* is the car with the most stable residual value in its class. That was the conclusion drawn by Auto Bild and market research institute Schwacke. The A3 e‑tron stands out with the best residual value forecast among the compact cars, receiving the title "Wertmeister 2015".

Every year, Auto Bild and Schwacke select the cars in each class that are expected to depreciate the least during the following four years. The winners take the "Wertmeister" title. The Audi A3 Sportback e‑tron is the winner in the "Compact Car" category with a residual value of 57.3 percent. The Audi A3 e‑tron is the first plug‑in hybrid from Audi. It combines sporty power with impressive efficiency and abundant driving enjoyment with unrestricted everyday utility.

Second place in the "Full‑Size" category goes to the Audi A6 Avant* 3.0 TDI competition, the Audi A7* 3.0 TDI competition takes third place in the "Luxury Class", while the Audi Q3* 2.0 TDI quattro comes in as runner‑up among the "Small SUV" models. Auto Bild and Schwacke are awarding the "Wertmeister" title this year for the twelfth year running – and doing so in 15 different categories. 40 models and 14 brands were considered during the evaluation. The award ceremony will be held tonight in Berlin.

*Fuel consumption of the models named above:

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 1.7 – 1.5** (138.4 – 156.8 US mpg);
Combined power consumption in Wh/km: 124 – 114** ;
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 39 – 35** (62.8 – 56.3 g/mi)

Audi A6 Avant:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.6 – 4.4** (24.5 – 53.5 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 224 – 114** (360.5 – 183.5 g/mi)

Audi A7 Sportback:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 9.5 – 4.7** (24.8 – 50.0 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 221 – 122** (355.7 – 196.3 g/mi)

Audi Q3:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.4 – 4.4** (28.0 – 53.5 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 198 – 114** (318.7 – 183.5 g/mi)

**The fuel consumption and the CO2 emissions of a vehicle vary due to the choice of wheels and tires. They not only depend on the efficient utilization of the fuel by the vehicle, but are also influenced by driving behavior and other non-technical factors.