We review the Audi Q3 from price to economy and all its features
THE Queen and Princes Charles, William and Harry all drive Audis — and now so does Her Majesty’s Secret Service!
And just like James Bond relies on his trusted right-hand man to arm him with the latest weaponry, Q is also delivering for Audi.
The Q7 and Q5 have produced almost 100,000 sales a year since the range arrived in 2005 — totalling half a million already. We’ve just had a first drive of the excellent new compact SUV Q3 and Audi predict another six-figure sales hit per year.
That will further boost their bid to stay Europe’s No1 premium firm. They are ahead of BMW and Mercedes this year with 535,400 sales — an incredible 17.5 per cent up on 2010. The showroom tills are ringing with the four rings. Even Q, a Bond character based on a Glasgow guns expert, couldn’t live with that sort of motoring firepower.
I may be a poor Bond lookalike — more over-the-hill than licence to thrill — but I knew how to help Audi celebrate Secret Service-style... with a Martini and champagne. Likewise, this Q3 will leave its rivals very much shaken and stirred.
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We’ve just had a first drive of the Q3 in Zurich, the third and smallest car in Audi’s Q series.
This is the German firm’s own adaption of Russian doll SUVs. After you pick one up, you find yet another underneath — and it’s expected a Q2 and Q1 will follow until they just can’t get any smaller.
It measures around 250mm shorter, 70mm narrower and 65mm lower than the Q5, but interior room has been cleverly maintained. There’s space for five adults with plenty of leg room in the rear, and with the split-folding rear bench lying flat there’s 1,365-litres of boot space.
Perhaps most importantly though, this is the first Audi Q3 to offer two-wheel drive and with that version comes also their most economical with 54mpg and emits just 138g/km of CO2.
Engine options are simple — there’s a 2litre TFSI (petrol) and a 2litre TDI (diesel). Both come in two powers — 140bhp or 177bhp for the diesel and 170bhp and 211bhp for the petrol — and all feature direct injection, are turbocharged and get stop-start as standard.
The two lower-powered engines come with a six-speed manual, while the top models get a new more efficient seven-speed DSG gearbox, which proved to be smooth in auto mode and, thanks to lightning fast shifts, great fun to flick through the gears with the steering wheel-based paddles as well.
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Audi believe the 2WD will be the biggest seller, with half of all sales. This is an SUV which is for the offy not off-road. It only comes with the 138bhp 2-litre TDi power — which arrives a month after the rest of the range in December.
It’s smooth, slick and refined. The petrol models are faster and marginally quieter, but they have to be worked harder to keep pace and performance. The diesel is just so effortless to drive in a variety of conditions — thanks to tons of torque.
The handling feels tailored to housewives. The steering is ultra-light and ride is particularly supple. It lacks a bit of sporty feedback and feeling of the road — but this is for the school run not Silverstone.
What I liked the most is it felt much more nimble than the other models. Without the weight of Quattro it’s more agile, and there’s not enough power ever really to trouble the front wheels. If you’re worried about not having four-wheel-drive in the winter, use the cash you save on the price and fuel consumption by getting some winter tyres.
But if you are based in rural areas and or in really bad weather spots and need the Quattro 4x4, the 177bhp TDi also delivers a top performance. I drove a stonking turbocharged 2.5litre five-cylinder engine from the TT RS and the RS3 which is destined for a new Audi Q3 RS. That really will be the ultimate version, it has a red-hot performance, look and soundtrack to die for.
Looks-wise, it’s very much a Q7 or Q5 on boiled wash. I don’t think it has the same instant “I want one” desire as the Rangie Evoque — but it’s still very cute.
Distinctive design cues include the steeply raked rear screen, wraparound tailgate and LED lights front and rear. SE models, as I tested, get plastic sills and bumpers and 17in wheels as standard, while S line models (an extra £2,750) get 18in alloys, body-coloured bumpers and as a no-cost option stiffer S line suspension that lowers the car by 20mm and offers a more sporty road-hugging profile.
The inside is typical Audi... immaculate. It has soft-to-touch surfaces right down to the bottom of the door trims and dashboard. The style is A8 in miniature, and options include online Google Earth and built-in wi-fi.
There’s virtually as much space as in a Q5, plus a large boot, but the load bay isn’t quite flat when the rear seats are folded.
The Q3 does outgun the Evoque in one area though — price. It starts at £24,560 for the 2litre TDi 140bhp 2WD, a whopping £3,435 cheaper than the equivalent 2WD Evoque.
It goes up to £31,360 2litre 211bhp Quattro S tronic petrol. I’d definitely go for a diesel — either the 2WD or cheapest TDi Quattro, which comes in at £28,460. You can order now.
The Q3 and Evoque easily outgun the BMW X1 for looks and desirability. The Evoque is undoubtedly the one with most kudos. But, with much cheaper pricing and Audi class, this Q3 is still a surefire winner.
If you want one, join the Q now.