2021 Audi Q3 Review

　　

2021 Audi Q3 Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　With its Q3, Audi was one of first automakers to introduce an extra-small luxury SUV. Now in its second generation that debuted a couple of years ago, the Q3 is more affordable than Audi larger Q5's but has nearly all of the same convenience, technology and safety features. It's a smart way to get an Audi without blowing up your budget. This year, Audi discontinued the Q3's previous top Premium trim but made its features available on the two remaining models as options. It's a nice move that should give you a little more flexibility to get exactly what you want.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Audi Q3 Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$148/mo  for Q3 Premium

　　Q3 Premium

　　Premium 4dr SUV AWD w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $34,000 MSRPPremium S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $36,000 MSRPPremium Plus 4dr SUV AWD w/40 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $37,300 MSRPPremium Plus S line 4dr SUV AWD w/45 TFSI (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $39,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Alternatives to the Q3 include the sporty BMW X1 and a pair of related Mercedes-Benzes, the GLA and the GLB. Compared to the Audi Q3, these rival SUVs are similarly capable but seem to do everything just a little bit better. It's a very close battle, however. Want to know more? Check out our Expert Rating for our detailed evaluation on this year's Q3.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Q3 drive? The Q3 is more interested in delivering comfort than thrills. Our test Q3 reached 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, which is slightly slower than average for a luxury subcompact SUV. The eight-speed automatic transmission can also be a little slow to react when you're leaving from a stop.

　　The Q3 is more energetic from a handling standpoint. It has responsive steering and stays composed when driving through high-speed curves. Altogether, everyday driving is crisp and comfortable, but if driving pleasure is important, you're better off with a BMW X1.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Q3? The Q3's ride quality is firm but not overly stiff. Bumps can be felt through the cabin, but the Q3 quickly dispatches with them and doesn't make any excessive body motions. It's also pretty quiet since there's little outside noise, either from the tires or wind.

　　The front seats provide eight-way adjustment to find the perfect position and four-way power lumbar adjustment for long trips. The controls are clearly labeled and well within reach. The seat heaters take a few minutes to warm up and never get as hot as others in the class.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Q3 has an accessible seating position that will meet the needs of most buyers. There's plenty of headroom up front and enough room for two adults to be comfortable in back. It's also pretty easy to see out of the Q3 thanks to big windows and a short hood.

　　The optional 10.1-inch touchscreen is responsive to the touch and offers a helpful clicking noise to let you know the command is registered. The buttons on the steering wheel and center console are clearly labeled.

　　

Technology

9.0/10

　　How’s the tech? With the optional MMI navigation feature, the Q3 can operate Apple CarPlay wirelessly. It sometimes takes a minute to activate upon starting the car, but it's ultimately convenient. Navigation is simple to input and control, but the real star is the map itself, which offers a beautiful three-dimensional view.

　　All of the Q3's active driver safety features work well, but it can be tricky to get used to all the buttons and knobs required. Adaptive cruise control is mostly helpful, but if traffic abruptly slows, it sometimes brakes too late and prompts the driver to take over.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The Q3 does the most with its limited cargo dimensions. There's a flat load floor and small compartments on either side to secure small bags, plus a security shade that can be removed to provide more space if needed.

　　A wireless charging pad and small grip between the cupholders are clever ways to store smartphones, but that's about it in the way of small-item storage. The rear door openings are wide enough to easily lean in and set up rear-facing car seats. The car seat anchors are simple to access, and there are three back anchors for overhead security.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? An EPA rating of 22 mpg combined puts the Q3 near the bottom of its class since most entries rank in the mid-to-high 20s. The Q3 outperformed its rating on our 115-mile evaluation route, achieving 26.8 mpg. But in city driving or heavy traffic, it routinely failed to reach 20 mpg. Overall, we suspect you'll be able to match the EPA's estimate, even if it's not particularly great for the class.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Q3 a good value? No gaps, creaks or cheap plastics here. The surfaces inside the Q3 are tastefully put together and great to the touch, if a little bland. The S Line spices things up with natural wood and matte inlays. The Q3 is priced comparable to others in the class such as the BMW X2 and Cadillac XT4. Audi's warranties are about average for a luxury automaker.

　　

Wildcard

6.5/10

　　You choose Audi because you know what to expect. The Q3 has a driving feel and styling language that is consistent with the brand yet wholly distinctive from other luxury automakers. The Q3 holds few surprises. But solid build quality, great infotainment and small personalized touches such as available ambient lighting give the crossover a hint of panache.

　　

Which Q3 does zzdcar recommend?

The 2021 Audi Q3's base Premium trim is a solid pick. But if you're looking to push past entry-level luxury we suggest stepping up to the Premium Plus trim. It costs more but you get a lot more convenience features, some desirable safety features and access to adaptive cruise control.

　　

2021 Audi Q3 models

The 2021 Audi Q3 is available in two trims: Premium and Premium Plus. Both are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (228 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque) that is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard.

　　The base Premium trim is well appointed with standard feature highlights that include:

　　Panoramic sunroof Power liftgate Tri-zone automatic climate control Digital gauge cluster Leather upholstery Power-adjustable and heated front seats 8.8-inch infotainment display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto A handful of advanced safety features: Frontal collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Automatic high beams The Premium Plus adds several convenience items that include:

　　Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind or in front of the vehicle when parking) Power-folding mirrors Keyless entry Auto-dimming rearview mirror Wireless changing pad with signal booster Universal garage door opener Satellite radio Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Some of the Premium Plus features can be added to the Premium trim through the available Convenience package. The Premium Plus trim is also eligible for:

　　The Parking Assistance package An automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) A surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations) The Technology package A larger digital instrument panel cluster Integrated navigation system 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen Remote control and monitoring through a smartphone app Wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity Amazon Alexa integration Bang & Olufsen premium audio system Traffic sign reader

　　

2021 Q3 Highlights

Trim: PremiumPremium S linePremium PlusPremium Plus S linePremium

　　

Base MSRP	$34,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$148/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	23.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles