2015 Audi Q3 Reviews

Released in Australia in 2012, the Audi Q3 is a compact SUV that shares a lot of engineering (and competes) with the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The small-medium Audi Q3 crossover SUV arrived in Australia in March 2012 and competes in the sales race not only with its obvious German and British prestige rivals but also the top end of the Japanese and Korean marques.The Audi Q3 has an almost coupe-like profile that has become increasingly common in crossovers. If you're looking for a voluminous station wagon you should probably shop elsewhere.Back seat space is okay, but this is a relatively small vehicle so it may be necessary for occupants to come to a compromise in legroom if tall adults are travelling. Also try out the rear seat headroom, another casualty of the coupe styling. Kids are usually fine, but if they are approaching teenage years it might be an idea to bring them along for your pre-purchase test drives.Ride comfort is good and this German machine can handle Australian backroads without too much in the way of being bounced around. Handling is very good, particularly in the quattro models and there are plenty of electronic aids to keep you out of trouble if you make a mistake.Over many years Audi has become famed for its high quality interiors and the Q3 is a premium product that's a real pleasure to travel in.Though almost all Q3s are used only on sealed roads it has reasonable ground clearance, so can cope with mild off-road driving for adventurous families exploring the great Australian bush. It came as a surprise when the June 2015 upgrade of the Audi Q3 included revisions to the ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Control) and the fitment of an electronic diff lock to further improve off-road ability.This 2015 revision also included restyled headlights that are xenon plus for added illumination and offered the option of LED headlamps.Engines options are a 1.4- and 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engines as well as 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. Most are front drivers, but Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system is offered in some upmarket variants.Some were imported with a six-speed manual gearbox but these are rare and may prove difficult to shift when it comes time to move up.As is the way with most older dual-clutch autos the Audi unit can be hesitant and irritating at very low speeds. Once up and running it's fine. But we still prefer the torque convertor units fitted in the more powerful Q3 models. Audi's 7.0-inch touchscreen MMI system covers many infotainment needs including satellite navigation. Navigation plus is used in the topline versions. Audi has gone from strength to strength in the last decade or so in Australia and has a good spread of competent dealers / service departments. Obviously the majority are in major metro areas, but Audi is also spreading neatly into the big country cities.Spares and repairs aren't cheap, though not as high as you might expect.Audi RS Q3 is a real bahn-stormer with Audi's brilliant 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, it didn't get to Australia until late 2016 and we've yet to see on on the used car market.Another vehicle worth considering is the Audi Q2, a semi sporty model with fascinating styling, though it's still relatively new and we've yet to see used ones.Options can add a lot to the price of used Audi Q3s as the company and its German competitors are famed for advertising new vehicles at low(ish) prices than charging big money for extras.In this market area it makes sense to opt for a vehicle with a full service history from an official dealer. If the car has been repaired by an outside mechanic check their credentials.Don't consider buying an Audi without a professional inspection.Body repairs, if any, should restore an Audi to as-new condition. Look for the slightest sign of any scars, paint respray and ripples in repaired panels. Suspicious? Call off the buy, or at least have a quality panel beater check the car.Interior damage caused by wild kids can be a real pain in any car, but is even more of a hassle in upmarket ones. Look at seats, seatbacks, door trims and carpets.Also have a look at the condition of the luggage area for signs of hard usage.Engines should start quickly and idle easily. Diesels are not quite as fast at kicking over as petrols, but if one seem too slow be cautious.Dual-clutch transmissions (S tronic in Audi speak) are notorious for being slow and awkward at very slow speeds. If one seems too bad have it inspected.Expect to pay from $18,000 to $25,000 for a 2012 Audi Q3 2.0 TDI; $13,000 to $32,000 for a 2012 2.0 TFSI quattro; $27,000 to $36,000 for a 2014 2.0 TFSI quattro; $32,000 to $42,000 for a 2015 2.0 TDI Sport quattro; $37,000 to $48,000 for a 2016 2.0 TDI Sport quattro; and $54,000 to $72,000 for a 2016 RS Q3 2.5 TFSI quattro.If you're moving up to German quality from lower-cost cars make sure you budget for higher running costs.

When it was launched the Q3 pretty much defined the premium-level compact SUV, catching German rival Mercedes on the hop and making BMW's initial effort with the X1 looking a bit sad.As the current model nears the end of its life, it's got one last update to battle BMW's now rather more sensible second-generation X1 and Mercedes' recent arrival, the GLA.The Q3 range opens with a front wheel drive 1.4-litre petrol turbo weighing in at $42,300, topping out at $56,900 for the 2.0 TDI Sport quattro (not counting the delightfully bonkers RS Q3).Our steed for the week was the mid-range 2.0-litre turbo-petrol Sport. Your $52,300 buys you an eight-speaker stereo with Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, reversing camera with sensors front and rear, cruise control, selectable driving mode, bi-xenon headlights, keyless entry and start, leather trim, power windows and mirrors, auto wipers, roof rails and sports seats.Our car also had metallic paint ($1150), Assistance package ($2490) which includes side assist, lane departure warning, hill hold and hill descent control and some mirror cleverness such as auto-dimming and dipping for parking.The Comfort package (also $2490) adds power adjustment and heating to the front seats and power to the tailgate.The Technik package added up-spec navigation to the MMI system and and upgraded sound package.Finally, a five-spoke alloy wheel upgrade for $500 brought our test car's price to $61,920.The very familiar Q3 has had little done for its final incarnation. There are new headlights and tail lights and some tweaking of bumpers and chrome work. That's about it, because the Q3 has always being a fairly bling-free design, free of the chintz and heavy bearing of the superseded Q7.The Q3 has a lot of straight lines and is a very mature, restrained design with obvious Audi elements – strong shoulders, big grille and distinctive daytime running lights.Inside is where the Q3 is starting to age slightly. The instruments are still clear and sensible but the folding screen in the centre of the dash for the MMI system looks a bit dinky and the clicky rotary climate control switches seem quite old.That aside, it's standard pre-2013 Audi which means good materials and clean design. Obviously without any major structural work, it remains a roomy cabin but the driving position is a bit odd – upright and with a cramped driver's footwell where you end up a bit legs-akimbo if you like being reasonably close to the steering wheel.There's a decent level of storage around a cabin that will seat four adults comfortably and five slightly squeezily.Six airbags, ABS, brake assist, traction and stability controls add up to five ANCAP stars.An early version of Audi's MMI remains in the Q3, displayed on the folding screen on the dash. It's beginning to look a bit old and small, with jagged resolution on the screen (compared to newer offerings) and that infuriating remnant of proprietary connection for smartphones.The upgraded sound system is a worthwhile addition and the MMI system on the lower dash is easy to use with its rotary dial and shortcut buttons, although the context buttons that map to the relative position on the screen are still a bit weird to use.The 2.0 TFSI found under the bonnet produces 132kW and 320Nm, both handy figures. Mated to the VW Group's seven-speed twin-clutch, the Q3 will reach 100km/h from rest in 7.9 seconds and use a claimed 6.7L/100km on the combined cycle.We got just over 8L/100km in almost exclusively city driving.The Q3 is a wonderfully competent car for its height and size. It's always been something of a favourite because it has a lightness of touch missing in the GLA and felt more nimble than the outgoing X1. The seven-speed dual-clutch auto behaves well for most of the time but isn't a huge fan of hill starts, sometimes rolling backwards more than you might like. This is easily fixed by engaging the auto park brake, but that too has its quirks.The steering in the Q3 is light and has a direct enough rack to ensure you're not twirling your arms like a lunatic when parking. Some compact SUVs like a lazy, off-road steering feel, but Audi has correctly surmised that this isn't any good for Q3 buyers.The ride is firm but well-controlled and particularly good over flat-topped speed bumps so beloved of Sydney councils (by that we mean you can hit them hard and not feel it).Performance from the turbo petrol is perky and when the transmission is awake, revs cleanly and quickly through the gears without very little sound intruding into the cabin. Overall refinement is good although you might hear a little rustle from the mirrors and tyre noise at speed.

Paul Gover road tests and reviews the 2015 Audi Q3 at its Australian launch.

Audi and its two prestigious German rivals are locked in serious sales combat in the midsize SUV crossover market.