The Q3 can hold the equivalent of six carry-on suitcases with the seat backs up. With their large rear openings and folding seats, crossovers rule over sedans when loading cargo. While 5-foot-9 passengers will fit fine in the rear of the Q3, they won’t want it any smaller. Back seat passengers will encourage you to buy the Q5. Even though the Q3 is 10 inches shorter than the Q5, it’s easy to confuse the two at first glance.
Search from 574 Used Audi SUV / Crossovers for sale, including a 2014 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus, a 2015 Audi Q3 2.0T Prestige, and a 2016 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium Plus ranging in price from 4,300 to 149,900. Just choose among small, medium and large. Test drive Used Audi SUV / Crossovers at home in Chicago, IL. Much like its sedans, Audi’s crossovers share a similar design. Audi Drive Select allows for quicker throttle response and additional steering heft. Audi has somehow kept a low profile through the Volkswagen emissions scandal, perhaps because only its A3 has the offending engine.Ĭog swaps come courtesy of a snappy 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Rated by the government at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 28 highway, the Q3 is the thirstiest in class, while preferring premium gas.
While buyers can choose between front and Quattro all-wheel drive, there’s only one engine a 2-liter, 4-cylinder version making 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. It’s nimble, body movements are quelled, and sightlines are good. In everyday driving, the Q3 is a satisfying drive. Stats and figures don’t always tell a vehicle’s whole story though. The Q3 hits 60 miles an hour from a standstill at just under eight seconds. Run quarter miles against the X1 or GLA250 and Q3 owners will be buying the drinks. That kind of coin buys an Acura MDX with more room and tech.
Starting at around $35,000 for a front-drive model ($42,750 as-tested with all-wheel drive), that refinement doesn’t come cheaply. It slings around turns with a polish that sets it apart from Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V. The 2016 models get a light refresh the more prominent grille is the biggest clue. Like all Audis, the cabin uses top-notch materials, so there is little compromise on comforts.
With less room for passengers and cargo, the Q3 will appeal to couples, not families. Like the others, the Q3 is easy to park, surgical through urban traffic and easier on fuel than large utes. Add the Audi Q3 to the shuttlecraft list. Who knows? Perhaps Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes GL-Class owners buy the diminutive BMW X1, Lexus NX and Mercedes GLA as dinghies for their cargo bays. Hulking sport utility vehicles continue to sell, but the recent crop of high-end compact crossovers is encouraging. AMERICANS seem to be embracing the idea that luxury vehicles do not have to be the size of the U.S.S.