Audi Q3 SUV review

The Audi Q3 was one of the first midsize SUVs from a ‘premium’ manufacturer and became one of Audi’s best-selling models as a result. The introduction of the slightly smaller, less expensive Audi Q2 means you can now buy an SUV with Audi badges for under £30k, but the Q3’s size, styling and established place in the market all mean it’s very likely to continue as one of Audi’s most popular cars.

The second-generation Q3, launched in 2018, competes for sales with the Mercedes GLA, Volvo XC40 and BMW X1 but it's also tasked with tempting buyers upmarket from the Nissan Qashqai, Renault Kadjar, Ford Kuga and Peugeot 3008.

It may have been Audi's upmarket image more than anything else that kept the previous Q3 in the limelight. The VW Group released the Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tiguan and SEAT Ateca after the Q3, all of which made the first-generation model look rather dated. A new Q3 was long overdue and it's all change for the Mk2, which now has a sharper, sportier look, the latest technology, an updated interior and improved comfort.

Audi has replaced the 'singleframe' grille with an octagonal, angular version, while the headlamps have a sharp, complex appearance. The latest Q3 looks less hatchback-like than its predecessor, and there's a more flamboyant treatment for the car's flanks, with bulges and pronounced shoulders that better match those of the Audi A5 and Audi A8.

The second-gen Q3's personality isn’t a huge departure from the first one, despite the styling changes, but Audi was hardly likely to abandon a successful formula. The Q3 side-steps the overtly trendy style of the Audi Q2 to look exactly like what it's intended to be – a stepping stone towards owning a bigger, more expensive Audi Q5 or Audi Q7. It's fitting, then, that Audi has taken a less evolutionary approach inside, where the latest Q3 has been brought into line with the brand's latest saloon cars by offering a really mature, sophisticated interior ambience.

This is achieved with a mixture of simple, geometric design, upmarket materials and cutting-edge technology, the first glimpse of which is given by the fully digital 'Virtual Cockpit' 10.1-inch instrument panel that's now standard across the range. The central infotainment screen, meanwhile, is virtually invisible until the start button is pressed, when it glows through its glossy black surround. Depending on options, the instrument display can grow to 12.3 inches, while the most sophisticated MMI Navigation Plus infotainment system boasts a 10.1-inch touchscreen and impressive Google Earth navigation.

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Audi offers a familiar range of petrol and diesel engine options. Petrols kick off with a 148bhp 1.5-litre turbo, which is badged as the 35 TFSI and is available with a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed S tronic automatic, and front-wheel-drive. Both 2.0-litre petrol engines come with automatic gearboxes and four-wheel drive – there's the 187bhp 40 TFSI and 242bhp 45 TFSI to choose from.

A plug-in hybrid Q3 badged the ‘45 TFSI e’ will join the range during 2021. It combines a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to produce 242bhp, managing 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. According to Audi, the Q3 PHEV manages up to 31 miles running on battery power. Full specs have yet to be confirmed but it's expected to be capable of triple-digit fuel economy, with a low CO2 emissions figure placing it in the lower BiK tax bandings for company-car drivers.

Diesel buyers have the choice of 148 or 197bhp versions of a 2.0-litre engine, badged 35 TDI or 40 TDI respectively, with only the former of which can be chosen with a manual gearbox and two-wheel-drive. None of the engines falls short on the performance front, and they're frugal if you choose the automatic option and forgo the quattro four-wheel-drive.

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As the Q3 proves economical and can match or beat the emissions scores of its rivals, it represents an extremely strong overall package. It falls short of the BMW X1 for driving fun, but makes up for that with comfort and interior style, and there's no denying its excellent build quality.

A five-star Euro NCAP rating and a long list of standard safety equipment is firmly in its favour, too. Where Audi could improve is reliability. It came 21st out of 30 in our 2020 Driver Power satisfaction survey, with 20% of owners reporting a fault with their cars in the first year of ownership.