Audi's answer to the BMW X1 in the premium compact crossover market has just landed on South African shores, offering both petrol and diesel engines within a spread of five models. It may be Audi's smallest crossover model, comparable in size to Audi's A3 Sportback, but that doesn't mean it comes cheap. Take a deep breath:
PRICES:
2.0T FSI 125kW quattro - R404 500
2.0T FSI 125kW quattro S tronic - R421 500
2.0T FSI 155kW quattro S tronic - R467 000
2.0 TDI 103kW - R370 000
2.0 TDI 130kW quattro S tronic - R431 500
URBAN WARROR
Despite the fact that all but the base diesel model comes with quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the Q3 is still more urban warrior than bundu basher and the test route on the international launch included only tar surfaces.
Yet the Q3 is very much in its element on these surfaces, our launchman Jesse Adams exclaiming that the Q3 “is all Audi, just shortened.”
“The well-heeled Generation X target market will appreciate its elevated driving position, smooth-shifting S tronic dual-clutch gearbox (lower models get 6-speed manuals) and easy-turning electronically-assisted power steering,” Jesse concluded.
ALL TURBO
The Q3 can be had with either a 2-litre petrol or a diesel of the same size, both turbocharged and both available in two states of tune.
All petrol models are fitted with quattro AWD and your choice is between a 125kW/280Nm 2.0T FSI with either six-speed manual or seven-speed speed S tronic transmission and a 155kW/300Nm motor fitted with the latter gearbox.
The most affordable model in the range is a front-wheel drive 103kW 2.0 TDI turbodiesel that's fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox. Fork out another R61 500 and you can have a 130kW/380Nm diesel with quattro and S tronic.
According to claimed figures, the 155kW TSI will dart from 0-100km/h in only 6.9 seconds, while the 125kW petrol and 130kW diesel models will take 8.2 seconds.
GADGETS GALORE
As with any Audi, or German car for that matter, you can go really wild on the options list to the detriment of your bank balance.
Options include an MMI Navigation system with a 60-gig hard drive for music storage (R22 200), a parking-assist system that uses 12 sensors to virtually parallel park for you (R8620) and Audi's Drive Select system (R2060) that can adjust suspension, steering and transmission settings at the push of a button. Of course, that's just the tip of the options iceberg.