Audi Q3 Review 2024

If you want a practical SUV that’s cheap to run and doubles up as a feel-good status symbol, the Audi Q3 should be on your shortlist. Its big boot and clever sliding rear bench means it’s practical enough to use as a family car, yet its classy image (and that desirable four-ringed badge) will appeal to a younger audience.

There’s a strong engine line-up which should meet a wide variety of requirements. The Q3 is comfortable enough for long-distance drivers, while compact enough to make negotiating city centre streets a breeze. Optional quattro four-wheel-drive means the Q3 should appeal to country-dwellers as well as urbanites, too. If you want something a bit more svelte, there's the Audi Q3 Sportback.

Other premium manufacturers provide plenty of competition for the Audi Q3. The BMW X1 lags behind in terms of practicality but is more entertaining to drive, while the Volvo XC40 has a superbly Scandinavian interior. The Mercedes-Benz GLA is a stylish competitor with a superb cabin, while you could also consider the Lexus NX (particularly if you value reliability and low running costs).

It almost goes without saying that an Audi has a superb interior, but what do you expect for a car that’s significantly more expensive than everyday SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai?

The Audi Q3 does feel extremely well built, with soft-touch materials almost everywhere you lay your fingers. We say ‘almost’... there are a few slightly flimsy plastics if you go looking for them (such as the lower door cards and the glove box lid).

As well as leather seats, higher-spec Audi Q3 models feature aluminium dash inlays which manage to make the cabin feel even more special (and, of course, the aforementioned ambient lighting).

All the controls are well finished, with a pleasing tactility to their operation. One grievance we do have is with the touchscreen infotainment system - its glossy finish means it soon starts to show up fingerprints.

All Audi Q3 models come with a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system located in the centre of the dash and angled slightly towards the driver. This incorporates all the usual features - a connected navigation system, voice recognition, DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It’s a very slick system, with sharp graphics and fast responses. The menus are laid out logically and you don’t have to wade through endless submenus to perform the simplest of tasks. It’s not perfect, though. Older Audi models came with a rotary controller positioned between the front seats, letting you scroll through the media system without having to jab away at the touchscreen display. This is much easier to use on the move. There aren’t any physical buttons providing shortcuts to useful features, either.

One feature we do really like is the Virtual Cockpit, which is standard across the range. This is quite simply the best digital dashboard on the market, replacing old school dials with a sharp 10.25-inch display (12.3-inch on Edition 1 and Vorsprung models). It’s easily customisable, although adding Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality would make it perfect.

Practicality is usually high up in the list of requirements for SUV buyers and you’ll be pleased to hear the Audi Q3 is a very versatile choice. That's because it's relatively large for its class, measuring 4484mm long, 2024mm wide (including door mirrors) and 1616mm high.

In the front, there’s room for the bulkiest of passengers, with plenty of space between the two front seats. There’s loads of stowage, too - including large door bins ready to take whatever family life chucks at them.

One of the Audi Q3’s clever features is the sliding rear bench which allows you to prioritise space for people or luggage. You can even adjust the angle of the backrest, meaning your rear passengers can pretend they’re being chauffeur-driven as they take a kip in the back. Indeed, rear-seat passengers get plenty of space. Large rear windows and generous headroom means it doesn’t feel claustrophobic at all back there. Even adults (or the tallest of teenagers) won’t have much cause for complaint in the back of a Q3.

There are ISOFIX points for the outer rear seats, with plenty of space for a pair of child seats. Getting kids in is easy, too - the high SUV position means you won’t be leaning down to strap them in, and the doors open usefully wide.

In total, Audi Q3's boot capacity can hold up to 530 litres of luggage. That’s more than the BMW X1 (which holds 505 litres), Volvo XC40 (460 litres) and Range Rover Evoque (472 litres) - and significantly more than the Audi A3 Sportback. Access to the boot is easy, although obviously it’s higher up than a comparable family hatchback. An adjustable boot floor helps here, as does an electric tailgate which is standard across the range. Should you need more room, the rear bench splits into three and can be dropped to provide 1525 litres of space.

In the 45 TFSI e plug-in hybrid model, the boot is reduced in capacity by the battery, so you get a 380 litre boot with the seats up and 1375 litres with the rear bench tipped down.

The Audi Q3 comes with a tyre repair kit as standard, rather than a spare wheel. There is room for a space saver spare wheel, though - any Audi dealer should be able to provide one for £150 (including the tool kit and jack).

If you’re unsure about whether to buy a petrol or diesel, you need to look at how many miles you expect to cover and the kind of journeys you do. Generally, diesels are best suited to high mileages (more than 12,000 a year) and long motorway jaunts, while petrols are better for low mileages or lots of short journeys.

Unless you really want to take on hot hatches, the entry-level 35 TFSI engine is the best combination of performance and low running costs. It’s a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with 150PS, and can be combined with a manual or automatic gearbox. Ordinarily we’d recommend an auto in a car like this, but the seven-speed S tronic transmission is annoyingly hesitant to respond, lurching forwards when you attempt to make a quick getaway on a roundabout. 

The 2.0-litre petrols, badged 40 and 45 TFSI with 190 or 230PS (later uprated to 245PS) respectively, are fun to drive but quicker than most drivers will need. They’re only available with the S tronic transmission and all-wheel-drive, which means you’ll become a regular at your local petrol station.

If you cover a lot of motorway miles, the 35 TDI is the big seller. This is a 2.0-litre diesel with 150PS and is sold new as a Quattro with a manual or automatic gearbox, or a front-drive model with the S tronic transmission. Most sensible buyers opt for the latter, which means it’s the most prevalent on the used market.

The top-of-the-range diesel is a 190PS unit badged the 40 TDI. This comes with Quattro four-wheel-drive and an S tronic automatic transmission as standard, making it ideal for anyone who’s planning to put their Q3 to work towing trailers and the like.

For the start of 2021, Audi introduced the 45 TFSI e plug-in hybrid version of the Q3. It uses a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine and electric motor to deliver up to 34 miles of battery-only driving coupled to a claimed combined economy of 176.6mpg. Reality shows this is more like around the mid-40mpg unless you are dedicated to charging up this model at every opportunity.

Audi has entire departments dedicated to ensuring its cars are more refined than competitors, and that’s clear in the Audi Q3 - provided you’re sensible with the options. Bigger wheels are more likely to cause a rumble in the cabin, but the adaptive suspension helps counter this.

The 1.5-litre petrol is surprisingly vocal in a characterful way, but the mild-hybrid system (fitted as standard on 35 TFSI automatics) allows the Audi Q3 to coast with the engine off, improving refinement. You’ll notice when the petrol engine kicks in again, but it doesn’t make much of a difference to the Q3’s overall excellent refinement levels. the plug-in hybrid 45 TFSI e is even more hushed and can run for up to 34 miles on electric power alone.

The most refined engines are the 2.0-litre petrols. The 45 TFSI in particular has plenty of performance on offer - meaning it doesn’t need working quite as hard to join traffic or overtake. That helps with refinement.

As you’d expect, the diesels provide a giveaway rumble (especially on start-up when cold), but no more so than rivals. They soon settle down at motorway speeds, too - with very little noise or vibration making its way into the cabin.

The Audi Q3 was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2018 and it performed very well indeed, achieving a maximum five-star rating. In fact, it scored well across the board, receiving a 95% rating for adult occupants and 86% for children. NCAP also awarded the Q3 85% for its safety assist features, and 76% for protecting vulnerable road users. Basically, if you’re going to be in a crash, the Audi Q3’s a very good car to do it in.

There’s also plenty of active safety equipment designed to prevent you being in a crash in the first place. Most of it is standard across the range, which helped the A3 achieve this impressive five-star safety rating. All Q3 models come with Audi’s Pre-Sense Front with pedestrian and cyclist detection. This clever system uses radar sensors to detect other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists in front of the car. If it detects an imminent collision, it will warn the driver - and if you don’t react, it’ll apply the brakes to prevent a crash or, at the least, reduce the impact.

Other handy safety tech highlights include a lane departure warning, which will nudge the steering if you accidentally stray from your lane (useful but also a bit annoying, in our experience), and a camera-based traffic sign recognition system.

The Audi Q3 Vorsprung comes with some extra features such as the cross-traffic assist rear system. This will alert the driver of any approaching traffic when reversing out of a parking space - and even apply the brake if required.

Audi performs well for reliability, with the brand achieving a score of 9.12 out of 10 in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.

There aren't many common issues to look for with the Q3, although the 1.5-litre 35 TFSI petrol engine has experienced hesitation issues at low revs (particularly with the manual gearbox). This was fixed by an update in 2020.

Insurance groups range from 20 to 38 depending on engine and trim level, with the Sport 35 TFSI manual being the cheapest to insure. You’ll probably end up paying slightly more to insure the Q3 than a mainstream competitor like the Ford Kuga, but it shouldn’t be obscenely expensive unless you’re a new driver.

All of the current Q3 models will be taxed under the current system, attracting a flat £180 a year rate. Be careful not to be stung by the premium tax, though. This applies to all vehicles with a list price of more than £40,000 - meaning plenty of Q3 models. If the car you’re looking at cost more than £40,000 when it was new, you’ll have to pay an extra £390 a year for the first five years.

The 45 TFSI e qualifies as an alternative fuel vehicle, so enjoys a £10 discount on its annual road tax bill.

You’d be surprised how much you get for your money on the standard Audi Q3 Sport, including 18-inch alloys, LED headlights (including fancy dynamic rear indicators), cloth sports seats and Audi’s MMI Navigation Plus, as well as its Virtual Cockpit.

The popular Audi Q3 S line sits comfortably in the middle of the range representing good value money, with spec highlights including 19-inch alloy wheels and bespoke exterior styling. Interior highlights include part-leather sports seats and ambient lighting.

Things start to get pricey with the Q3 Edition 1 models that were offered when the car was first launched. They feature 20-inch wheels, Audi’s clever Matrix LED headlights (including front and rear dynamic indicators), a black exterior styling pack and full leather upholstery. The ambient lighting pack is extended, too, giving you a choice of colours.

Topping the range was the Audi Q3 Vorsprung, which comes with its own take on 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and premium Bang & Olufsen sound system. It also has the Driver Assistance Pack which includes a range of nice-to-have features like adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera.

More recently, the Black Edition has taken over as the top spec Audi Q3. It comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, the Black Edition gains the Black Styling package. The front and rear Audi rings badges, front grille accents, window surrounds and side mirrors all receive the black treatment. Inside, a flat-bottomed steering wheel is trimmed in leather, with Piano Black trim used for the interior inlays.