Audi Q3 Review & Prices

The Audi Q3 is a handsome, practical SUV with a solid interior built to withstand whatever family life throws at it. It sits between the Q2 and Q5 in Audi’s line-up, and all models share the same upmarket image, like an expensive set of Russian dolls.

There are plenty of posh SUVs at a similar price to the Audi Q3, such as the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40, while the Mini Countryman is a fraction cheaper. You could also consider electric cars such as the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, though they are smaller and considerably less practical.

Audi’s SUV design is arguably starting to look a touch dated now, but there’s no denying that whether you go for smaller models like the Q3 or the massive Q7, all have that familiar imposing face and bundles of badge appeal.

Inside it’s far from flashy, with an understated, classy appearance. There are a couple of high quality screens, with the excellent Virtual Cockpit and a slick infotainment system built into the dashboard – and though the physical climate controls belie the car’s age, they fall more easily to hand than more modern touchscreen systems.

Tech and style make the Audi Q3 feel suitably posh. That largely continues with build quality – the cabin is really well put together – but while trim materials and upholstery are good for the most part, there are a few cheaper parts lower down in the cabin that give away the fact this is one of Audi’s smaller SUVs. The BMW X1 is posher inside, while the Mini Countryman’s fabric dashboard has a cool, quirky vibe.

That said, you get a high driving position that gives a great view of the road ahead, and the cabin itself is really roomy whether you’re sitting in the front or back, so it’s tough to complain too much. You can slide the rear seats forward to create more boot space, beaten only by the BMW X1. It’s worth noting that plug-in hybrid models lose quite a bit of boot capacity because of the position of the batteries.

Speaking of which, the Audi Q3 is offered with a plug-in hybrid engine, as well as a choice of three petrol and two diesels. The plug-in is more expensive but will be cheapest to run around town if you can keep it charged, and offers the lowest company car tax, too. All come with an automatic gearbox, though the entry-level petrol also has a manual option.

Though the Audi Q3 is comfortable and composed, it’s more suited to motorways than country roads. It has a slightly sporty edge to the suspension in models with larger wheels and sports suspension, but it’s smooth enough at motorway speeds.

Light steering means it’s easy to drive, if not particularly fun on a winding road – a BMW X1 or Mini Countryman is a better choice for those who love driving. You get plenty of active safety kit as standard, but you’ll have to pay extra for adaptive cruise control.

Newer alternatives such as the BMW X1 and Mini Countryman feel more modern inside, but the Audi Q3 is a fantastic all-rounder that’s well-built and comfortable to drive. If you’re interested, check out the latest Audi Q3 deals on Carwow to see how much you could save. There are also plenty of used Q3s, as well as other used Audis, available from our network of trusted dealers. You can sell your car online through Carwow, too.

The Audi Q3 is competitively priced when compared with other posh SUVs, with its circa-£35,000 starting point about the same as the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. However, the Mini Countryman, which isn’t quite as practical but has a cool, modern cabin, starts around £30,000. The Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage and more are temptingly cheaper still. The Smart #1 and Volvo EX30 are potential electric alternatives – they’re a similar price to the Q3, but much less practical.

The Audi Q3 is a good all-rounder, as capable on a long journey as it is around town, although the auto gearbox could be quicker to respond

In town

The Q3 is a compact size, so it’s no more difficult to drive around town than Audi’s own A3 hatchback, which is only about five inches shorter. In some ways, the Q3 is actually a bit easier to drive around town as being sat higher up than in a hatchback means you have a better view of the road ahead. Visibility is pretty good generally and rear parking sensors are fitted as standard, so parking is no hassle. 

S Line and Black Edition models have sportier suspension than Sport models, but they’re all perfectly comfortable and soak up the bumps and holes on rutted roads.

The plug-in hybrid TFSIe is best for town driving. It can go up to 32 miles on electric power, producing no emissions or noise in the process. If you can’t stretch to that, the 35 TFSI should be the most efficient non-hybrid around town. The S tronic automatic can feel a bit unresponsive pulling away from stationary, so the light and slick manual might actually be a better bet. It costs less, too.   

On the motorway

You’d expect a do-anything family car like the Q3 to feel at home on the motorway, and so it proves. It feels solid as a rock, it’s quiet and comfortable (even with the firmer sports suspension) and all the engines feel more than up to the task of cruising along at 70mph all day. Though the more powerful ones accelerate along a sliproad quicker and feel happier with a full load of passengers and/or luggage.

If you do lots of motorway miles, you’ll probably prefer the efficiency of the diesel engines. The 35 TDI gives better fuel economy, but the 40 TDI feels like it’s making less effort. Still, for occasional long trips, the 30-40mpg you’ll get from the petrol engines seems acceptable.  

On a twisty road

The Q3 is as competent as you’d hope on a winding country road. The front wheels turn to exactly where you pointed the steering wheel, the body stays upright rather than rolling when going round corners, and is settled over lumps and bumps in the road. The automatic’s slight delay in responding when you stamp on the throttle to overtake can be irritating, but all the engines have more than enough power to make rapid progress – the most powerful 45 TFSI engine is, of course, the fastest.

Gearbox aside, this is all good stuff. Yet the Q3 lacks the feeling of connection that makes driving on a twisty road satisfying. But, more importantly for this kind of car, the Q3 feels safe and stable and is happy to be driven as fast (or slow) as you want to go. 

That actually bodes well for the monstrously fast RS Q3, which is well worth checking out if you really enjoy driving. If you can’t stretch to that, check the BMW X1, Ford Kuga and Mini Countryman.

The Audi Q3 is one of the more practical premium small SUVs, although still limited by its fairly compact dimensions

Practicality

However tall you are, you should be able to get comfortable in the front of the Q3. There’s generous legroom and there can be stacks of headroom if you lower the height-adjustable seats as far as they’ll go. The seats are rather comfy, too. A little firm, perhaps, but supportive. Spend a long day in them and you should be largely free of aches and pains.

Storage in the front includes vast door bins, a deepish cubby hole under the centre armrest, two cupholders in the centre console and a deep tray in front of the gearstick for your phone, where you’ll also find two USB charging ports. The glovebox is usefully large and there’s a pocket under the passenger seat for the owner’s manual.   

Space in the back seats

A couple of six-foot tall adults can sit in the back of the Q3 comfortably enough for a few hours, so there’s more than enough leg and headroom for even rapidly growing kids. On higher-spec models, the back seat slides backwards and forwards, so you can give passengers as much – or as little – legroom as they need. It’s a bit of a squeeze for three adults to fit in the back, but kids should be fine.

There are three sets of ISOFIX mounts – two in the back and another on the front passenger seat. Installing a child seat in the back is a faff. The mounting points aren’t especially easy to locate and there isn’t much room to work in without the sliding back seat.

The Q3 is absolutely fine if you have bigger kids, but alternatives like the Mini Countryman, Hyundai Tucson and Ford Kuga are ultimately more family friendly, and more accommodating for adults in the back.

Boot space

The Q3 has a bigger boot than most premium compact SUVs, with up to 530 litres of space on offer. For reference, a BMW X1 is a bit bigger at 540 litres, but the Volvo XC40 and Mini Countryman are miles behind at 452 and 460 litres respectively.

If you need even more room, there's extra storage in the boot sides, and you can make the boot bigger still by sliding the rear seats forward - with the penalty of reduced leg room for your passengers.

Be aware that, due to the way the battery packs are mounted in the rear of the car, plug-in hybrid Audi Q3s have a much smaller boot (380 litres) than their petrol and diesel counterparts.

The interior is sensibly laid out, but quality and style aren’t up with Audi’s best efforts

There are other Audis that have a more stylish interior than the Q3 has, but it’s clearly laid out so you can easily find whatever knobs and buttons you’re looking for. Though some of the buttons lower down are slightly obscured by the gear lever. 

Quality is a bit of a letdown, too. Most of the things you touch regularly have a suitably premium feel, but there are too many surfaces made from cheaper, scratchy plastics. Alternatives like the Mercedes GLA and Volvo XC40 have interiors that feel a bit more special.

The Q3’s 10.1-inch touchscreen display and the infotainment system it controls work well. The screen looks crisp and responds promptly, and navigation through the menus is straightforward. Features include sat-nav with 3D mapping, DAB radio, Bluetooth and various apps. Alternatively, connect your phone and use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Other standard features include a digital driver’s display that can show full screen sat nav maps, dual-zone climate control, cruise control and a host of other stuff.

Pick any engine for the Q3 and you’ll get competitive fuel economy from it, according to the official figures.

The entry-level 35 TFSI can achieve up 42.8mpg whichever gearbox you go for, but even the most powerful 45 TFSI will do about 31mpg, which isn't bad considering it has 245hp and all-wheel drive. Motorway drivers should look at the diesels – the 35 TDI, for example, sees up to 51.4mpg in official tests.

The 45 TFSI e plug-in hybrid is the economy king, doing a claimed 176mpg thanks to its battery power. In the real world, you’re unlikely to get anywhere near that, but if you keep the batteries topped up to maximise use of the 34-mile electric range, you should see economy at least similar to the 35 TDI. Recharging only takes a couple of hours at home using a 7kW wallbox charger.

You'll want to stick to the low-powered petrol models if you want to keep your first-year Vehicle Excise Duty bill low. The more powerful engines incur hefty charges, and about half the range is faced with the extra charge between years two to six for cars that cost £40,000 or more.

Company car drivers will be most interested in the plug-in hybrid. Its 37g/km CO2 emissions translate to low benefit-in-kind rates.

Car safety experts Euro NCAP awarded the Q3 a full five-star rating. It scored 95% for protecting adults in a crash, and scored very highly in every other area Euro NCAP assesses.

There’s loads of safety features including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist and a speed limiter.

Audi has a fine reputation for building high quality cars, established over many decades. The Q3 continues that tradition, picking up top-50 placings in several owner satisfaction surveys. There have been a few recalls that affected very small numbers of cars in the UK, but you don’t have to worry about them when buying new. 

You get a three-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard, which is the basic minimum, with other manufacturers offering higher mileage or more years.