The small SUV market in Ireland is consistently growing and manufacturers have taken note of this. More and more of these cars are showing up at school gates and football matches. The small SUV is a good looking machine, they’re easy to personalise and they offer good comfort, practicality and ride height. This week I’m looking at one such SUV – the Audi Q3.
The Q3 isn’t the most stylish SUV in the world, but its refinement gives it a touch of class. Its prestigious competitors, the Land Rover Evoque and the BMW X1 are what I'd consider to be better looking machines, but the Q3 is slightly more attractive than the Volkswagen Tiguan.
What appeals to me about Audi is that they don’t have to shout to get attention. There is nothing outrageous in its design. I’d even say that about the R8 – it holds the subtleness of proper business class. As a brand they understand that they can show off, without the foolishness of showing off – if you know what I mean. It’s here that I think it beats the X1 - while the BMW is very-nicely styled, I think that the Q3 will take longer to become dated.
Inside the Q3 is brimming with Audi's usual precision. Everything is laid-out in an easy-to-use way. However, the Audi Multimedia infotainment system in the car I was driving, while simple, was boring and slightly old school. Of course, if you’re willing to spend more money you can personalise the interior and make everything more to your liking - beware though, extras aren’t cheap (for example, electronic front seats will set you back more than €1,300 for the privilege).
The ride-height is raised and the interior is spacious. Legroom and headroom are not an issue and the seats are comfortable. The boot offers plenty of space, and the rear seats can be folded down to offer 1,365 litres. Unfortunately these seats don’t lay flat - if they did the car would be that little more practical.
The model I drove housed a 150hp 2.0 TDI engine. This car is well powered and offers 10hp more than its predecessor, another nice touch is that its quiet. Surprisingly the car doesn't really suffer from body-roll on corners. The Q3 grips the road nicely. If you want a bit more power than the 150hp you can opt for the same trim offering 184hp for an extra €7,400 – although with cars like this I don’t necessarily see the need for extra horses. The Q3 also offers “Drive Select” which can alter the steering and throttle responses of the SUV.
Overall I like the Audi Q3. For the model I was driving (SE 150hp) you will pay from €38,550, and if you’re looking for extras you should be ready to pay more. An entry level Q3 will cost you €36,750 (SE trim with a 2.0 TDI engine offering 120hp or a 1.4 TFSI offering 150hp). If you’re looking for a Quattro version you can expect to pay from €40,750. While I am a big fan of the Q3, if I had the money I’d probably go down the route of its cousin, the SKODA Yeti – which offers a 2.0 TDI with 150hp, it comes with 4x4 and a DSG gearbox and is priced from €32,220.
