Audi Q3 Review 2022

Audi Q3 At A Glance

Premium interior. Very practical.

1.5 TSI petrol engine disappointing with S tronic automatic gearbox.

Real MPG average for a Audi Q3

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

Reviews for Audi Q3's top 3 rivals

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Ford Kuga

Good looking family SUV comes with a decent amount of standard kit and is keenly priced. The plug-in...

Volkswagen Tiguan

Comfortable, spacious and supremely practical. Refined diesel engines. High-level quality and technology....

Ask Honest John

Can you recommend a small SUV for towing?

"I'm looking to purchase a small/mid-sized SUV for about £20,000. We only drive about 8,000 miles per year so I'm guessing petrol but we do tow a trailer tent quite often in the summer months so it must cope with that OK. I'm looking at the BMW X1 or X2 or maybe the Audi Q3. I have not discounted going bit bigger so the Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4 or Ford Kuga may be options."

The low-down grunt of a diesel engine will make light work of towing your trailer tent but it's not ideal for your otherwise low mileage. I'm guessing your trailer tent isn't particularly heavy, so a punchy turbocharged petrol should be able to tow it without too much effort. Depending on its weight, a BMW X1/X2 or Audi Q2 should be up to the job and they're excellent small SUVs. How about a Volkswagen Tiguan? It's not quite as premium as a BMW or Audi, but you get more physical car for your money. Take a look at the Skoda Karoq, too, if you're not fussed about the badge on the bonnet.

Answered by Andrew Brady

What has caused scoring on the brake discs of my Audi Q3?

"My 2019 Audi Q3 had its first big service a few weeks ago. They found all brake discs needed replacing due to them being scored. Is this normal as I've only done 9,500 miles? I used to drive emergency ambulances so I know it's not due to bad driving. Due to it being an urgent attention case I had them replaced at a cost of £1,160. I have complained to Audi who have offered a next free service not including parts. I am extremely disappointed and shocked they've scored so quickly. I certainly don't want to pay that amount every few years. I have had five Audis and this has never happened before. "

If I had to make a guess, I'd say the scoring on the brakes is caused by corrosion. Rust will build on the discs whenever the car is left standing outside for 3+ days. Usually, you clear this off with general driving (with the brake pads cleaning the rust off). However, if you use the car for mostly short journeys or do not use the vehicle very often, the rust will eat into the metal and damage the discs.

Answered by Dan Powell

Audi Q3 delay, can I cancel my order?

"I ordered an Audi Q3 from a main dealer in September 202. Audi build weeks of November week 3, December week 3, January week 4. Since early December all build weeks have been no longer forecast and they have now removed the spec for any new orders. Do I keep waiting in the belief that a locked in new price will ensure a build soon? Am I entitled to ask for a full return of deposit and look elsewhere?"

If the dealer is unable to provide a reasonable lead time for the delivery then you will probably be entitled to cancel the order. You will need to check the terms and conditions of the sales documents to be sure of this. To be fair to the dealer, the car industry is going through unprecedented times with a shortage of semiconductors and parts. Some dealers are struggling to offer test drives: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/car-market-1/2021-12/car-dealers-struggling-to-offer-test-drives/ I don't expect things to return to normal until the latter part of 2022.

Answered by Dan Powell

What midsize, petrol SUV should I buy?

"I'm in quandary and require your help! I have a 2009 Lexus GS450h - which I love - but I want an update because the boot is ridiculously small. I feel the need for an SUV as I have had 4x4 in the past and liked the feeling of elevation with loads of space. I don’t really want the largest of the SUVs, but I'm hesitant to buy the smaller options as I was put off either by complaints on reliability (or gearbox in the Lexus) or lack of customer care (Jaguar). My thoughts turn to Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLA - say one to two years old. I don’t want diesel as my journeys are normally up to 50 miles. I want room for my golf clubs and clutter, and there are normally only two adults in the car. I would very much welcome your thoughts and recommendations as always."

First of all, we'd cross the Mercedes-Benz GLA off your shortlist. A new model arrived this year but its predecessor is quite small and, even when it was new, wasn't that great. The Audi Q5 is a better option, or a smaller Q3. We'd recommend looking at the Volvo XC60 – it's a really good mid-size SUV with a superb interior. There's a T8 plug-in hybrid model, too, which sounds like it could suit your needs well (provided you're able to charge a car at home). It's worth considering the Lexus NX, too – its CVT gearbox doesn't appeal to everyone, but it's a very dependable choice.

Answered by Andrew Brady

More Questions

On the inside of an Audi Q3

• Boot space is 410–1525 litres
• Euro NCAP rating of five stars

If there's one manufacturer you can rely on for always producing an interior that's impossible to fault, it's Audi. Although you're not going to find much flair or quirkiness in the Q3's cabin, it feels extremely well made with high quality materials, while there's plenty of space and everything's logically laid out.

Up front, the Q3 feels like a minature Q8 - definitely a good thing, in our books. There's a 10.1-inch screen in the centre of the dash providing access to entertainment and navigation. It's fast to use and easy to operate, although some will still argue that conventional buttons are easier to use than a touchscreen setup.

One novel feature is the optional alcantara trim on the dash - available in orange, should you wish.

In the rear, two adults can fit comfortably with a generous amount of head and legroom. Middle passengers might be a bit more cramped thanks to a transmission tunnel running between their legs, but the middle seat's fine for occasional use.

The three-seat rear bench can be moved backwards and forewards by 150mm depending on whether you need to prioritise room for rear passengers or boot space, while the rear seat backrest can be split 40:20:40 and tilted in seven stages.

There are clever features in the boot, too. The rear parcel shelf can be removed and slotted neatly under the floor (a feature which, surprisingly, isn't very common), while the opening height of the power-operated tailgate can be adjusted at the tough of the button - perfect if you need to open it in a garage, or just have short arms.

Specification (from December 2018):

Sport features 18-inch alloy wheels, progressive steering, Audi Drive Select, LED headlights with daytime running lights and dynamic rear indicators, LED rear lights, front sport seats in Index cloth, manual seat adjustment, adjustable rear seat bench, dual-zone climate control, three-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, front centre armrest, MMI Navigation Plus with 10.1-inch touchscreen display, Audi Virtual Cockpit with 10.25 digital instrument cluster, DAB digital radio, Audi Pre-sense Basic, Audi Pre-sense Front with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, rear parking sensors, cruise control with speed limiter, electromechanical parking brake, hill-hold assist, Audi Side Assist and Isofix child seat mounting for front passenger and outer rear seats.

S line adds 19-inch alloy wheels, sport suspension, S line styling, privacy glass, front sport seats, Pulse cloth/twin leather upholstery, ambient interior lighting and a three-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel.

Vorsprung comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, matrix LED headlights with dynamic front and rear indicators, headlight washers, Black Styling Pack, folding door mirrors, panoramic glass sunroof, Alcantara/Twin leather upholstery, four-way electric lumbar support, heated front seats, electrically adjustable front seats, flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel, extended ambient lighting pack, Band & Olufsen 3D sound system, Audi phone box with wireless charging, park assist, 360-degree camera, cross-traffic assist rear, adaptive cruise assist, camera-based traffic sign recognition, advanced key and emergency assist.

Child seats that fit a Audi Q3

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Driving Audi Q3

• Engines range from 35 TFSI MHEV S tronic to 45 TFSI quattro S tronic
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 22–49 mpg

Audi reckons most Q3 buyers in the UK will opt for the entry-level 1.5-litre petrol, badged the 35 TFSI. Most of the time it's fine, but if you want to overtake you'll find yourself wishing you'd opted for more power.

That's especially true for the awkward seven-speed S tronic gearbox which can be reluctant to change down and generally doesn't provide a drive as refined and relaxing as we'd expect from an Audi SUV.

If you're happy to take it easy, the 35 TFSI and S tronic automatic gearbox is fine. It's very quiet and refined on the motorway, although the lag when you hit the accelerator can become frustrating around town.

Fortunately, there are other engine options. The 2.0-litre petrol is available with 190 or 230PS and, we suspect, will be much better suited to the Q3 than the 1.5. Then there's a 2.0-litre diesel producing 150PS, which will remain the choice for high mileage users.

Engines aside, the Q3 is a perfectly reasonable car to drive. The variable ratio steering means it doesn't take many turns of the wheel when negotiating tight corners, while it's also nice and light at low speeds. All-round visibility is also pretty good, with that high-up driving position providing a good view of the road ahead.

Up the speed and it's not exactly a nimble handler, but it feels like it has plenty of grip and there's not too much lean in the corners.

It also rides pretty well, if slightly on the firm side if you opt for the S Line with its sport suspension. Our test car was fitted with 19-inch alloys and, while it wouldn't glide over potholes, it wasn't uncomfortable in 99 per cent of situations.

To drive, the Q3 is neither entertaining like an X2 or soft like an XC40, but it's a good all rounder. We'd recommend opting for one of the bigger engines if budget allows, but the entry-level 1.5 is easy enough to live with every day.

Looking for a second opinon? Why not read heycar's Audi Q3 review

Audi Q3 Models and Specs

Currently on sale

On sale until April 2021

On sale until December 2020

On sale until June 2020

Good

Bad

What to watch out for

Model History

• July 2018: Audi reveals 2018 Q3
• December 2020: Audi Q3 45 TFSI e plug-in hybrid announced