The plug-in hybrid makes every other version of a car obsolete in the Netherlands, all because of the additional taxes.
This Audi Q3 Sportback is a prime example of that, because this 245 horsepower 45 TFSI-e plug-in hybrid is cheaper than the entry...
level Q3 with an automatic gearbox if you equip them the same way. The same goes for the Jaguar E-Pace. Since it's been facelifted,
there's a new entry level version with a 3-cylinder engine and a plug-in hybrid version. The latter produces 309 horsepower...
instead of 160 horsepower, and additionally you get four-wheel drive. For less money. So the fact you're going to want to go for the...
plug-in hybrid is clear, but which one are you going to choose?
If you want to recognize a facelifted E-Pace by looking at the exterior, you're going to have to be very good. The only way you can spot a facelifted...
E-Pace by the slightly altered front bumper and the J-shaped headlights. If you move to the inside however, it becomes much easier.
There's a new infotainment system for example, called PV Pro. The screen has increased in size as well.
11.4 inch to be precise, and the steering wheel is new as well. It really fits the system, and you can operate it through the wheel as well.
It all looks very good and the screen actually works very good as well. The responses are quick and even though you'll have to get used to...
the menu structure, it's very nice to use. Also, more importantly, it looks very good as well with a very nice resolution.
They've done a good job there. I'm not as happy about the steering wheel though, because it feels and looks a bit plasticky.
That's too bad, because in the rest of the interior, Jaguar uses a lot of aluminium. Even on the flappy paddles.
That makes sure that as a whole, the interior looks very premium. It already was a nice interior to look at, and that hasn't changed.
It's a bit like an F-Type, with this bar over here. Also, it offers a very active steering position, which I really like as well.
The buttons for the climate control are new as well, but the same goes for the buttons on the steering wheel as well.
They're touch sensitive, but they're not very sensitive to begin with. That often means you have to press them quite hard,
and they're prone to smudges. Car manufacturers, please stop with these buttons. Just use regular buttons, those can look good too.
Also, it just works better. Anyhoo, let's get back to the drivetrain, because that's the big news in this E-Pace.
This drivetrain isn't new though, because we've already seen it in the plug-in hybrid Range Rover Evoque, on which the E-Pace is based.
And the engine of this drivetrain is found in the new entry level E-Pace as well, the P160.
That comes with the same 3-cylinder, because that's what it is, but it only produces 160 horsepower.
In this case, it's slightly different. The engine itself already produces 200 horsepower, with an additional electric motor...
producing 109 horsepower. In total, there's a power output of 309 horsepower. Obviously.
Also, the electric motor is mounted on the rear axle, so you've got four-wheel drive.
And 309 horsepower is a nice amount of power, and it becomes really quick because of it. It's quicker than the Audi for example.
On the other hand, you do need the power, because this car is very heavy. It used to be as well, because when equipped with...
the same options, it was heavier than the bigger F-Pace. And this plug-in hybrid version is even heavier.
This particular car weighs 2.170 kg, which is abnormal for a car this size. And it has a lot of negative effects as well.
You'll notice the weight in the fuel consumption, you'll notice it when it comes to parts, the additional taxes will be higher...
because even though there's a reduction for plug-in hybrids, heavier cars in the Netherlands are taxed higher.
I do have to say, the negative effects don't really reach the handling. The car that comes the closest to this when it comes to weight...
and size is the Volvo XC40 P8. The fully electric version. And where that is a little bumpy, this is much more stable.
Sturdy and comfortable, but not as cumbersome as the Evoque which has the same drivetrain and chassis.
That feels much more plump, as a Land Rover should feel like. This is much sportier, as a Jaguar should be.
The responses are quicker, it offers a lot of security, and it's not uncomfortable. And that's a good thing.
The same goes for the drivetrain itself. It doesn't really have any negative consequences that it only has a 3-cylinder engine aboard.
The engine noise stays very low and that makes it seem like it produces its power very easily. Also, it feels very smooth.
So whenever you suddenly you put your foot down, it only thinks about it for a moment, so it's not even noteworthy.
After that, it speeds up smoothly. As you should be able to expect, but it's not always the case. Jaguar did very good here.
Then there's the electric range, very important for a plug-in hybrid. This car has a 15 kWh-battery pack, which is slightly bigger than...
in the Audi, which in turn is smaller and lighter. Despite that, this car still gets further. Jaguar says that the E-Pace is able to do...
55 kilometres, whilst Audi says their Q3 can do 50 kilometres. Not a huge difference, but a difference nonetheless.
In reality, both cars didn't reach their factory indications. Barely, that is. Having said that, the difference is smaller.
The Audi will be able to do 40 kilometres, whilst this car will reach arond 45 kilometres.
Also, this car has two other advantages when it comes to electric driving. The charging port is at the back, which means you're...
able to park backwards. On the Audi, the port is at the front. Also, it's eligible for quickcharging.
There's a CCS-port, which is relatively rare for a plug-in hybrid. And I can get that, because the advantage is usually limited for a plug-in.
Why would you quickcharge if you can just fill it up instead. Anyway, it's handy that it's possible I guess.
What's quite remarkable from the Jaguar, is that it's got the exact same amount of luggage space as every other E-Pace.
494 litres to be precise, even with a plug. That also means you've still got storage space underneath the floor.
That's very handy for your charging cables, except for when the boot is filled to the brim.
You won't it back then anymore, but in general, it's still a good place to store the cables.
The finishing looks great, so altogether, it's a nice boot.
In the Audi however, it's a different story. First of all, the luggage space is really limited.
It can only fit 380 litres, whilst a normal Q3 fits 530 litres. Both in the Sportback and the regular one.
Except for the plug-in versions. That's a big difference, and it's all because of the batteries underneath the floor.
You can't fit anything in there, which means your cables have to go in a bag in the boot. That's a stupid solution.
I already mentioned that this is the Sportback, which means you're not able to stack your luggage high up.
Also, you can see that the headroom on the rear seat is limited, which isn't that comfortable.
I do like the seating position. You're able to position your legs nicely and there's more than enough legroom.
Comparable with the Jaguar actually, which also doesn't have a lot of headroom. Also, the seating position is a tad less...
comfortable, because the seat is lower relative to the floor.
The drivetrain in this Audi Q3 45 TFSI-e is a familiar one. A very familiar one even, because it's the same drivetrain...
we know from the Golf GTE and other C-segment plug-in hybrids from Volkswagen.
Specifically, it's the version from the new GTE with 245 horsepower, but it still uses the same components.
That means it's kind of outdated compared to the regular petrol versions. The engine and gearbox are older, for example.
This is still a 1.4-litre TSI with a 6-speed DSG-gearbox, as opposed to the newer 1.5-litre TSI and 7-speed DSG-gearbox.
Of course, that doesn't have to be a drawback if it all works properly. Just like in the Jaguar, everything is very much in sync.
It's a very smooth cooperation between the components, and there's more than enough power to work with. Sure, there's a big...
gap between 245 horsepower and the 309 horsepower in the Jaguar, but it's much lighter as well.
It 'only' weighs 1.715 kg as opposed to the almost 2.200 kg the Jaguar weighs, so it's a big difference.
I do have to say, the engine in here is louder when you put your foot down. You might even hear it, when you accelerate, it puts out quite...
some noise. That's too bad. Also, when you set off, sometimes you'll feel a small shock going through the car. I haven't had that in the Jaguar.
Otherwise, this Q3 feels like a real Audi. Firm, old-fashioned German stability but still very distant.
So don't count it on being a very sporty car. The only 'sport' that this car has to offer, is in the name.
The interior is actually the best interior Audi has to offer when it comes to their bigger cars.
The bigger Audi's usually have the worst interiors Audi has to offer, filled with piano-lacquered panels and touch senstive buttons.
It's way too difficult in there, but in here, you've got button clusters which clearly indicate what they're for.
Climate control for example. Also, you still have the scrolling wheel on the steering wheel, which works very handily.
And at the same time, the touchscreen is one of the most modern ones available on the market right now and it works very smoothly.
That's all good. Let me show you an example. If you want to turn off lane assist, you can just push one little button, whilst in a Volkswagen...
you have to follow six different steps in the menu's. That's a huge difference, mostly because you don't have to become annoyed in here.
The build quality is very good as well, as you could expect from Audi. However, just like in the Jaguar, there are some few cheap interior parts.
Take the door panels for example. They're the same color and they're a tad too hard, so it seems like it's one big, solid panel.
And what's too bad as well is that you've got a central locking button over here, and over there it's covered by a cheap cap. Too bad.
And since I'm nagging, I don't like the seating position as much as in the Jaguar, because I can't pull the steering wheel closer to me.
And I have to adjust the seat by hand. And normally, that wouldn't be a problem, but since this car costs €67.000, it is a problem.
The same goes for the key. It's still a regular key, which you actually have to turn to start it up. And I don't want to sound spoiled, but you...
can't have that anymore in 2021 with a car that costs this amount of money.
And that's the problem with this Q3. As a base version, it costs you around €50.000, which is around €10.000 cheaper than the Jaguar.
But if you start dressing it up to the level of the Jaguar with leather, start button, adaptive cruise control, the price gap disappears.
Both cars will then cost you €70.000 for a lavishly equipped version.
And I have to conclude that the Jaguar feels more like a car that costs €70.000 than this Audi. It feels more isolated, it feels bigger,
it's more spacious, there's more power, there's four-wheel drive. It just seems to fit better.
For the whole conclusion, I have to refer you to the written test, which can also be found on our website.