Audi Q3 2023 Model

This is the Audi Q3 and it's one of those SUVs which isn't too big isn't too small and has a posh badge comes with two different body shapes and there's even a hardcore performance focused version so does this tick all of the boxes is this the premium SUV that you should go for in this review through every area of this car.

The Audi Q3 was first launched back in 2011 and it was a very good premium SUV this second generation model followed in 2018 and did follow on where the first one left off now this isn't a properly big SUV. The Audi Q5 the Audi Q7 both sit above this car but it's also not a properly small SUV the Audi Q2 is significantly smaller than the Q3 so that means that this sits somewhere in the middle making it a competitor to lots of other Rivals like the BMW X1 the Range Rover Evoque and the Volvo xc40. Now lots of cars in this class, just feel like regular hatchbacks behind the wheel but that isn't the case with the Q3. Where you do feel high up off the ground with this slightly lofty driving position. It's not like a proper massive SUV and an evoke and an xc40. Both do feel a little bit higher but this definitely doesn't just feel like a regular hatchback if that's something that's important to you now in terms of quality.

Here new Audi Interiors or at least lots of them aren't as good as old Audi interiors and when this second gneration Q3 was launched back in 2018, that was when the dip in interior quality was beginning to become noticeable. So it's not all bad you've got soft touch materials on the dashboard here the buttons and the dials all are really nicely damped and have a reassuring click and feel to all of them.It's also great that you've got these physical controls for the air conditioning because lots of Rivals just hide that all in a fiddly touch screen, which is very difficult and distracting to use while you're driving so those things are good and it also has a fairly slick layout doesn't it but the bad bits are things like this cheap feeling plastic around the screen here. This big slab of hard cheap feeling plastic below the climate controls as well and it just isn't as good as lots of old school Audis that were the generation before this car which is a shame but still compared to Modern cars that his is up against now this definitely does still feel like a cut above a mainstream rival like a Nissan.

Which is handy so even though there's less room in the plug-in hybrid version. It's still a really good boot because it's not that much less and actually, because of the underfloor storage that you get because there's no loading lip there are benefits to having it as well and if you compare this to plug-in hybrid versions of the DS4 and the Cooper for Mentor. This is bigger than them so overall the boot in the Q3 is a real positive of the car, now let's talk a bit about the plug-in hybrid because that is the model that we've got on test here so it is the 45 tfsi e it gets a 1.4 liter petrol engine plus an electric motor. It has a combined 242 brake horsepower and it's fairly quick it will do not to 62 miles per hour in about 7.3 seconds the claimed range of the car is around 31 miles which to be honest is not particularly impressive by modern plug-in hybrid standards lots of other Rivals are around that kind of point. Basically the greater the power for the  Diesels there's a 35 TDI and 40 TDI we think the entry level 35 tfsi is really the best fit for this car and the most recommendable one.

If you do want to buy one of these which is the best version. You should go for well the thing with the Q3 is that it makes most sense when you keep the price down the pricing across the lineup is broadly similar to the xc40 and the evoke but when you start pushing the price up with more powerful engines higher trim levels that's when the evoke and the xc40 become easier to recommend ahead of the Q3 and that's partly down to the fact that they are better in a couple of key areas like interior quality and also ride comfort so with the Q3.

We would stick with the entry level 35 tfsi engine which is the cheapest. But still very good and it's also the most economical petrol engine in the lineup a six-speed manual gearbox is standard with the 35 tfsi and it's got a pretty slick shift action for an extra 1500 pounds. You can get an 8-speed automatic which is also pretty good neither is a must-have or a must avoid so really the choice is up to you for the trims we would stick with entry level sport it's the cheapest but it still gets loads of equipment like Dual Zone climate control, cruise control, a power assisted tailgate, LED headlights

The looks and you have the budget then fair enough there's also an RS Q3 model. Which is a performance focused version but while, it's quick in a straight line it's not a fun thing to drive it's very expensive and overall just not very good so the Audi Q3 has a big boot and a enerally spacious interior.

It's also pretty agile for a family SUV Rivals are more comfortable slightly more plush inside but this is still a great choice to go for in this class.