Audi Q3 1.4 TFSI S tronic (A) Review

Here at sgCarMart, there is one thing which hurts our plans whenever there's a car that we want to review on hand. Rain. And in the last couple of months, lots of it.

While everything on this island has looked dark and gloomy, the car we drove is far from it. It is the all new Audi Q3 - and it's in orange.

About the colour...

Pulse Orange, as Audi calls it. It is a real stand-out colour. But without it, you'd probably assume this to be the same old Q3 from the last generation.

There really isn't anything radical about its design. A keen eye will spot the new LED head and taillights. With some updates to the singleframe grille and some new plastic body cladding, it looks more like a facelift than an all new model.

Despite the similarities to the previous generation, this new Q3 now rides on the new Modular Transverse Matrix platform that underpins most new Audis. It is much larger too - 96mm longer and 77mm wider than its predecessor.

All about tech inside

To see the biggest difference, you need to step inside. A very modern and welcoming space, the cabin of the Q3 shares many visual similarities to the tech-laden Audi A6 we reviewed last year.

That's not a bad thing. Angled towards the driver is the 10.1-inch Audi MMI infotainment display. It is smooth and easy to use, and comes with connectivity features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is complimented with the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus, which adds some ability to customise how the digital instruments look.

That's not all. The car also now comes with Audi connect - a digital connected service. It provides traffic information and even weather updates directly through the infotainment system.

Elsewhere, it offers quite a bit of practicality. The rear seats can tilt to offer a more comfortable seating position, along with a large 530-litre boot with all the seats up. Fold them flat, and the Q3 offers a total of 1,525 litres of boot space.

There is an ample amount of rear legroom. Although the Q3 is a five-seat crossover, those relegated to the middle seat might protest, as it isn't the most comfortable in the class. Best to only have two in the rear for long drives.

Nice to drive?

Powering the Q3's front wheels is a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine that's good for 148bhp and 250Nm of torque. It is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

On the road, the Q3's powerplant certainly delivers enough punch to make overtaking manoeuvres a breeze. But be more spirited in throttle inputs and the powerplant will protest audibly. Faint road noises can also be heard, no thanks to the those sizeable tyres.

With high outward visibility, the Q3 feels nimble and is easy to place on the road. Thanks to the standard 360-degree camera, parking is a simple affair, too.

While the easiness of driving is certainly one of the Q3's top traits, it doesn't sip on fuel. With 90% of city driving, we achieved just 9.2km/L over our 100km test drive - a little less than the claimed 13.9km/L figure on paper.

A good buy?

Priced at $168,800 (as of 14 January 2020), the Audi Q3 costs slightly less than its established premium compact SUV peers like the BMW X1 and the Volvo XC40.

While cheaper, it isn't a cheapened out car. The Q3 comes with a host of features that one might assume to be available only on top-of-the-range models. It might not be as quirky and cool as the XC40, or as established as the X1. But it certainly doesn't fall short on equipment.

And while Audi Connect might tell you the weather's looking dark and gloomy in the next few days, you'll be far from feeling the same behind the wheel of the Q3.