Audi Q3 sits in the catbird seat when we talk about the most enjoyed vehicles in the German marque’s line up. And this bad boy has definitely changed the ways people buy ordinary saloons or hatchbacks. Well, why buy an ordinary saloon or hatchback when there’s a tremendous SUV/Crossover on offer. For this case, the Q3 is one of the most important models in Audi’s line up- no ifs, and, or buts about it.
The new Audi Q3 is very much the same as the older Q3. Be that as it may, the 2019 Audi Q3 has got a big change inside and that’s the addition of Audi’s exceptional Virtual Cockpit. There’s much more power under the hood now with the fine range of engines giving off sturdy performance.
The cabin is again high-tech providing practicality and opulence. By all means, it’s hard to find flaws in the latest Q3. There’s no denying the fact that the 2019 Audi Q3 is not as much fun to drive as the BMW X1, but it still offers terrific driving experience. I mean, just hit the road and you’d get instant goose bumps and that’s that.
If we spend a moment just talking about the engine range, the petrol Q3 range begins with a front-wheel-drive 1.5-litre turbocharged engine named as the 35 TFSI. It gives off decent performance on the road and takes just 9.2 seconds to hit 0-62mph depending upon the spec. The 35 TFSI comes with front-wheel drive and Quattro 4×4, and the choice of S-tronic seven-speed auto or six-speed manual gearboxes. That’s quite impressive, isn’t it?
There’s also a 2.0-litre petrol engine accessible in 187bhp or 227bhp guise, called as the 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI respectively. They both possess Quattro 4×4 running gear and dual clutch auto transmission and are able to hit 62mph from rest in just 7.4 and 6.3 seconds respectively.
The 35 TDI and 40 TDI models share a 2.0-litre engine in 148bhp and 187bhp configurations, and acceleration numbers are on a par with similarly rated petrol’s.
Inside, the Q3 gets state of the art feel and interior is well designed. The leather is standard and the seating position is revamped to a great extent with the addition of an airy greenhouse and a sweeping roof.
Buyers will get a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster as standard, and Audi’s 12.2-inch Virtual Cockpit configurable instrument panel is optional. An 8.8-inch dash-mounted infotainment display is also available coupled with a 10.1-inch screen. The driving position in Q3 is exceptional. That said, you will not have any complaints about the Q3’s driving position, regardless of your size and shape.
The steering wheel offers a great variety of movement up and down as well as in and out. The seat has great adaptation as well, but you’ll need to pay extra for variable lumbar support on all but the Vorsprung trim. The seats are supportive when cornering and put in order finely with the pedals, aiding in keeping the passengers super comfortable on a long journey.
The buyers can get a 10.25 inches version of Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display backed with the 12.3in upgrade obtainable. Both are just fantastic, putting back the traditional analogue dials and replacing them with a highly customizable, full-colour display that can display a bunch of useful info just below your line of vision. Graphics are fantastic and it’s easy to shift views with the steering wheel-mounted controls.
Audi’s touchscreen infotainment system might look slick, but it’s actually quite distracting to use on the move. With that, because of its sharp screen that replies quickly to the inputs, its menus are less instinctive than those in the BMW X1.
Standard functionality comprises sat-nav, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and a radio that can automatically shift between FM and DAB reception hinging on the strength of the station. For the case of Audi Connect, that’s offered on a three-year subscription basis, the high-resolution Google Earth mapping, wireless phone charging and point-of-interest searching and info on parking spaces and filling stations is accessible as an option.
The 2019 Audi Q3 is quite spacious. Even with the rear seats unfolded completely, the Q3 has considerably greater space for gears than a BMW X1, Jaguar E-Pace or Volvo XC40. But, that’s not the case with its big counterpart Volkswagen Tiguan that offers more. Have your seats slid right forward, the Q3 will come up with a thumping 675 litres of space. That’s more than you get in most SUVs in the class above.”
