Audi RS Q3 vs BMW IX1
What's the difference?

Audi RS Q3

$83,888 - $99,990

2023 price

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BMW IX1

$49,880 - $82,900

2023 price

View pricing & specs

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2023 Audi RS Q3

2023 BMW IX1

By James Cleary

By Byron Mathioudakis

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 5, 2.5L

Electric motor type

Electromagnetically Excited

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Fuel Efficiency

8.9L/100km (combined)

Electric range

440 km

Energy consumption

18.2 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

67.00 kWh

Seating

Likes

Dynamics
Refinement
Quality

Surprising value for money
Impressive design inside and out
Decent road manners

Dislikes

Front seats tricky to get in and out of
Sizeable turning circle
Only six airbags

Could use stronger single-pedal braking tech
Some road/tyre noise intrusion
Hides its ‘EV-ness’ with regular ICE X1 styling

2023 Audi RS Q3 Summary

Is 10 years long enough for a special birthday celebration? When you're a kid, hitting 'double figures' is a pretty big deal, and Audi's obviously in the mood to make some noise because it has lit the candles on a limited 10th anniversary version of its compact SUV rocket ship, the RS Q3.

Only 555 examples of the 'RS Q3 Sportback edition 10 years' will be produced for worldwide consumption, with Audi Australia capturing a batch of them and sending one our way for a brief blast as the fiery five-cylinder starts filtering into dealerships.

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2023 BMW IX1 Summary

The world is full of shock brand announcements.

Remember the time Coke suddenly changed its cola recipe? Or when Apple decided to take on Nokia with iPhone? Nobody saw those coming.

We all know how the latter turned out and even the former eventually became a marketing masterstroke.

Now here's another super-surprise – a German electric luxury SUV that’s actually comparatively inexpensive. And not stingily equipped. Yep, we’re talking about the iX1.

Based on the really rather impressive third-generation X1, it decisively undercuts similarly-specified rivals from Mercedes-Benz (EQA, EQB) and Genesis (GV60).

But is the Bavarian EV SUV worth paying that little bit extra for against (only very slightly) cheaper alternatives like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y, Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40 Recharge?

Let’s see.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 Audi RS Q3 2023 BMW IX1

Verdict

The Audi RS Q3 Sportback edition 10 years is dynamically brilliant, beautifully finished and surprisingly civilised on day-to-day duty. A polished compact performance package that even in this special 'get-it-while-you-can' guise offers compelling value relative to its direct competitors.

Verdict

BMW is a true EV pioneer, as the 2014 i3 and subsequent models prove. There’s never been one that we didn’t like. The only problem was that all were expensive. And at times, prohibitively so.

Astoundingly, the iX1 breaks that cycle, comparatively speaking, while impressing us with its design, quality, packaging, dynamics and equipment levels.

As it stands, the xDrive30 is one of the most convincing and best-value medium-sized luxury SUV EVs on the market right now.

Who’d have thought it from a BMW?

Audi RS Q3 vs BMW IX1 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Audi RS Q3 vs BMW IX1
What's the difference?