2021 Audi Q3 Reviews

Graham Smith reviews the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Audi Q3 as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI Sport with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

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about it, because the Q3 has always being a fairly bling-free design, free of the chintz and heavy bearing of the superseded Q7.The Q3 has a lot of straight lines and is a very mature, restrained design with obvious Audi elements – strong shoulders, big grille and distinctive daytime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.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the 2014 Audi Q3 1.4 TFSI, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The big German trio of prestige car makers continue to push down into the top ends of the affordable brands in an attempt to gain market share in attracting new buyers that may not have considered the premium badges in the past. PRICE AND FEATURES Audi has just launched a new entry-level Q3 quattro diesel that puts

The Audi line-up of sports utility vehicles has just been stretched with the addition of the Q3, a versatile premium compact that joins the queue as little brother to the Q5 and Q7.VALUEPricewise, at $54,500 the Q3 TDI quattro S Tronic is at the top end of the segment, with rivals such as the Hyundai ix35 Elite T/D, Kia Sportage TDI and Skoda Yeti 103TDI up to twenty grand cheaper. The difference to a great extent is made up by the degree and standard of fit-out.The Audi is very well equipped, with Bluetooth and audio streaming, rear view camera with guidelines, information system and multifunction leather steering wheel standard on all models.DESIGNAs a small(ish) SUV the Audi Q3 makes a big first impression, especially up front where an assertive stance is reinforced by Audi’s trademark tall radiator grille. It’s flanked by headlamps (with xenon lights as an option) and distinctive LED daytime running lights.The shape of these LED strips is repeated with the rear lights, again LED, just part of a sporty sign-off enhanced by twin exhaust tailpipes. In profile the Q3 follows the present-day shape common to many of this ilk – tall sides, bold wheel arches filled out by stylish 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low rolling resistance tyres, and with a roof that curves coupe-style to a wraparound rear tailgate.It’s a package that gives this vehicle an aerodynamic edge, with a non-SUV like drag coefficient of just Cd 0.32 to top the class in aerodynamic efficiency. The black paint job on the outside of the test car extended to the cabin interior, which featured black leather trim with dark brown inserts, the sombre feel being reinforced by dark brown leather seat upholstery.In time, however, the funereal finish became less creepy. The surroundings were also redeemed to some extent by a soft-touch dashboard surface surmounted by a seven-inch pop-up screen presenting full-colour sat-nav map and a suite of car system infoTECHNOLOGYOne of four 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines – two petrol, two diesel – on offer in the new Q3 range, our test vehicle’s powerplant combined direct fuel injection with turbocharging. It was mated with Audi’s seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission.With up to 130 kW on call, backed by 380 Nm of torque between 1750 and 2500 revs, this Q3 TDI is capable of hitting hit 100 km/h from rest in 8.2 seconds. Two shift modes are available – Drive and Sport – in ‘D’ the engine working as hard as possible at fuel saving low revs; while in ‘S’ the gears are held, changing up at higher revs.Fuel consumption on test hovered around five litres per 100 kilometres cruising on the open road at the legal speed limit - that’s hybrid territory – while in the city, with the stop/start facility in full swing, at times it ran out to twice that, the latter, as always, depending on traffic conditions and the driver’s mood.DRIVINGAn accomplished package, whatever work the car was put to the motor responded almost instantly to pedal pressure, the gearbox shifted cogs quickly and quietly in automatic or optional manual mode via a lever on the centre console. The auto in our Audi did not feature steering wheel-mounted shift paddles, which are an option.Power is put to ground via Audi’s tried and tested quattro all-wheel drive system that delivers optimal grip on the road through slip-free acceleration and directional stability even in slippery conditions.  The command driving position, thanks to comprehensive seat adjustment, is comfortable and gives good all-round visibility through expansive windows.Occupants of the test vehicle also enjoyed the benefit of Audi’s optional drive select system, which via a button on the centre console, allows the driver to choose how the vehicle should be driven. Choices are ‘Comfort’, ‘Auto’, ‘Dynamic’ and ‘Efficiency’, the last having all systems, including air-conditioning and cruise control working to deliver maximum fuel saving.The engine incorporates the latest stop/start feature which cuts power when the car is stationary. Some people say they find this fuel-saving technology annoying – the eerie silence and then the anxiety that, in the middle of heavy traffic, maybe the engine won’t start up on releasing the foot brake. You soon become accustomed to it and enjoy the feeling you’re doing something to improve the air we all breathe.VERDICTAudi says it is aiming the Q3 at what it calls ‘Urban Navigators’, young successful professionals, middle-aged couples and families who want an urban SUV that can be used for recreation, plus empty-nesters who lead an active lifestyle. It has much to offer in this context.MODEL RANGEQ3 2.0 TDI 2WD: $44,800 (manual)Q3 2.0 TDI quattro: $54,500 (automatic)Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro: $47,000 (manual)Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro: $48,950 (automatic)Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro: $56,000 (manual)

If there's one certainty in a vehicle market that doesn't know whether to laugh or cry, it's that SUV sales are going up.

Audi has added a third member of its ‘Q’ SUV family in Australia. The all-new Audi Q3 is smaller than its older brothers, the Q5 and Q7, but carries the same styling theme.Thus resulting in a ‘matched-luggage’ look with each car looking like a slightly enlarged version of the others as the numbers rise.DESIGNWhile this looks excellent when you see the Audi SUVs neatly arranged side by side, it resulted in a complete lack of notice by the general public. Normally on the drive program for a launch in Australia more than one bystander or fellow motorist will give the new vehicle a long and hard stare.Then probably point it out to others as we cruise past. Or call out to us at red lights and ask, “Is that the new (whatever)?” This is then followed by positive - occasionally negative - comments on the all-new model.With the Audi Q3 – nothing. Which must be a disappointment to the design team, because despite the obvious similarities between the new Q3 and the well established 5 and 7, the Q3 really does have a style of its own. An extremely pleasant style that we thoroughly enjoyed during the two-day media introduction in northern NSW and southern Queensland.Audi’s latest iteration of the trademark ‘single-frame’ grille works well and in conjunction with the slim headlights and sporty sub grilles creates a purposeful stance.The rear end is new Q3 is almost a hatchback rather than a station wagon. The roof slopes down for improved aerodynamics and the hatch has a sleek shape. However, the luggage area is incapable of carrying tall boxes if the rear seats are occupied, because the angle of the tailgate means its upper edge sits over the top of the seat backs.TECHNOLOGYPower for the new Audi Q3 comes from a quartet of 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines. There are two turbo-petrol and a pair of turbo-diesel powerplants. The petrol units produce up to 125 kW or 155 kW of power and are quiet, smooth and reasonably economical. The diesels are rated at 103 kW and 130 kW and have characteristics almost as good as their petrol brothers.Though the ‘Q’ in the name of the Audi SUVs stands for ‘quattro’, Audi’s name for all-wheel-drive (AWD), the lowest priced Q3 achieves its $44,800 price tag by being driven only by the front wheels.Which won’t matter to most buyers as they have no plans to go off-road in the first place. However, these suburban dwellers looking for an upmarket trendy German SUV will be shocked to find the cheapest Audi Q3 only comes with a manual gearbox.DRIVINGAutomatics are offered in every other Q3 model and are seven-speed double-clutch units that we found worked well during our introductory drive stints.Handling is impressively good, all the more so when you remember these are family wagons not sports machines. We pushed several different variants of the Audi Q3 over sealed and unsealed roads and found them to have excellent grip. Grip that’s so good that there is little need for intervention from any of the electronic safety aids.The all-new Audi Q3 is a highly competent small-medium SUV that will appeal to many Australians shopping in this, the fastest growing area of our car market. Our feeling is that the Q3 is so good that it may well steal sales away from big brother Q5. Biggest brother, Audi Q7, is safe from internecine competition as its chief selling feature is the ability to carry seven people.The complete Audi Q3 model range is:Q3 2.0 TDI 103 kW: $44,800 (manual)Q3 2.0 TDI 130 kW quattro S tronic: $54,500 (automatic)Q3 2.0 TFSI 125 kW quattro: $47,000 (manual), $48,950 (automatic)Q3 2.0 TFSI 155 kW Quattro: $56,000 (manual)AUDI Q3Price: $44,800-$56,000Warranty: Three years/unlimited kmResale: N/AService intervals: 15,000kmSafety: Six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, TCCrash Rating: Five-starsEngines: 103kW/320Nm 2.0-turbodiesel four-cylinder, 130kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbodiesel,125kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol, 130kW/300Nm 2.0 turbo petrolTransmission: Six-speed manual, seven-speed auto, front-wheel and all-wheel driveBody: Five-door wagonDimensions: 4385mm (L), 1608mm (H), 1831mm (W), 2603mm (WB), 1571mm/1575mm tracks front/rearWeight: From 1445kgFuel use: 5.2L/100km, 137g/km CO2 (103kW); 5.9L/100km, 156g/km CO2 (130kW), 7.3L/100km,174g/km CO2 (125kW), 7.7L/100km, 179g/km CO2 (155kW)