First Drive: Audi Q3

First Drive: Audi Q3

The successful Audi Q3 is now in its third generation, with the second gen becoming one of the brand’s strongest performers after about 8,843 units found homes locally. Impressive, especially considering the segment where the Q3 plays, so rather than flipping the script, Audi has sharpened what already worked.

Is it a better Q3? Yes, it is, unquestionably. But the more interesting question is whether ‘better’ is enough to keep it relevant in a segment increasingly crowded by ambitious SUVs from the East. I got behind the wheel to find out during the new Q3’s launch drive in the Western Cape.

Familiar recipe, sharper execution

The best way to describe the Q3’s look is ‘familiar’, and that’s if you know the brand’s latest design language. Against its predecessor, though, it’s a clear departure, and a stunning one at that. It’s refreshing, too, to see a German brand putting in the effort to fight Chinese rivals in areas such as design rather than relying purely on badge and heritage. Two body styles are on offer, Sportback and SUV, spread across Advanced, S line and S line Black trim levels, and regardless of which combination you choose, the Q3 has grown in size.

In fact, Audi has stretched the new Q3 by roughly 47mm in length, along with slight bumps in width and height. These are indeed small numbers on paper, but enough to make a real-life difference. This translates into decent space inside, and front passengers won’t have any issues, helped along by a steering-column-mounted gear selector that frees up space where a traditional shifter would normally sit. 

However, rear passengers may wish for a little more headroom, particularly in the Sportback, where that sloping roofline starts eating into the equation. As for the boot space, it remains respectable with 488 litres with the rear seats raised, growing to 1,386 litres in the SUV and 1,289 in the Sportback when you fold them down. 

Inside, the familiarity continues. I have seen the interior in the A5, and fortunately, in the Q3, it continues to offer material quality that feels premium with cabin construction that feels solid – attributes that impressed me in the plush sedan. Thankfully, Audi has stuck to physical buttons and dials instead of controlling almost everything via the infotainment screen. There’s a standard, intuitive 12.8-inch infotainment screen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto and navigation; an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster; ambient lighting; and leather upholstery. 

Other standard interior features include an electric tailgate, seven airbags, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic air conditioning.  

It still drives like an Audi should

The launch route offered a healthy mix of city, flowing back roads and highway cruising, enough to understand what the manufacturer has done to the new Q3. Two engine options are on offer: a 1.4-litre TFSI and a 2.0-litre TDI. Sitting in the TFSI with 110kW and 250Nm for the first leg of the launch drive, this unit offers responsive performance from low down, but it delivers its best work in the mid-range before losing enthusiasm at higher revs. 

The pick of the bunch is the TDI with 110kW and 360Nm, which delivers effortless and accessible performance. Its torque arrives early, making it feel stronger than the power figures suggest, while the engine settles into a quiet cruise on the highway. The diesel engine is refined and doesn’t have the agricultural clatter you’d expect from a diesel-based unit. 

A 7-speed DCT drives the front wheels and does an excellent job of shifting cogs smoothly without the jerkiness that often plagues gearboxes of this nature, especially at slow speeds. Road manners are impressive too, with the suspension staying comfortable and refined across a range of road conditions. Worth noting, though, is the intrusion of wind noise at highway speeds – sometimes I would find myself double-checking if all the windows were properly closed. 

It’s difficult to deliver a definitive verdict on outright performance after a launch drive, but first impressions suggest the Q3 prioritises refinement over full-blown excitement. 

Does it still make sense?

Absolutely. The premium compact SUV segment has changed dramatically over the last few years. Buyers now have more options than ever before, particularly thanks to a plethora of Chinese brands that offer generous equipment and increasingly appealing interiors at lower price points.

But that’s never really been Audi’s game. Instead, it builds upon an already successful package with meaningful improvements that buyers will actually notice every single day.

Would I have liked the Q3 to be a little bolder? Perhaps. Visually, it remains an evolution rather than a revolution. Yet after spending time behind the wheel, it’s difficult to argue with the approach. The new Q3 feels more polished, more refined and more complete than before. Audi has simply made a very good SUV even better, and that’s exactly what a new generation should do.

All models are sold with a standard 5-year/100,000km Audi Freeway Plan.