The 2016 Audi Q3 Quattro is seen Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, in Marion County, Tenn.
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If it were a person, the Audi Q3 would be an engineering student with a graphing calculator holstered to his hip, or an IT expert specializing in Apple computers.
There’s just something buttoned down about Audi’s subcompact SUV that lets you know it’s got its act together. Maybe it’s the no-nonsense, less-is-more interior design. Or the tailored creases in its well-proportioned body. Or the confident and responsive 2.0-liter turbocharged engine.
First year sales of the Q3, introduced as a 2015 model, have been brisk in the Chattanooga market, said Eric Hill, sales manager of Audi of Chattanooga at 6001 International Drive. He noted that the dealership now has several Q3s in stock.
The Q3 and the larger Q7 bookend the popular Q5 compact crossover. In a typical month, the Q5 outsells the other Audi SUVs by a more than a three-to-one ratio. Still, the Q3’s smaller dimensions may be just right for drivers with modest cargo-carrying requirements. It’s also a great urban vehicle, with nimble handling and the ability to squeeze into tight parking spaces.
Our tester, an all-wheel drive (Quattro) model with tech package, has a sticker price of $40,300, which includes about $4,500 in options and destination charges.
STYLING AND FEATURES
With its yawning black grille and crisp body lines, the Q3 looks like a miniature version of the Q5. Our tester’s color scheme, Monsoon Gray exterior paint and an all-black interior, complements the sophisticated design. There’s nothing “cute” or “trendy” about the Q3, which exudes a “business casual” vibe. It’s the turtle-neck sweater of small SUVs.
The iconic four-ring, chrome grill emblem marks the Q3 as an Audi product, and “quattro” badging signals the crossover’s all-wheel-drive capacity. For those of you with mountain addresses, the Q3 is a great commuter car. During several rainy days earlier this week, our Q3 tester scampered up the W Road without a single wheel spin.
Inside, the Q3 is fairly spartan as luxury SUVs go, but materials are top notch and the ergonomics are thoughtful. Easy-top-reach dials to control radio tuning and toggle switches to adjust the cabin temperature are a welcome departure from push buttons and touch-screen controls. Anything that makes it easier to keep your eyes on the road is a good thing.
Standard equipment on our tester includes an enormous panoramic sunroof, LED daytime running lights, 12-way adjustable heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and seating surfaces, Sirius satellite radio and rear-view camera. A $2,600 technology package adds navigation and Audi Connect, a telematics system that can turn your vehicle into a wifi hot spot (subscription required).
In a week of driving, we found the interior of the Q3 to be compact but functional. It swallowed up my sons’ soccer bags and a videographer’s camera equipment with no problems. Packing a family of four for a trip to the beach might be another matter, unless your brood travels light.
The Internet-based navigation system works without a hitch and the graphics are crisp and clear.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
Under the hood, the Q3 features a turbo-charged four-cylinder engine that makes 200 horsepower and propels the crossover from zero-to-60 miles per hour in about 8.0 seconds. That’s not blazingly fast, but competent. A six-speed automatic transmission goes about its work with clock-like precision.
Unlike most small SUVs, which compromise driving dynamics for practicality, the Audi retains the DNA of a driver’s car. The ride is taut, with plenty of useful feedback through the leather-covered steering wheel. Slicing through curves, the Q3 seems sure-footed and secure, with very little body roll or wallow.
In heavy traffic the side assist sensors help identify vehicles in your blind spots; and parking sensors fore and aft help you avoid dings to the bumpers.
BOTTOM LINE
Expect the Q3 to return 28 miles to the gallon highway and 20 mpg city. Audi offers a generous four-year, 50,000-mile basic warranty and four years of free roadside assistance. Crash test scores for the 2016 Q3 have not yet been posted.
At just over $40,000 the Q3 is no bargain basement SUV. In fact, comparably equipped subcompact crossovers cost thousands less. But the cache of the Audi brand and the slick engineering everywhere in the Q3 make it worth every penny.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mken nedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.