Redesigned Audi Q3 is bigger, better handling, smarter, more capable
Finally catching up to the competition BOLZANO, Italy — It’s bigger, better handling, smarter and more capable. The second generation of Audi’s Q3 compact SUV won’t come to Canada until next spring, but when it does, it should finally catch up to the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA competition that have been eating its lunch. Here are 19 ways it improves on its predecessor. ▲
Longer, wider, bigger, but still small It’s small, but not that small. The Q3 is built on the new MQB platform that underpins the A3, and its wheelbase is stretched 77 mm to better place it between the smaller Q2 (which we don’t get in Canada) and the larger Q5. The length is longer by 97 mm and the width wider by 5 mm. ▲
Two trim levels, both with leather Inside, we’ll get two separate trim levels, both with leather seating as standard. A suede Alcantara material is an option for accents on the seats and dash and armrests, and looks great. ▲
Adequate room for three in rear seat The seats were comfortable on our test drive and there was adequate room in the back, though a tight squeeze for three adults. The rear seat does slide forward and back by up to 150 mm and the seat backs recline, but short legs would still be an advantage. ▲
Makes the most of space available A clever little feature is the small cubbies, one on each side of the rear 40/20/40 seat, which are large enough to hold a phone or even an iPad. Why not make the most of the space if you’ve got it? ▲
More cargo room and loading solutions There’s more shoulder and leg room inside, but the cargo area is bumped up behind the rear seats from 473 litres in the current model to a more spacious 530 litres. Fold the seats flat and you get 1,525 litres of available space. There’s a clever floor to the cargo space that can either lie flat or be dropped a few centimetres, to create a lip against the rear hatch for more secure stowage. ▲
Choice of turbo 4-cylinder engines Under the hood, Canadians will have a choice of either a 2.0-litre turbo 4-cylinder that makes 230 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, or a 2.0-litre turbo “four” that makes 190 hp and 236 lb-ft. There are other engines available in Europe, including a less powerful gas engine and a pair of diesels, but they won’t make it over to North America. ▲
8-speed auto is only transmission The only transmission we’ll get is an 8-speed automatic – boo sucks! The Europeans get a choice of 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch, which we drove here in Italy with the test vehicles. The DCT worked very well, but there was a definite lag before overtaking when the throttle was mashed to the floor. ▲
Quicker 0-100 km/h Official claims for acceleration are 6.3 seconds from zero-to-100 km/h for the 230-hp version, and 7.4 seconds for the 190-hp. That’s quick, and a big improvement over the 8.6 seconds of the 200 hp 2018 model, but not remarkable. A front-wheel drive version is available in Europe, but we’ll only get Quattro AWD. That’s okay – not complaining. ▲
No dynamic damping, but SQ3 expected We don’t get the sportier suspension or the dynamic damping that’s available in European models, either – that may well come later with an expected SQ3. There’s a small market in North America for a hot hatch, but maybe Audi’s approach is for all or nothing. ▲
Excellent in tight spaces We only drove the 230 hp version here, on some very narrow and winding roads through the Italian Dolomites. We were happy the Q3 wasn’t much bigger than it is – there wasn’t a lot of space for sharing the highway. ▲
Considerable improvement in driving dynamics The Q3 was very satisfying to drive – a considerable improvement over the dull first generation. It wasn’t so much that there was anything wrong with that car, which was first introduced in 2011 but didn’t come to Canada until 2015, just that it wasn’t very notable at anything. It was $36,000-worth of okay. The X1 was a better drive and the GLA better equipped. This new Q3, though, is finally the true competition that Audi is capable of producing. ▲
Bigger, bolder, more chiseled The outside is far more chiseled than before, with bold character lines along the doors and around the lights, both front and back. The grille is now octagonal and large, but it’s not so big that it’s polarizing, like a Lexus. ▲
Fully up-to-date technology The Q3 now has fully up-to-date technology and driver’s assistance, including adaptive cruise control, park assist, cross traffic assist in the rear, and high-definition 360-degree cameras. There should be no reason to not see something outside the car. ▲
Two display screens There’s just one central display screen, unlike the pair of screens in many other Audis, and it’s tilted toward the driver. The base model comes with an 8.8-inch screen, as well as a 10.25-inch display for the gauges behind the steering wheel; the centre touchscreen is upgradable to 10.1 inches, and the virtual cockpit to 12.3 inches. ▲
Virtual cockpit The virtual cockpit behind the wheel really does work well and looks great. ▲
Full connectivity, including V2V (where available) Everything is fully connected, of course, and there’s wireless charging for your phone. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. In Europe, some Audis already talk to each other, and to other cars (V2V), to notify of available parking spaces in town, or slippery roads. In North America, though, you guessed it: not yet. ▲
Multiple driving modes One complaint was with the overly light steering. The Q3 can be adjusted to any of five different drive modes, plus “Individual,” but even in “Dynamic” and when it stiffened with speed, the steering felt a little vague. It’s a small thing and something any driver would probably adapt to fairly comfortably, but it’s an unusual trait in a European car. ▲
Hold the line on pricing Prices haven’t been released for the new Canadian Q3, but it’s not likely to be much more costly than the current model. That first-generation starts in front-wheel drive with an MSRP of $35,900 and rises through two more trims to almost $10,000 above that. The least expensive Quattro-equipped Q3 is $38,400, so the 2019 will probably come in around $39,000. ▲
Coming in Spring 2019 The new Q3 will be in European dealerships very soon, but we have to wait until next spring to see it in Canada. When it arrives though, don’t be surprised if you see a lot of them on the road, and on the road to the cottage. ▲
Keyword: FIRST DRIVE: 19 improvements in the reworked Audi Q3