Audi Q3 2.0 TDI Quattro S-tronic Review and First Drive

Audi’s Q3 is already Australia’s best-selling vehicle of its type and things are now getting tougher for rivals with the launch of the new Q3 Quattro priced from $47,500. Yep, the safety of Quattro all-wheel-drive, the hallmark Audi sporty luxury and a starting price under $50K.

 

Sounds impressive and it is.

 

That’s around $10,000 under the price of one similar German rival.

 

Audi Q3 Overview

The new Q3 model is the entry-level variant for the model year 2014 lineup. The previous front-drive Q3 has been scratched from the list so the new lineup is all-all-wheel-drive and looks like this:

 

2.0 TDI Quattro S tronic103kW$47,500

2.0 TFSI Quattro S tronic125kW$49,450

2.0 TDI Quattro S tronic130kW$55,000

2.0 TFSI Quattro S tronic155kW$56,500

 

Among the standard features introduced for the new model year are the Audi Music Interface and Storage and Luggage Compartment package.

 

As has become the norm with Audi, optional equipment comes in the form of packages.

 

For example, the Q3 we drove was fitted with more than $10,000 worth of options:

 

Metallic paint ($1,050)

 

Style Package ($2,000)

Xenon plus headlights with LED DRLs, 18-inch alloy wheels.

 

Technik Package ($3,790)

MMI navigation plus; Audi sound system, Audi parking system plus with rear-view camera and park assist and area view

 

High Gloss Package ($750)

Door sill trims and trunk sill protection in aluminium, bright roof rails and mouldings, aluminium inserts and inlays

 

Fine Nappa leather upholstery ($2,150)

 

Multifunction sports steering wheel with paddleshift ($400)   

 

Audi Q3 Engine

Power comes from the familiar 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TDI turbo-diesel engine (a stalwart of the Volkswagen Group powertrain family). Dollar-for-dollar and kilo-for-kilo this is without doubt one of the world’s very best 2.0-litre turbo-diesels.

 

With 103kW of power at 4200rpm and 320Nm of torque from 1750-2500rpm, the 2.0 TDI drives all four wheels via Audi’s 7-speed S Tronic automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel-drive system – again one of the world’s best combinations.

 

Fuel consumption is rated at 5.8l/100kms.

 

Audi Q3 The Interior

No significant changes inside for the 2014 model year Audi Q3 (except the addition of the Audi Music Interface and Storage and Luggage compartment package).

 

There’s the familiar Audi white instrumentation (including the excellent Driver Information System), top-notch seating position (steering wheel adjusts for rake and reach) and beautifully-styled centre console.

 

Rear seat leg-room is on par for this segment. 

 

Audi Q3 Exterior & Styling

The Q3 has ‘Audi’ stamped all over its exterior style – the new hallmark front grille, prominent waist-line bulges and distinctive headlights.

 

While the standard Q3 2.0 TDI runs 17-inch alloy wheels, our test car rode on stylish 18-inch wheels which added an sporty element, Likewise the Xenon plus headlights with LED DRLs.

 

Audi Q3 On The Road

Audi directed us onto the excellent roads winding around the Murray River out of Albury – a diverse selection of freeway, secondary rural and dirt roads.

 

Before then we had some fun in a grass paddock set-up with a motorkhana-type track. We selected ‘sport’ mode as Audi wanted to demonstrate the rear-end bias of the drivetrain in that configuration –very sporty and dynamic as you’d expect.

 

First things first – that 103kW/320Nm version of the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is a great piece of kit, nicely matched to the 7-speed S tronic transmission and both combine superbly in the Q3 package. In the urban environment, acceleration is zippy and out on the open roads, when pressed for overtaking, the seven-speeder rapidly finds the correct cog and the turbo-diesel responds with a handy surge.

 

We hit some dry, low-grip dirt early in proceedings and, unlike our paddock-bashing earlier, we let the Q3 do all of the work in terms of drivetrain variances. This environment really showcased the brilliance of Audi’s Quattro system – providing confidence-inspiring traction for cornering and acceleration.

 

On the sealed stuff the new, entry-level Q3 reminded us how good Audi’s compact SUV is. Typically European firm in its damping and spring rates and typically European precise in its cornering the Q3 was right at home in all the conditions we tossed at it and very satisfying even for performance drivers. 

 

Audi Q3 Challenges

Audi buyers who may be considering a Q3 as their first SUV should prepare: While the Q3 is firm over the bumps and precise to steer, in rapid changes of direction body roll is noticeable…as it is in all SUV-type vehicles.

 

Audi Q3 Verdict

Since his arrival in the top job, Australian Audi MD Andrew Doyle has cleverly sharpened the value proposition of the products from Ingolstadt. That’s great news for new Audi buyers and no surprises then that sales are going so well.

 

So the generously-appointed new Audi Q3 Quattro S tronic, starting at $47,500 certainly draws a new line in the sand for premium German SUVs. All the good things about the Q3 for a sub-$50K sticker certainly gets our vote.

 

We like the ‘Audi-ness’ of the Q3 – the hallmark grille, the high-tech lights and the glorious interior are just so distinctly Audi. And at this price, those attributes will now appeal to a whole bunch of people who might not have previously considered a vehicle with the ‘four-ring’ badge.   

 

 

 

Audi Q3 The Competition

Predictably on the front foot, Audi’s sub-$50K Q3 Quattro is the first shot in a new compact SUV battle amongst the prestige German brands.

 

That would be because the stunning all-new Mercedes-Benz GLA is about to launch. So while Audi (Q3) and BMW (X1) have enjoyed some years with no direct rival from ‘Benz, that’s all about to change and overseas reports on the all-new GLA sound impressive.

 

BMW’s X1 looks the part and drives as you’d expect a BMW to drive. Once again though Audi has served-up an ‘ace’ with the new Q3 Quattro priced at $47,500 as the entry-level X1 AWD (xDrive 20d) carries a $54,900 sticker – and that’s for a six=-speed manual, it’s $57,593 for the eight-speed automatic (although the ‘Beemer’ has more from its 2.0-litre turbo-diesel – 135kW/380Nm).