Audi Q3 review - Practicality, comfort and boot space

The new Audi Q3 is extremely comfortable over long journeys, thanks to its combination of spacious cabin, hushed refinement and compliant suspension, as well as the luxurious feel to the interior trim and comfortable seating – for all except the middle seat rear passenger who has to make do with a hard, high-set seat cushion. Passengers are well catered for with good sized door bins and oddment storage too, and there are a pair of cup-holders between the seats.

Size

The latest Q3 is 18mm wider and 97mm longer than its predecessor, which may not sound much but is enough to make an appreciable difference to cabin space, especially for rear seat passengers. Overall the Q3 measures 4,484mm nose-to-tail and is 1,856mm wide and 1,616mm tall. The BMW X1 measures up at 4,438mm long, 1,821mm wide and 1,598mm tall. The style-led Sportback is 16mm longer than the Q3 on which it is based, meaning that roofline doesn’t affect practicality, too much.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

As it’s a little longer and wider than its predecessor, there’s a noticeable improvement to the Q3’s interior accommodation, and the seating arrangements are very practical too. There’s a typically impressive range of adjustment for front seat occupants, so every driver should be able to find a comfortable posture.

Rear seat occupants also benefit from a bench that slides backwards and forwards depending on luggage space requirements, while the backrest angle can be adjusted too. It’d be unfair to call the Q3 Sportback cramped in the back, but adults over six-foot tall may struggle to get comfortable. It feels a bit darker in the rear than some rivals, partly due to the taller window line, but also emphasised if you opt for the S line’s black headlining. A Sport model may be better served in this regard.

You don’t sit quite as high in the Q3 as in some rival SUVs, and indeed the seating position is slightly lower than in the old car. This means the view out isn’t quite as commanding either. 

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Boot

The sliding rear bench adds an extra dimension to the Q3’s practicality. When it’s pushed all the way forward there’s 675 litres of luggage volume available which reduces to 530 litres if you want to slide it right back to maximise legroom. That still beats the Volvo XC40 and BMW X1, which offer 432 litres and 505 litres maximum boot spaces respectively.

Fold the rear seats out of the way and luggage volume leaps up to 1,525 litres, again beating many rivals. Nice touches include LED spotlights in the tailgate, a parcel shelf you can stash under the floor, and the option of hands-free boot opening.