Overview

The Audi Q3 has been an absolute phenomenon for its maker. So much so, for many buyers the family SUV has taken over from the A3 hatchback as the default choice of small car in Audi’s line-up. That’s because it has a strong image and decent levels of practicality for a very competitive price.

The first-generation Q3 was launched back in 2011. It was somewhat flawed but time marches on and the car hasn’t stood still. The current, much-improved second-generation version was launched in 2018. We’ve tested many Q3s over the years, including a six-month long-term test. We’ve covered a lot of miles and put the Q3 to a lot of uses. You can read more about how we test cars at Parkers to reach the conclusions presented here.

When the original Q3 was launched, it was pretty much the only premium-brand small SUV available, but it’s now up against a whole swathe of competitors. The biggest threat comes from the Range Rover Evoque, BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, MINI Countryman, Alfa Romeo Tonale and Volvo XC40. There’s plenty of mainstream opposition, too, but the smaller Audi Q2 is better priced to compete with those.

Key to the Q3’s far-reaching appeal is its clever packaging solutions, frugal and punchy engines, up-to-date tech and the TFSIe-badged plug-in hybrid models. We’re concentrating on the core, estate-ish Q3 SUV in this review; there’s also the sleeker Q3 Sportback, which we’ve reviewed separately, and the ballistic RS Q3. We love the RS Q3 but probably shouldn’t…

There are currently three petrol and two diesel engines available in the Q3, plus the aforementioned plug-in hybrid. Diesels are becoming rare in this type of car, and we like that Audi still offers that option; they’re particularly good for towing, with a capacity of up to 2,200kg. Other engines have been available as well; we’ll cover the details in the Engines section of this review.

There’s also a good spread of trim levels: Sport, S Line and Black Edition. They all have broadly the same set of standard features, being marked out by different packages of exterior styling and interior trim details. S Line is, err, sportier than Sport, and Black Edition adds trim details in… black. Other trims have been available in the past; our specs pages provide the details.

Over the next few pages, we’ll thoroughly review all aspects of the Audi Q3 and rate them in our verdict. Along the way, we’ll consider the car’s driving experience, the quality and comfort of its interior, its practicality and how much it’ll cost you to keep on the road.