If you’ve got a pair of eyes and have been paying attention to the roads, then you’ll have noticed how cars have steadily been getting bigger over the years. Carmakers have become obsessed, it seems, with size. These days, all we hear from them is how “our latest saloon has the biggest boot in its class,” or “our new supercar has the biggest engine,” or “our refreshed SUV is now larger than an average house...” However, cars in the premium 4x4 segment are different — they’re getting smaller. I’ve never been able to get my head around compact utility vehicles. It’s like heading to a fast-food joint and asking for a burger, but holding the patty, cheese and mayonnaise. You’re in the wrong restaurant, my friend — what you want is an apple. Stripping a burger down to the soggy bun or, in this case, downsizing SUVs to CUVs, is wrong. Even I, a fan of neither, can see that. CUVs remind me of teenage boys with fluffy moustaches on their top lip. Not quite old enough to shave and not young enough to spank if they’ve been naughty. And with their squeaky voices, they fall into that ‘weird age’ category.
So, it was with more than some trepidation that I boarded a plane to Zurich for the global launch of a new member of the Audi family, the baby Q3.
Catching sight of it parked at the majestic Dolder Grand Hotel, it was unmistakably Audi. It hasn’t tried to be anything else, and that’s a good thing. Featuring a single-frame grille, daytime running LEDs and large air inlets, I was keen to see more. The 170mm ground clearance was impressive, the roofline was coupé-like and it had a nice looking wrap-around tailgate. Not bad, I mused. Inside, being an Audi, I was expecting it to look and feel great and it didn’t disappoint. The sports seats wrapped in Alcantara and Nappa leather were well padded and comfortable. There was enough room for five adults and their luggage thanks to the 460-litre boot, which extends to 1,365-litres with the back seat folded. If that’s not enough, the standard roof rails give you yet more options to carry your goods.
LEDs in the doors, vanity mirrors and foot wells bathe the cabin in sophisticated lighting and the soft-touch materials combine to create a relaxing and comfortable environment.
Weighing just 1,445kg in base trim, the Q3 manages to be light on its feet thanks in part to a bonnet and tailgate made from aluminium (74 per cent of the body is made from high-end yet ultra light steel). It doesn’t just look smooth, it is smooth. The Q3 boasts a drag coefficient of 0.32 and a plastic liner which covers most of the underbody certainly helps.
The peppy 2.0-litre TFSI four-pot, rated at 211bhp at 5,000rpm and 380Nm of torque at 1,800rpm, hits 0-100kph in 6.9 seconds, and mated to a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch with quattro permanent all-wheel drive, has a top speed of 230kph. The engine features direct injection, turbocharging, stop-start and an energy recovery system and promises fuel consumption figures in the region of 7.7 litres-per-100km.
On the road, the Q3 felt sharp and responsive, all the while offering a smooth ride. The electronically controlled power steering felt more natural than in any other Audi I have driven. It was crisp and had decent feedback. But if a stiffer ride is what you want, just switch it to Dynamic and you’ll feel every bump on the road surface.
The roads situated near the Dolder Grand had some delicious corners and the all-wheel drive Q3 tackled them with consummate ease. There was hardly any body roll and all four wheels stuck to the tarmac with a vice-like grip.
There are tons of safety features such as ESP, side assist, lane assist and if you usually struggle to park, the self-parking system will interest you. All you have to do is control the throttle and brake as the steering turns left and right, slipping you into the tiniest of gaps. It also has loads of infotainment components like a hard-drive navigation system, MMI navigation plus, which displays high-resolution 3D graphics on a 7in colour monitor, and a Bose surround-sound system delivering 465w of power to 14 speakers.
Verdict
We’ve had some good, bad and downright ridiculous SUVs (I’m looking at you BMW X6). BUt Audi has nailed the segment. It first gave us the big, and I’ll grudgingly admit, beautiful Q7, followed by the neat Q5. And now the little Q3 completes the family, and it’s a bundle of joy.
Audi needed a nimble, sporty CUV to sit alongside its bigger brothers — especially since the Range Rover Evoque would be joining the party soon. To say it jumped on the booming CUV bandwagon would be unfair because it’s built a properly decent car here. The Q3 is practical, good looking and performs very well too. It certainly isn’t a glorified hatchback like some would wrongly label it.
But, I remain unconvinced — not by the Q3, but by the segment it joins. I don’t like SUVs and I like CUVs even less.
When it comes to cars and food, it’s all or nothing for me. You’ll never catch me buying a CUV, nor going to a fish and chips shop and then just asking for a salad.
Specs & ratings
Model Q3
Engine 2.0-litre TFSI four-cyl
Transmission Seven-speed auto, AWD
Max power 211bhp @ 5,000rpm
Max torque 380Nm @ 1,800rpm
Top speed 230kph
0-100kph 6.9sec
Price NA
Plus Nimble, comfortable
Minus Rear-view mirror is tiny
