2015 Audi Q3 2.0T Quattro Tiptronic Review

Americans are crossover crazy; we just can’t get enough of these glorified station wagons. Whether it’s their all-season capability, generous cargo capacity or improved fuel economy they have distinct advantages over sedans and traditional SUVs, upsides that account for much of their appeal.

Of course automakers have taken notice of this trend and are introducing more and more car-based utilities, seemingly at an ever-quickening rate.

A similar movement is taking place in the luxury space right now. As a way of increasing sales and attracting new customers top-tier brands are reaching down market. Products like the Audi A3, BMW 2 Series and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class are perfect examples of this ongoing shift.

Accordingly this crossover rivals products including the BMW X1 and new Mercedes GLA, both of which are slightly larger inside and out, though not by much. With its second-row seats folded flat, maximum cargo space in this Audi is slightly greater than 48 cubic feet, meaning from a junk-carrying standpoint it’s comparable to a Mazda3 hatchback.

Like many other products in the Volkswagen Group empire the Q3 features a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine; it’s the only powerplant on the menu for ‘Murican drivers. Of course Europeans have a veritable buffet of options with all kinds of spark- and compression-ignition engines to choose from. They can even get a manual transmission; the only gearbox we have is a six-speed automatic.

In any event, the four-banger in this Audi delivers 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, numbers that are rather unimpressive on paper. The same displacement engine used in the brand’s larger Q5 crossover for instance delivers 20 extra horses and an additional 51 units of twist, plus it has two more forward gears. This isn’t fair!

As for fuel economy you can expect to get 20 miles per gallon around town and 28 on the interstate. Combined, all-wheel-drive versions of the Q3 should average 23 MPG.

The rest of the Q3’s design is clean and tasteful; superfluous flourishes have been kept to a minimum. Supposedly it has a coupe-like profile though that’s debatable. A standard panoramic glass roof lets plenty of light into the cabin, which can be pretty dark, especially with an all-black interior.

‘Round back this vehicle has standard LED tail-lamps and some nice chrome exhaust tips. And if you want you can even opt for a power hatch. Overall from an exterior-styling standpoint this vehicle is pure Audi, though look scan be deceiving.

Regrettably when it comes to cabin quality the Q3 is a bit disappointing. Some of its plastics are a little down-market, notably a strip of hard stuff that runs right across the dashboard. Additionally much of the switchgear feels low rent. For instance the MMI knob clicks like a cheap ball-point pen you’d get for free when opening a checking account. Also the oddly designed temperature controls for the standard dual-zone climate system feel flimsy. They look like rotary knobs but are not. Rather that rolling around 360 degrees they only click left and right. This is all very strange given Audi’s obsessive attention to detail and uncommonly good taste.

As for the front seats, they’re mostly comfortable though they do seem a little flat. Some extra contouring and bolstering would be nice. This is mostly true of the Q3’s aft accommodations as well. The back seat offers surprisingly good legroom for my six-foot frame and the lower cushion is at an excellent height, though there could be a little more headspace.

Items like the navigation package ($1,900), 19-inch wheels ($800) and a power tailgate ($400) all padded the sticker price of this quattro-equipped Premium Plus model. But perhaps what’s more telling are the features that are absent. There are no paddle shifters to be found (not that I ever really use those) and adaptive cruise control is NOT available. Also, if you want a backup camera and blind-spot monitoring you’ve got to shell out an additional $1,400 for the Driver Assistance package. But what do you expect from a German car, one that’s built in Spain with an engine sourced from Hungary and a Japanese transmission?

Unfortunately the ride is not, as it’s a little on the stiff side, especially when traversing frost heaves, pot holes and washboard surfaces. Naturally, the tradeoff for this tautness is good body control and the Q3 feels pretty sporty. Also, its steering is light to the touch, quick to turn-in and remarkably precise.