2015 Audi Q3 Road Test and Review

by Benjamin Hunting

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August 11, 2015

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6 min. Reading Time

2015 Audi Q3 rear 3/4 ・ Photo by Benjamin Hunting

The 2015 Audi Q3 has joined the swelling ranks of pint-size premium SUVs eager to convince upwardly-mobile shoppers that they don't need a large footprint to enjoy the finer things in life. Luxury has always been about selling the image of a product more than the product itself, and if companies like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are able to generate enough heat to smoke out shoppers caught between being able to afford a roomier compact model from a less storied brand or picking up a subcompact with a more alluring badge on the grille, then so much the better. All-new for 2015 (in the U.S. at least - the crossover has been on sale in Europe for several years), the Audi Q3 mines the corporate catalogue and comes up with a well-priced, and reasonably comfortable luxury commuter that fills the void for those who wouldn't be caught dead in a hatchback.

Similar To, But Different From, The A3 Hatchback

It's hard to tell how much of the current cute ute craze is driven by America's well-documented scorn for hatchbacks, but washing this familiar body style in the same bathwater drawn from the country's beloved SUV well seems to have worked wonders in the subcompact segment. That being said, while the 2015 Audi Q3 might look to be cut from the same cloth as the similarly-sized A3 Sportback, it actually rides on an older platform that has more in common with the larger Volkswagen Tiguan crossover. This translates into styling that, while reminiscent of Audi's entry-level hatch offering, doesn't simply add stilts and plastic cladding to a pre-existing package.

If anything, the Q3 stands accused of resembling its larger Q5 sibling to the point where it's difficult to tell them apart without either parking them side by side or breaking out the measuring tape. It's a score for Q3 buyers, because they get to bask in the shared prestige of most people thinking that there's only one somewhat small crossover from the brand, rather than two separate strata.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Too Small For Families, But Right-Sized For Couples

The downside of the 2015 Audi Q3 missing out on the current-generation A3's redesigned MQB platform is immediately apparent when examining the SUV's rear sat. It would be unreasonable to expect roomy accommodations in such a small automobile, but the Audi Q3 tightens things up considerably for those riding in the second row, checking in well behind the Q5 in terms of leg room. Effectively, this renders the Q3 inappropriate for anyone whose children are on the verge of attending kindergarten, which is to say families seeking a long-term solution to their transportation needs should most likely look elsewhere.

This impression was further driven home when I tried to use the Audi's cargo area for anything other than a few bags of groceries. At 16.7 cubic feet - most of it vertical - the space between the Q3's rear seatback and liftgate isn't up to the task of dealing with the cargo needs of a full passenger load. Flip the row forward and you've got just under 50 cubes to play with, which is at least as useful as several more affordable compact hatchbacks. There's nothing wrong with building a utility vehicle with the intention of servicing two rather than four riders, but it's something you should be aware of before adding the Q3 to your shortlist.

One more thing about the Audi's passenger configuration: the driver's seat feels unusually upright. I can't remember the last time my feet were flat on the floor like they were when piloting the Q3, forcing a posture that was more bus driver than passenger car. The upshot is a tall seating position that lets you see fairly far ahead of the SUV.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

'Near Premium' Feel Lets Down The Q3's Cabin

Audi's reputation for interior excellence has hinged on well-executed passenger compartments that balance top-shelf materials with a control layout that is logical and straightforward without verging on plain. I don't know why the 2015 Audi Q3's cabin didn't sit as well with me as the similarly-priced but more recent A3, but the intangibles just weren't there to lift it above "nice, but ordinary" status.

"Nice, but ordinary" isn't really a bad place to be if you're a subcompact SUV, but introducing a new product into what has become a very competitive area of the market demands more. Even Audi's MMI infotainment system, which has generally been well-received in other models from the automaker, gets somewhat of a short shrift, losing its standard console-mounted rotary controller in favor of a knob on the center stack that is awkwardly packaged together with the vehicle's stereo and climate controls, forcing you to reach behind the shifter to access a long list of Q3 features and functions.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Attractive Pricing Highlights Feature Content Versus The Competition

Still, if you can look past the 2015 Audi Q3's uninspiring interior trappings you'll find a dazzling level of standard equipment that's simply not available on the entry-level editions of its primary competitors. For a bit less than $34,000, the Q3 delivers HID headlights, LED running lights, a panoramic sunroof, genuine leather seats with power adjustments, dual automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, and satellite radio. Trying to cram those features into a similarly-sized BMW or Mercedes-Benz will see you diving into options packages and adding dollars. This remains true even as you move up the Q3's trim ladder and select items such as navigation, the MMI system, and a power liftgate, as the SUV manages to stay at least a few hundred dollars - if not more - in arrears of its rivals.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Engine Is Adequate, But Thirsty

The 2015 Audi Q3 is motivated by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes use of a turbocharger to produce 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. You'll notice that these figures place the Q3 a bit behind its peers when it comes to performance, and this is reflected when examining the SUV's acceleration times. However, despite the Q3 not being gifted with Audi's more recent 2.0-liter turbo (which brings with it a considerable kick in the pants courtesy of its improved torque), I found the vehicle to be much more drivable than the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, which boasts nominally higher power production and a dual-clutch automated manual gearbox in place of the Q3's traditional six-speed automatic.

I attribute the Audi's ability to outshine the GLA-Class to the fact that most of its torque comes on early enough that the sensation of speed when pulling away from a stop is greater than the actual empirical measurement. There's also the fact that the Mercedes-Benz's gearbox is jumpy and unpleasant around town, proving that the latest technology isn't always the greatest. A price must be paid, however, for the Q3's semi-old school drivetrain, and it takes the form of a fuel mileage rating of 20-mpg city and 29-mpg highway - numbers that keep it squarely behind its German countrymen.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Quattro All-Wheel Drive Emphasizes Winter Traction Over Performance

That the 2015 Audi Q3 de-emphasizes performance in favor of ride comfort can also be seen in the details of its available quattro all-wheel drive system. The Q3's all-wheel drive option doesn't go in for any of the advanced torque vectoring or dry-pavement traction management that has trickled down to even more affordable crossover fare in recent years. Instead, when quattro-equipped this Audi is content to provide better grip on snowy or wet roads, kicking power to the rear axles as required while remaining primarily front-wheel drive during normal conditions.

I want to underscore that this doesn't take away from the appeal of the Audi Q3, at least not in my eyes. Along with its smooth turbo engine and automatic transmission, the Q3's all-wheel drive tuning reminds you that this SUV is intended as more a refined, yet still practical daily driver, without any of the sport pretensions that sometimes detract from the enjoyment of other vehicles in the luxury subcompact class.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Where's The Active Safety?

Unfortunately, the 2015 Audi Q3's lack of technical sophistication isn't appealing across the board, and nowhere does the SUV's feature set feel more dated than when it comes to active safety equipment. If you want, you can outfit the Q3 with a blind spot monitoring system, but you'll have to look to the options sheet if you intend to add it to the base model. Past that, there's really nothing else available - no lane departure warning, no forward collision warning, and no automated braking - which is disappointing, as you can now find this type of advanced safety from non-premium brands like Mazda.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

The Latest Player In The Crowded Cute Ute Segment

There are now enough entries into the subcompact SUV slice of the automatic market that it's possible to divide them into two distinct categories: trailblazers and me-toos. Although the range of small crossovers specifically built to tempt entry-level buyers aren't without their faults, they have generally been able to paper over their various inadequacies by way of their fully modern platforms and feature sets. The me-toos have a tougher time, as they find themselves behind the tech investment curve, repurposing existing designs or importing themselves from other parts of the world where they have enjoyed success but not had to deal with the same level of expectations.

The 2015 Audi Q3's status as a member of the latter group can be attributed to timing rather than any inadequacies on the company's engineering front. Already several years into its development cycle when it was tapped on the shoulder to get into the American game, the Q3 gets Audi's name on the lips of potential customers while it buys time for a more fully-realized model to make it into showrooms.