I reckon the Audi Q3 is a type of quietly glorious automobiles that extra folks ought to contemplate.

Personally, I’d go for the SUV model, and it’d be the bottom 35 TFSI. For me it’s the sweetest providing, as a result of it’s sensible and highly effective sufficient, and priced fairly properly too.

So after I was thrown the keys to the 2024 Audi Q3 Sportback 40 TFSI S line – the costliest, theoretically least sensible model of the vary earlier than you get into RSQ3 territory – I didn’t anticipate to like it.

However I did – it’s actually good, and I’ll inform you about it on this assessment.

How does the Audi Q3 evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Audi Q3 in opposition to equally sized autos.

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Q3

How a lot does the Audi Q3 value?

There are a variety of Q3 variants in each common SUV and Sportback physique types on supply in Australia. On take a look at right here is the Sportback 40 TFSI quattro S line.

2024 Audi Q3 pricing:

• 35 TFSI: $54,600
• 40 TFSI quattro: $62,800
• 40 TFSI quattro S line: $68,400
• RSQ3: $102,300

2024 Audi Q3 Sportback pricing:

• 35 TFSI: $58,200
• 40 TFSI quattro S line: $70,800
• RSQ3: $105,300
• RSQ3 10 Years Version: $109,100

Costs are earlier than on-road prices

To see how the Q3 compares with its rivals, use our comparability instrument.

What’s the Audi Q3 like on the within?

The time period I maintain coming again to for Audi inside design is ‘technical class’, and but once more, the model has nailed that temporary for the Q3 lineup.

Admittedly it would feel and appear rather less braggadocious in comparison with its German rivals, however I for one respect the polished-look finishes throughout the dashboard, the angular design components, and the colorful and easy screens. 

The ten.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system is simple to study because of its intuitive menus, plus it options wired and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I had no points with connecting and reconnecting my telephone throughout my time within the automotive.

There are not any bodily buttons down the facet, and whereas there’s a quantity/tuning dial, it’s manner down beneath the local weather management panel. Not less than it has one, I assume.

Talking of that local weather system, there’s a transparent and easy array of local weather buttons and dials. There are heated seat management buttons too. 

The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is crisp and easy to navigate, and there’s a navigation view for many who wish to nonetheless use the in-built GPS system – on this case, with real-world Google Maps imagery on the cluster in entrance of the driving force.

Storage contains first rate bottle holders within the doorways with rubberised bases to cease issues transferring round, cupholders between the entrance seats, a wi-fi telephone charging dock, in addition to two USB-C ports in that very same space. There’s additionally a small centre console bin beneath the armrest.

The leather-trimmed seats supply a superb stage of consolation – we did a few two-hour-plus stints and had no complaints – and there’s electrical seat adjustment for each riders.

With the driving force’s seat set for my place (at 182cm/6’0”) there’s sufficient room for me to take a seat with out my knees hitting the arduous plastic-backed seat forward of me, and there’s fairly good toe room, however fortunately – for a coupe-style mannequin – my head nonetheless had a little bit of clearance above it.

My 6’4” brother-in-law didn’t discover it fairly as amenable, however we knew that from the outset.

The five-up take a look at noticed just a few complaints about foot room, primarily as transmission tunnel intrusion is an element for back-seat area. Two within the again? No biggie. Three? Not nice.

Nevertheless, in each day duties the place my daughter’s youngster seat was fitted (there are twin ISOFIX factors within the window-seats and three top-tether factors), it proved an amazing dimension. 

Again-seat riders are handled to directional air-vents, a pair of mesh map-pockets, bottle-holders within the doorways, a flip-down arm-rest with cupholders, and a pair of USB-C ports for system charging, too.

Audi claims the boot area of the Q3 Sportback is similar to the usual SUV, however that’s as a result of it’s measured to the parcel cowl. It’s a sizeable area, with 530 litres of capability.

When you attempt to load any taller objects you may discover the boundaries of the load space; however actually, it’s positively sufficiently big for a household of three’s baggage for a weekend away, with room to spare.

It’s nice to see beneath the adjustable boot ground – which you’ll decrease to permit extra space, or maintain within the greater place for a flat load-through over the fold-down again seats.

There’s a space-saver spare wheel, which additionally homes a subwoofer. Cleverly there are stoppers on the edges of the boot so the ground part stays up if you’re accessing the subfloor.

Additional, there are storage trays on the edges of the boot space, together with one with a 12-volt port and the opposite with a primary assist equipment.

There are these ever-handy procuring bag hooks too.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

Not like a number of the different Audi merchandise, the Q3 vary hasn’t but been up to date to supply 48V mild-hybrid (MHEV) tech. In consequence, it nonetheless runs the identical engine vary because it did from launch.

The Q3 40 TFSI quattro powertrain examined right here has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol at its core, with outputs of 132kW (4000-6200rpm) and 320Nm of torque (1400-3900rpm).

This one will get a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automated, and it has the model’s customary all-wheel drive system. There’s a little bit of a worth to pay for the dearth of 48V MHEV tech, with gas use for these fashions being greater than some rivals.

2024 Audi Q3 gas consumption:

• 35 TFSI: 6.9 litres per 100km
• 35 TFSI S line Sportback: 7.2 litres per 100km
• 40 TFSI quattro: 8.0 litres per 100km
• 40 TFSI S line quattro (incl. Sportback): 8.2 litres per 100km
• RS Q3 (inc. Sportback): 8.9 litres per 100km

For context, I noticed 8.5 litres per 100km throughout a mixture of driving, so fairly near the declare. You’ll must fill it with 95 RON premium unleaded petrol (98 RON for the RSQ3), and it has a 60-litre gas tank capability.

How does the Audi Q3 drive?

Earlier than I inform you what I considered the 40 TFSI model of the Q3, I simply need to say that if I used to be shopping for one in all these SUVs, I’d extra seemingly stick to the entry-level 35 TFSI powertrain.

I don’t want all-wheel-drive, and I discover that the free-revving nature of the smaller engine does make for a barely extra enlightening drive expertise, together with the truth that it has a lighter really feel on the nostril of the automotive.

That stated, the 40 TFSI quattro mannequin is extra highly effective and snappier in its behaviour, and I can see why you’d select it if you recognize you’ll respect the all-wheel drive system and extra easy efficiency.

I’d argue it’s not fairly zesty sufficient to be thought-about a sports activities SUV, but it surely does have sufficient grunt to really feel easy in most conditions. In actual fact, it’s fairly sprightly if you put your foot down, particularly within the Dynamic drive mode, and with the Sport transmission mode chosen.

For that purpose it may very well be all of the SUV that anybody will ever really want in the event that they’re taking a look at this type of automotive, however I virtually really feel prefer it seems to be quicker than it’s.

The quattro all-wheel-drive system is great in the best way that it helps you energy out of corners, and there’s a stunning linear weighting to the steering, which makes for a fairly participating drive expertise.

The journey is sweet for a automobile sitting on 20-inch wheels with low-profile tyres too – whether or not you’re simply dawdling round city, or amassing the miles on the freeway, it feels comfy and fairly composed for probably the most half. When you discover a sharp-edged bump nonetheless, issues can get a bit of clunky. 

I even examined out the quattro all-wheel drive on a unfastened floor (I used to be the designated driver for a marriage in nation NSW) and on a horrible ‘highway’ outdoors Goulburn. It coasted alongside comfortably with 5 adults on board, with loads of road-holding safety too. That stated, although, the front-drive 35 TFSI would have dealt with it…

However there are different components of the drive expertise which aren’t fairly as spectacular – the degrees of refinement, primarily.

The automotive may be loud inside over coarse-chip surfaces, and at low speeds you may hear the mechanicals of the transmission if you’re shifting between R and D when parking. Many different SUVs (luxurious or not) make you’re feeling a bit extra distant from these types of intrusions. 

There’s additionally a noticeable quantity of highway noise on many highway surfaces, and wind noise. Bear in mind, that is about $75k price of SUV, but it surely doesn’t essentially really feel as refined as another $75k SUVs just like the Lexus NX, for example.

What do you get?

There are a variety of Q3 variants in each common SUV and Sportback physique types on supply in Australia. On take a look at right here is the Sportback 40 TFSI quattro S line.

Q3 35 TFSI highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive LED headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• Aluminium roof rails
• Energy tailgate
• S line exterior styling package deal (Sportback solely)
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Audi join plus
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• DAB+ digital radio
• 6-speaker sound system
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Inside ambient lighting
• Keyless entry and begin
• Leather-based upholstery

Q3 40 TFSI quattro provides:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Heated and power-folding facet mirrors
• Painted bumpers
• Selectable drive modes
• 10-speaker sounds system
• Paddle shifter
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Black material headliner
• Energy driver’s seat incl. 4-way energy lumbar

Q3 40 TFSI quattro S line provides:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Rear privateness glass
• S line exterior styling package deal
• Progressive variable-ratio steering
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• Flat-bottomed sports activities steering wheel with ‘S’ badging
• Stainless-steel pedals
• Alcantara inside components
• Aluminium-look inside accents
• Aluminium sill plates with illuminated ‘S’ emblem
• Entrance sport seats with S embossing, contrasting stitching
• Heated entrance seats
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Semi-autonomous park help

Is the Audi Q3 protected?

A five-star ANCAP security score – primarily based on Euro NCAP testing carried out in 2018 – covers all however the RSQ3 fashions within the native vary. 

The Q3 scored 95 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 88 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 76 per cent for weak highway customers, and 85 per cent for security help. Good numbers.

Commonplace security gear consists of:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian, Bike owner detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane departure warning
• Energetic lane help (NEW)
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go (NEW)
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Reversing digital camera

Select the 40 TFSI S line and also you get a surround-view digital camera and semi-autonomous park help as customary.

How a lot does the Audi Q3 value to run?

The Audi Q3 is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.

Logbook servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever happens first.

Audi gives a five-year service pay as you go service plan, and for this grade it prices $3330 or a mean of $666 per yr for upkeep. When you service with Audi, you additionally get your roadside help topped up.

There’s another choice obtainable nonetheless, which could effectively be price contemplating: the Audi Benefit pack ($3250) permits you to prolong the guarantee, servicing cowl and roadside help out to a seven-year plan. Good in your mindset, and doubtlessly good in your resale worth too.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi Q3

There are some issues that may very well be improved to make this a fair higher ‘luxurious’ SUV expertise, however as is in comparison with its overpriced rivals, the Q3 Sportback is a superb alternative for many who need greater journey peak and a swoopy profile.

Inform us for those who’d decide the 40 TFSI powertrain within the feedback, or for those who agree that the 35 TFSI is the higher alternative. Additionally tell us for those who’re staff SUV or staff Sportback!

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