The 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack packaged under the second row seat charges in 8 hours with a 120-volt outlet and just over 2 hours with a 240-volt outlet. This gives the A3 roughly 16 miles of electric only range up to 80 mph. That beats the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which has a range of 11 miles. But A3 e-tron doesn’t match the likes of the Hyundai Sonata plug-in with a range of 27 miles, the Ford C-Max Energi with a range of 19 miles or the Chevrolet Volt, with a range of 53 miles.

However, range is not everything. Like all plug-in hybrids, the A3 e-tron is just as at home at a gas station as it is by a wall outlet. Whether using electricity, gas or both, the A3 e-tron delivers an extremely smooth ride.

Furthermore, the A3 e-tron certainly outclasses its more mainstream competition with a typically Audi-level luxurious interior and understated exterior. It comes loaded with lots of high-tech features and a raft of safety controls.

By design, the e-tron doesn’t shout or attempt to impress strangers with an awkward silhouette or badging that forces people to know just how much you love the environment. Fortunately, we have moved beyond green badging accessories and now we see highly efficient, sharply tailored cars.

The A3 e-tron has a unique Sportback look with the elongated rear hatch. It uses the S line front and rear fascias and side sills, though the rear exhaust is hidden. It’s shod with standard 16-inch wheels, though 17- and 18-inch wheels are available. There is “e-tron” badging on the rear and side fender that’s unobtrusive and rather elegant. Even the recharging plug is hidden behind the four-circle emblem on the front grille. There are standard Xenon plus high-intensity discharge headlights, LED taillights, dual-zone climate control, and a rear view camera.

The interior is equally understated. There’s comfortable leather covered seats in the front row and a big bench seat across the second with ample legroom. Five adults can easily fit inside.

A pop-up navigation screen rises out of the dash once the car is started that provides plenty of information and easily operated through the controls on the center console between the driver and passenger.

There’s a simple toggle switch to select one of four driving modes for the A3 e-tron: EV mode allows electric only driving; Hybrid mode lets the car determine the most efficient way to drive using either the motor or engine or both; Hold Battery mode allows hybrid driving but maintains the current charge of the batteries so the motor can operate on its own later, and Charge Battery mode lets the car use the gas engine while recharging the battery.

Hybrid and electric modes are the most efficient, but the advantage of the charge battery and hold battery modes lets the driver decide when to use the electric power. This is likely to come into play in the near future when cities begin to either ban gas-only cars or charge them outrageous fees to enter. Electric cars will get a pass, at least for the time being.

There are also higher end features such as the optional 705-watt, 14 speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and advanced safety features. Audi’s standard pre-sense braking system detects when an emergency maneuver is being mad and prepares the vehicle and occupants for a possible collision. There’s an optional blind spot detection system, adaptive cruise control and active lane assist.

Audi has also partnered with Google for its navigation system, which can operate off of voice commands, but did not test as well as I would hope. It often took two or three attempts for it to recognize an address.

But that is just a minor complaint compared to how fun this car is on the road. Its body hardly rolls during fast corners, and its electric drive makes it nearly silent on the road.  Even when the engine kicked on it, it was hardly noticeable. It feels quick and makes a relaxing road worthy companion. The fact it has an electric motor makes it all the cooler, though some passengers may never know.

That is, until the owner tells them. It may not have the exterior of a green car, but electric car owners still get a certain amount of satisfaction in telling passengers and strangers how they’re doing just a little bit more to help the environment.

The thing they won’t say is that the e-tron has an alternative powertrain. Nobody wants to talk about that, even though they should.