2016 Audi Q3 Quattro Review - New-To-You Utility [w/ Video] - 2016 Audi Q3 Prestige 2.0-liter DOHC I-4, CVVT (0 horsepower @ 5.100 ...
2.0-liter DOHC I-4, CVVT (0 horsepower @ 5.100 to 6.000 rpm, 207 lb-ft @ 1.700 to 5.000 rpm)
6-speed Tiptronic automatic
20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined (EPA Rating, MPG)
20.2 mpg (observed MPG)
tested options: Luxury Trim, Quattro AWD Sport Package
base price:
$ 34,625 *
As Tested :.
$ 42,175 *
* Prices include $ 925 destination charge
Audi Q3 is not a new vehicle by any stretch. It was first launched in 2011, but failed to America until the model year 2015. In fact, Q3 plays in a segment that is new to us - even the smallest-crossover compact luxury. This form factor is not new to the world, but until Land Rover Range Rover Evoque made in America and BMW followed with the X1, there was not a real emphasis on soft-roaders small luxury.
with crossovers being the latest craze and all the luxury brands looking to move down market to capture young buyers expense, it was only a matter of time until Mercedes and Audi joined the party with the GLA and Q3. With a "low" $ 33,700 starting MSRP, Audi baby is the most practical consideration for the pace A3 sedan and Audi. Although CAMCORD buyers must give up a lot of space to go to the A3, Q3 has the potential to be a more reasonable option
exterior
outside, the Q3 plays the same farm girl card that the majority of the Audi range. Healthy sheetmetal is attractive, but totally devoid of dramatic style elements which decorate the new GLA. Closer inspection reveals that the headlights and grille design are different from Q5 2015. Indeed, Q3 was one of the first to wear Audis latest design of front end of the mark. The cleaner lines, sharper edges and new headlight design can also be seen on the next-generation Q5. The look is fresh and instantly recognizable, but some may call it is so small that it's almost boring.
At 172.6 inches long, the Q3 is nearly a foot shorter than the X3, Q5, XC60 or NX. This means that the Q3 is aimed squarely at the BMW X1, Range Rover Evoque and Mercedes GLA. Unlike the GLA and X1, side profile miniaturized SUV Q3 cries not raise tailgate.
The rear design is 8 / 10ths Q5 despite being totally independent. Unlike most crossovers, the rear lights are housed only on the hatch itself. One might think that it would be opening more, but access is somewhat limited as its big brother Q5. Total cargo room suffers more than you think because Audi has decided to give the rear window a more dramatic rake than its other crossovers.
Interior
Like the exterior, the interior design is simple almost to the point of being clear. Although the A3 came to the US before the Q3, it houses an older design and it explains why the interior looks more like the rest of the Audi line up, not the minimalist design that we see in the A3. Our model does not have the optional wood trim ($ 350), but I recommend it because it helps break down inside black on black on black in our model. Also on the list of must-have are the optional sports seats that add cushions extending low seat. usual attention to detail Audi is easily visible inside where the fit and finish is much higher than the mass market Escape, CR-V and Tiguan.
In an unusual move, Audi is 12 seats standard front channels and the team with 4-way lumbar support, electrically adjustable. This puts a seat adjustment front above the GLA, which skimps on the comfort of the passenger seat to keep the price low. Surprisingly, leather seating surfaces are standard, while most luxury brands have moved to the imitation leather as the base material. The optional sports seats are the most comfortable seats in the segment, according to my back, beating the BMW and Mercedes. Help my wedding during the week, I had the Q3, the passenger seat is also comfortable (eliminating complaints that I received when I tested the RDX and GLA). As Audi A3, Q3 lack of memory for driver seat, a strange omission when you can find this feature on Kias cheaper, not to mention the Range Rover, BMW and Mercedes. Heck, even Mercedes gives front passenger standard seat 3-position memory.
Thank vertical profile of Q3, the rear seats are surprisingly accommodating. Although the legs of numbers at the back and front combined are less than the Q5 and the entire vehicle is less than the larger Audi Q3 was better able to handle a child rear seat face behind a front passenger. The difference is down to the shape of the Q3 dashboard that allows the right front seat to move further forward, freeing up more space in the back. Headroom was equally impressive despite the panoramic sunroof. BMW claims a bit more space in 2016 X1 means the Audi and BMW are the best options if you plan to transport people in the back. On the other hand, the GLA has a narrower back seat and my head touched the ceiling unless I bent inward. Regarding freight hauling, the hold of Q3 is 33 percent smaller than the next crossing on the size and right on the same as your average midsize sedan.
Infotainment
Germans have cornered the market in infotainment systems based controller button from BMW iDrive introduced in 01. Since then, BMW and Audi have been in a race gadget arms. Taken together, MMI is not as intuitive as iDrive with more confusing menus and location of illogical buttons. Although I'm sure you get used to it over time, even after a week, I found myself having to look at the array of buttons for too long to find what I needed. If you have another family in Audi MMI touch placement of Q3 will be more used to, as they fell in the dashboard, not the center console. On the other hand, it means you are less likely to spill your drink on your MMI controller.
On the other hand, MMI is probably one of the most advanced feature sets on the market through their welfare integrating Google executed. While iDrive lets you search results from Google (as a number of other systems), MMI takes a step further and covers your traditional Google map images with the satellite imagery, and even lets you zoom in and view Google Street View image so you can "drag" your neighbors. On the down side, the Google map function requires a subscription $ 15- $ 30 months after the first few years for the integrated cellular modem, and the system maps download problems quickly when traveling at speeds highway, leaving you with a blank screen at once.
Although navigation and love Google Map is optional, the large LCD screen and iPod integration are standard, things are not found in the 2015 Mercedes GLA. Probably because of the standard LCD Q3 2016 and upcoming X1, Mercedes announced 2016+ GLA will get a standard 7-inch LCD.
Training
Nestled on the side under the hood is a ubiquitous 2.0-liter VW / Audi, turbo, four-cylinder engines. Despite the latest in direct injection and variable valve timing technology, the engine is a little short on the twist. Output reaches 0 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. This is essentially the same as that bound Volkswagen Tiguan, but significantly lower than the X1 (228 hp / 258 lb-ft) Evoque (240 hp / 250 lb-ft) or GLA (208 hp / 258 lb-ft) . This is also lower than the 2.0-liter engine almost identical in the Q5, which produces 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque in 2015 and 245 hp, 273 lb-ft in the next Q5 next generation .
to reduce costs, Q3 American models related gap 7-clutch transmission from Audi for a more traditional 6-speed Tiptronic automatic. This means that in addition to being powered down, the Q5 is short on gears. Although 6-speed is standard in the mass market segment, the GLA has a 7-speed DCT, the X1 uses an 8-speed and 9-speed Evoque a. While the engine is partly to blame, the lack of gears has a distinct impact on fuel economy and acceleration. Despite being heavier, producing more power and be quicker to 60, more Q5 2.0T nets the same EPA combined score of 23 mpg in the training models in front-wheel and four wheels drive. It's behind the 24 mpg rating for the Evoque, 27 mpg for 2015 X1 and well below the 29 mpg delivered by the GLA 250. In a week of mixed driving, our Q3 averaged under 21 mpg.
player on the road, the first thing you should know is that the wheel drive rear 2015 X1 BMW is soon to this world. While you can find them on the dealers now, between the time I had the Q3 and write me that BMW announced the new critical base FWD-X1 will arrive in the fall. This means two things. First, if you want a little luxury crossover with dynamic RWD tail-happy, you need to hurry. Second, CAPD has not resulted in the new X1 so it is impossible to comment intelligently, but we can make some educated assumptions.
BMW makes all US bound X1 AWD models. The logic is likely to lead the dynamics (like their Jaguar X-Type sedan unhappy) and did not have the off-road capability found in the Land Rover Evoque. This sets the BMW apart from Audi and Mercedes, which have both front-wheel drive. Standard all-wheel drive traction solves problems and torque found in a driver before, but it does nothing to resolve the nearly 60/40 weight balance found in most vehicles with transverse engine. While the 2016 X1 may be the best balance in this middle category shoebox, 56/44 (front / rear) is a far cry from BMW almost religious dedication to weight 50/50 Balanced vehicles. This means that when tightening your 2016 cross in the corner, the BMW has a more neutral treatment benefit, and it is where strangely wide tires on Q3 make a surprising difference.
BMW shoes new X1 with 225 width tires, the closer in the segment, while the GLA and Evoque starts at 235S. Audi 235S starts with the base model, but Premium trim and a $ 800 option on the base model kick the rubber up to two sizes 255 / 40R18s - two sizes larger than the GLA 45 AMG and three sizes of ahead of the X1. While adjusting the suspension obviously plays a big role in the handling, the Audi starts with more grip and adds excellent suspension to boot. Despite the wide tires of 40 series, Q3 suspension is tuned more compliant than the GLA and 250 misses the unstable behavior on the broken pavement I noted in the Evoque. While the front-drive models from BMW, I tested in Europe are not as dynamic as their RWD models, they are excellent for the front drivers.
Although there is much more roll in the Audi that in the GLA or GLA AMG, Audi is simply more surefooted. Of course, the GLA is lighter at approximately 3,500lbs vs Q3 of around 3700, but the difference of 0 pounds can not compensate for the wider rubber on the Audi. While 2015 X1 BMW M Sport package with was the best handling vehicle in this segment by a hair in 2016 transferred the crown to the Q3. (And the difference in 2015 was smaller than the X1 buyers would like to admit.)
On the downside, the heritage of Q3 reveals. You see, the Q3 is not based on the new MQB platform as the VW-Audi A3 and Golf current, instead linked to the A3 more. This shows in the sensation direction. There's no. While the rest of the competition also uses electric power steering, the support of the Q3 is particularly vague, although it is precise and nicely weighted. Also a problem is the acceleration in Q3. 0-60 acceleration time of the Audi clocked at 7.6 seconds slower than the Camry Hybrid and about the same as a Honda CR-V. That is 8 / 10ths slower than the Evoque, a full second slower than the GLA 250 and 1.3 seconds behind the BMW application for the new X1, 2016. This is before we consider 2016 Mercedes GLA 45 AMG with its blistering 4.3 seconds 0-60 sprint through a huge 375 horsepower.
Although Q3 is slower and more thirsty than the GLA, value, accommodation and internal processing are where the Audi shines. Although the price $ 33,700 as of Q3 2015 exceeds $ GLA 250-31300, Audi comes with standard leather seats, dual temperature control zones, xenon headlights, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and keyless go, backup camera, iPod interface, auto-dimming mirror, and HD radio and SiriusXM. All of these are in addition to the Mercedes. What makes a comparably equipped 3000 $ GLA more than the Audi. The Evoque is the most expensive, running $ 7,000-10,000 more than the Q3 2016 X1 starts at $ 34,800 and $ 37,000 would peak when equipped compared to a base of Q3.
The surprising thing about the Q3 price structure is thus slowly builds the price compared to other luxury options. This makes the Q3 perhaps easiest from an upsell Tucson Hyundai or VW Tiguan. 2016 Hyundai Tucson Limited is from 29.00 to 34.00 $ with levels of equipment similar to a Q3 $ 33.700 to 39.000 by the bump of a reasonable $ 5,000 or more. This is much narrower than the distance between Tuscon and GLA 250, which would end up $ 6.400 to 10.000 when more comparable equipment. Range Rover Evoque? Rover baby is by far the entry level and will cost $ 15,000-20,000 for a comparable Hyundai.
I know it sounds strange to compare a Audi and Hyundai. In most other segments, I would say it is an inappropriate comparison. However, this culture of luxury vehicles "cheap" is designed to attract buyers of consumer brands, so the comparison makes sense. In this context, the Q3 is also logical. It is much easier to sell to a mainstream crossover while offering a luxury brand, luxury interior and the best handling in the segment. The X1 and GLA are quicker to 60, the Mercedes brand is undoubtedly a more upscale and the Evoque offers a level of customization that the top luxury buyers demand quality, but none of them is as easy with a cross-shop with high-end crossover general public. For this value proposition and the handling of the Q3 is my favorite entry in this segment, and it is a new engine and 7-speed DCT far from perfect. Hopefully someone at Audi is listening.
Audi provided the vehicle, insurance and a tank of gas for this review.
Specifications as tested
0-30: 2.85 seconds
0-60: 7 6 seconds
1/4 Mile: 16 seconds @ 89.2 MPH
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