Audi Q3 Sportback 2020 Car Review

The new Q3 should appeal to even more buyers as it can be bought in either the conventional SUV shape, or with coupe-esque styling in the Sportback variant.

Coupe-style SUVs have been around ever since the BMW X6 made its debut over a decade ago, and more manufacturers around the globe are adopting the ‘style-over-substance’ approach. Although the looks of the X6 were loathed upon release, there’s a feeling that more drivers have become accustomed to the design of this type of car. In 2020 BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi all offered cars that fitted into the Crossover Coupe segment.

Looks

The ‘normal’ Audi Q3 is by no means a bad looking car, but the Q3 Sportback looks sleeker and sportier than it’s more sensible sibling.

While the front-end will be familiar to most, it’s the rear end where the more noticeable differences lie with the Sportback. The roofline slopes more like a coupe, and the rear bumper is sportier and a lot more aggressive-looking. As expected, these design changes also make the rear windscreen smaller in size.

The version we tested – the Audi Q3 S line 45 TFSI – is the only version of the Q3 Sportback available in New Zealand, and it can be purchased from $87,900 (+ ORC).

The interior quality was excellent, and the controls and infotainment system were intuitive and simple to use. The 12.3-inch Audi digital cockpit and angular design of the cockpit helped add to the overall sporty look of the car, which is topped off nicely by the S line flat-bottomed leather steering wheel.

One nice addition, that we saw a couple of months ago in the RS6 and RS7 models, is the 360-degree camera feature that allows you to look all around the car in augmented reality when parking.

The glossy piano black finish of the 10.1-inch infotainment screen retained smudgy fingerprints easier than a lot of other systems, which isn’t a great look when everything was switched off.

Size-wise, the Audi Q3 Sportback is certainly compact – coming in at 4.5m in length, 1.84m wide and 1.56m high, with an overall wheelbase size of 2.68m. Because the seats have been lowered slightly compared to the ‘normal’ Audi Q3, the sloping rear of the car doesn’t hinder the space or comfort of rear passengers.

Cargo space hasn’t been affected much, either – the Q3 Sportback luggage volume is 530L with all seats up.

Performance

The 2.0L engine felt sporty and responsive, and is capable of producing 169kW of power, 350Nm and a 0-100km/h time of 6.5 seconds.

The Q3 Sportback is thirstier than similarly sized cars although, admittedly, it’s also sportier. Audi claim it consumes between 7.4L and 7.7L per 100km, and we achieved numbers close to that on our test drive on motorways and country roads.

The Q3 Sportback felt nimble when heading through the corners, especially when it was put into Sport mode. Aided with light steering and a seven-speed S Tronic gearbox mated to Audi’s AWD Quattro system, the overall driving experience was a lot of fun (although as a comprise, the ride was rather firm).

Cost/affordability

As mentioned the Audi Q3 Sportback is available from $87,900 (+ ORC), which is quite expensive when you consider the BMW X2 is available from $59,900 (+ ORC) with the M Sport package included.

Cars like the Mazda CX-30 - available from $41,490 (+ ORC) - pretty much match the Audi for features and looks, but fall behind slightly when it comes to performance.  

The Q3 Sportback comes in at a higher price than the standard Q3 with slightly less practicality, so the main selling point of this variant is the marginally better good looks, which of course is a personal preference. Like with all new Audis, the Q3 Sportback comes included with some great safety features - Audi Active Lane Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and adaptive cruise control all come as standard.

Verdict

The Audi Q3 Sportback is a great car and it doesn’t really matter what it’s up against, an Audi is an Audi, and they’re incredibly desirable.

Although the standard Q3 would the smarter option, the Q3 Sportback is a looker and will definitely resonate with the right demographic.

Stay tuned for the review of the Audi RSQ3…

 Safety systems

• ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Pressure Distribution) and Electronic Brake Assist
• Audi Hill Descent Control
• Parking Aid (Front/Rear)
• 360 degree surround view camera
• Audi Side Assist and Audi Active Lane Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Audi pre sense
• Six airbags

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