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Audi Q3 vs rivals

The Audi Q3 is late to the small SUV party. So can it steer the flow of sales away from key rivals?

Audi Q3 vs rivals

November 2011

Audi has dipped its toe in the water of the compact SUV market for a second time – and for good reason. The race to downsize makes small off-roaders like the new Q3 hot property, as motorists switching from bigger models don’t necessarily want to compromise on comfort or style.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Audi Q3

 

The Q3 slots into the range below the Q5, and comes with petrol or diesel power, plus two or four-wheel drive. Prices for the entry-level petrol car start at £25,690, but here we put the 2.0 TDI quattro through its paces. Our SE test car is fitted with Audi’s S tronic twin-clutch transmission, and costs £28,460 – which puts it up against some seriously talented rivals.

The most obvious wears BMW’s famous blue propeller badge – the X1 arrived in 2009, and has had a head start in this class. We test the four-wheel-drive xDrive 23d, which has more power than the Q3 and a bigger price tag.

Rounding off our trio is a mainstream model – but don’t be surprised to see the Ford Kuga lining up here. Ford has already proven it’s capable of making cars with premium appeal, in the shape of the S-MAX. The Kuga also drives brilliantly, and in Titanium trim it’s loaded with kit.

We gate-crashed the UK launch of the Q3 in North Yorkshire with these two contenders to put them all to the test.

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6 Comments

Dodgy test

If you test a x1 23d with sports suspension against a non sports Audi and Ford with 20d what do you expect, surely you could have got hold a 20d and done a worthy test ?

By Nickp on 12 November, 2011, 6:48pm

Yes a Dodgy Test

The BMW X1 23d is not an SUV but is an SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) Hence Sports suspension and a lower stance With 4X4
It makes a great bad weather vehicle I even got lowered suspension (an option) on my car. The X1 is more in line with
the Audi A4 Allroad not the Q3
The author of this Item has not read the BMW litriture

By Jackiedatc on 13 November, 2011, 1:13am

testing apples vs oranges

Why on earth AutoExpress did you test an M Sport BMW against an SE Audi? the only fair comparison would have been to pick the S-line Audi which would also have the harder ride than you bemoaned the BMW for.
Also the interior of the BMW is more classy in my opinion than the Q3. Agreed the exterior of the X1 takes some getting used to, but at least it has more character than the Audi - which looks the same as any Audi on the road.

By AJD_84 on 14 November, 2011, 8:12am

Audi (Volkswagen) Q3 looks like an egg!

All Audis look the same and are designed for women or men who are controlled by their partners.

By FlashGordon on 14 November, 2011, 10:33am

BMW Fanbois

jump to the defense of the ugly duckling. Quelle surprise.

Still someone has got to like it I guess. In its favour is that it is less ugly than the old one but that is not hard, the old one was hit with the ugly stick. Many times. BMW seems to be slow to accept that in these days "design" counts for a lot.

As for the comment about "SAV" seriously dude leave the manufacturer BS where it belongs. If you like a sports sedan, find one - these, despite the rhetoric, are SUV's. Get over it.

The Audi looks neat and drives well. It would certainly be my winner of this lot, and it is a purchase our family is considering. However I also have the 508 station wagon on the list - bigger, handsome, good interior - just the usual question about reliability and durability.

By rawhiti on 6 December, 2011, 7:46am

Rivals? Where is the real Rival.

Seems odd that the one rival that should have been included isn't. The Range Rover Evoque. Had it been I think the outcome would have been quite different. I really don’t think anybody would choose a Q3 over an Evoque unless it was a very basic entry level Q3 even then personally I would still probably try and make the stretch to the entry Evoque.

By peter_sp on 14 March, 2012, 11:39am

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Full Car Reviews

Audi Q3 2.0 TDI SE quattro front tracking

1st Audi Q3 2.0 TDI SE quattro

Classy looks and top-quality interior make newcomer a strong bet for victory here
Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCi Titanium Auto front cornering

2nd Ford Kuga

It trails on image, but the Ford Kuga is stylish and good fun to drive
BMW X1 xDrive23d M Sport detail front cornering

3rd BMW X1

More crossover than SUV, baby BMW has its work cut out here
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Facts and Figures

Verdict

Audi is marching relentlessly towards its target of a 42-model range – but is the Q3 worthy of a place in the line-up? The answer is a definitive yes, as it secures a comfortable victory in this test. The car wraps a hugely appealing mix of performance and economy in a design that is sure to appeal to Audi fans. The exterior is formulaic and there’s nothing very innovative about the interior layout, but by sticking to what it does best Audi has created a compact SUV with real appeal. A classy cabin, well judged dynamics and low running costs make it the number one here. Second place goes to the Ford Kuga. It’s dated on the inside and not as fast or efficient as the Q3, but is the stand-out choice for enthusiastic drivers, thanks to its sporty looks and engaging handling. Only the dated interior and thirst for diesel hold it back in comparison with the Audi. That leaves the BMW to bring up the rear. Unconventional looks win the X1 few friends, while its dated interior trails the Audi for premium appeal. We think the baby off-roader is the weakest model in the entire BMW line-up, and it finished last in this test.

1. Audi Q3
The most convincing Q car in the Audi range is good to drive, has a classy interior and promises to be affordable to own. Beware darker colours, though, as they make the bland looks even less appealing, plus those LED lights are a costly optional extra on the SE model.

2. Ford Kuga
Brilliant fun to drive and great to look at, the Ford is as appealing now as it was when it first arrived. Few modern family hatches have a chassis as talented as the Kuga’s, plus it’s the best value choice in our trio, with the most competitive price and comprehensive kit list.

3. BMW X1
An xDrive20d model would have provided a sterner test for the Audi and Ford, but the 23d comes up short. Our car’s firm ride, heavy steering and high price are only the tip of the iceberg, as its quirky looks and dated cabin let it down.
 
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