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Audi A3 e-tron dashboard
Audi A3 e-tron small

Audi A3 e-tron Sportback 1.4 Attraction Pro Line Plus

With the e-tron, Audi is jumping into the increasing popular plug-in hybrid market. By combining the top selling model with an incredible electro motor, Audi seems to be on the winning side. But can they also deliver a winning UI?

  • Clear, high resolution display
  • Consistent layouts and use of colour
  • Easy control, even while driving
  • Control knob rotates in the wrong direction
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THE TEST

Doing it right

Step inside the e-tron and like any Audi cabin it's familiar but perfectly crafted. The design is clean, with every surface wrapped in soft leather or brushed aluminium. The A3 is fitted with Audi's flagship technology: MMI touch. This is the infotainment system that Audi has been refining for years. It consists of a rich 7-inch display that is controlled by a control wheel in the center console - located just under the handbrake. The central control unit contains an array of hard buttons, soft buttons, disappearing buttons, and even a fingertip sketch pad. The labels are clear, the design and layout are consistent and coherent and everything works snappy, smooth and intuitive.

The MMI system offers a simple menu navigation and a decent connectivity system. This system includes both USB and MDI inputs that can read and charge devices. Connecting your phone over Bluetooth is easy and straightforward.

The 7-inch display is bright and well readable under various light conditions. The high positioning of the screen looks a bit awkward at first, but proves to be a smart move once you start driving. Having the display this far up makes it easy to quickly scan for information and focus back on the road without having to look down onto your dashboard and lose track of what's happening outside.

Information is logically clustered in main menu sections and colors are thoughtfully applied to provide contrast, highlight selections and subtly set the mood. All this makes Audi's MMI touch the best infotainment system we've used so far.

Doing it right
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A consistent, coherent, snappy and intuitive setup - this makes it the best infotainment system we’ve encountered so far.
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REMARKABLE

Taking the wrong turn

Taking the wrong turn

By turning the control knob clockwise you scroll up in lists. You scroll down by turning it counter clockwise. We would expect this to work exactly the other way around. This caused us to turn the wheel constantly in the wrong direction, even after playing with the system for quite some time.

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SCORES

Tested on December 10 2014 by Robbert Ouwerkerk, Stephan van Dijk and Jeff van Steijn

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Audi made the choice to not integrate the display into the dashboard but to place it on top of it. While this does not provide an integrated feel, the screen pops up smoothly while starting the car. In combination with the subtile startup animation, it provides a luxurious feel.

The UI feels spacious compared to the competition. Even when showing rich data like fuel stations, parking areas and navigation cues, the screen feels organised. Audi kept the design clear and consistent throughout all applications, and smartly applies highlight colours to guide you through their screens.

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COMMENTS

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