Audi recently overtook Mercedes Benz in sales for the Jan-March 2012 quarter, launched the new TT in India and went onto expand its national footprint to 25 locations! Does this mean the brand is on a roll in India? Well, we would say this is just the beginning of good times that await Audi in India as the new Q3, which we drove in and around Goa, seems all set to boost the company’s sales in India by a huge margin, enough to make BMW scratch their heads. Yes!
Take out X1 from the BMW portfolio and you are left with sales numbers that would not really impress us much. With the X1, BMW really laughed away to the bank, minting money like never before. However, it also opened up a new category of vehicles, that of the luxury compact SUVs and Audi is the first one to take note of it – the potential that lies in this segment. The all-new Q3 is set for an Indian debut soon and surely packs in everything that a customer of this segment will be looking at, including the most important 4x4 part. In Audi’s dictionary, it’s called the Quattro system and complimenting this is a long list of other standard features and then more! Read on…
Design
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At 4385mm in length, 1831mm in width and 1608mm in height, the Q3 indeed is a baby Q5. It is almost a foot shorter than its elder sibling but the wide body means it overshadows the likes of X1, Pajero Sport and X-Trail in this regard. Further, at first glance, the design lines are so similar to the Q5, you can pass it off as the medium Q easily – this indeed works in its favour as well. However, spend a few minutes and you realise that Audi have aptly used the slogan “Start Young” for the Q3 – the design is sharper, curves are sexier and overall stance sportier. Take for instance the day time running LEDs in the wedge shaped headlamps – touch of art we say!
The side profile, going by the customer base it is targeted at, is dominated by the flowing, coupe-like roof that quickly begins sloping back downward. It flows into an unusually flat D-pillar reminiscent of the A3 models. The silver finished roof rails are part of the standard affair and look great. Things are even better at the rear - the large, undivided tail lights (a distinguishing feature of the Q models) have a wedge shape similar to the front lamps. These feature a three-dimensional look that is continued in their interior. The tail lamps have two high-performance LEDs which require just two watts of power generate the light - a flat bar in the style of the daytime running lights - by means of light guides. To put more numbers, there are 21 yellow LEDs for turn signal, 18 red ones for the brake light!
The Q3 runs on wide 235/55 tyres mounted on 17-inch alloy wheels. They easily fill up the wheel arches (Audi says wheels upto 19-inch can be accommodated) and infact, seen side on, the wheels look a tad big for the vehicle’s size – blame the low height for that. However, this does give the Q3 a mean stance!
Interiors:
As is the case with most Audi models, the Q3 also follows the same design philosophy. Infact, if you make a blindfolded auto enthusiast sit in the Q3 and then open his eyes, I bet he won’t be able to recognise the model he is in. Audi has left no stone unturned to make sure the Q3 feels and experiences like their other premium models – full thumbs up to them for this. The first thing that strikes you once in the driver’s seat is the space here. Immediate comparisons to the BMW X1 will be inevitable and being 33mm wider and with lighter coloured materials, the Q3 definitely gives you a better sense of space.
The design lines are not funky or outwardly modern and chic. Instead they are clean and simple with a sense of premium-ness. Touch and feel of every material is top notch and Audi doesn’t seem to be going the cut-cutting way here. Infact, the model we drove comes loaded with goodies to the brim including a panoramic sun-roof, excellent BOSE audio system among other features.
I stand 6 feet tall and prefer my driving posture to be relaxed than sporty. The Q3 surprisingly has massive seats which do go a long way back. With multiple electrical settings, getting into a comfortable position is pretty easy – it does lack a memory function though. The whole fascia is slightly angled towards the driver for better usage and talking of which, the MMI interface is pretty easy to use, even for first timers!
Space in the second row is pretty good if not very comfortable. It will seat three adults with ease (provided that the front seats don’t have two 6 foot+ adults), much better than what the X1 can do. The reason for this is the transversely mounted engine that helps free up passenger space in the cabin to an extent. However, we did miss a drop down arm-rest for the second row.
To summarize, the Q3 manages to strike the right cord at this price – it never really lets you feel that it is the cheapest Audi product. It doesn’t make you compromise on quality, features or the ever important premium feel – now that’s very vital for someone shelling out Rs 30 odd lakh (on-road price) for a compact 5-seater SUV.
Engine:
Audi is known for their expertise in diesel engines and the Q3’s power-plant is no different. Infact, it is already in use in various models under the Audi group (Skoda and VW) in various states of tune. Audi has thankfully gone full throttle here and what we have is the range topping 177PS version of the 2.0-litre diesel engine. The power is on par with the X1 though the torque is a good 30Nm extra at similar engine speeds. The mill is mated to a 7-speed S-tronic gearbox which simply put, is in a segment of its own. The ability with which this gearbox shifts between gears is phenomenal! The S mode further reduces the shift timings and holds each gear for higher engine speeds – best for those who like grinning moments , like yours truly who had a blast on the open and winding roads of South Goa.
Reason for the grinning moments should also go to the engine. The variable vanes turbo means power comes in pretty quickly and you don’t have to wait for the torque gush to hit you. The engine is pretty smooth as well and with the windows rolled up, NVH levels are like what you should expect from an Audi! The Q3 not only looks smokin’ hot, it also performs equally well!
Later in the year, a 213PS 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine is also expected.
Suspension
Another ace up the Q3’s sleeve is the all-wheel drive system. Audi had prepared a small off-road section for us where, despite its limited ground clearance, the Q3 proved its mettle pretty well. But I still feel that 95% of owners will never take a Rs 30 lakh possession in to the unknown. For them, the Quattro will prove beneficial in other ways – for example during high speed drives on highways when it’s pouring, or up North in the hills when it’s snowing. These driving scenarios can go a long way in revealing the true traits of an all-wheel drive system.
In day to day driving, the Q3 will impress its owners with its ease – light steering, peppy engine and good visibility. Infact, one of the biggest advantages I see in the Q3 over the X1 is the effortless steering. The latter’s steering is simply too heavily weighed for daily driving.
Our driving route was mostly well paved and on such roads, the suspension behaved ably, soaking up minor imperfections with ease. However sharp undulations, rough pot-holes and broken roads are where the firm suspension makes itself felt easily. We are sure though that with 3 or more people on board, this shortcoming with be taken care of to an extent.
Worthy of mention is the fact that some of my industry colleagues felt that the steering was too over-assisted and lacked the feedback at high speeds. My say will be the opposite. A car like the Q3 won’t be taken on racing circuits or around a set of twisties everyday. It will however see city roads on a daily basis at crawling speeds in heavy traffic and this is where the light steering makes life so easy.
Verdict
The reason for the X1’s runaway success has been its low sticker price and big car look. Owning a big premium German car for such money was never heard of before. With the Q3, Audi will try to do just that though it will be fair to say that the Quattro system will add in a couple of lakhs to the price tag. Further, it looks better, has more space and the S-tronic transmission is superior. All this means that a premium of Rs 3 to 4 lakh over the X1 is justified and this means the Q3 range will start at around Rs 27-28 lakh making it around Rs 10 lakh cheaper than the Q5 – that is a full loaded Vento or a Rapid for you!
The selling point about the Q3 is also the fact that inspite of being a smaller product than the Q5, it doesn’t really make you feel the lack in space or quality. There is no compromise on the brand value, performance, features or the ownership feel. The Q3 will initially be imported as CBU and later assembled in India but the prices will remain same from the launch period itself.
At this price, the Q3 does make sense as a worthy alternative to the X1 and even to its own sedan sibling, the A4. Don’t be surprised to see the sales gap between Audi and BMW narrowing down further in the 2nd quarter of 2012!
More pictures
Take out X1 from the BMW portfolio and you are left with sales numbers that would not really impress us much. With the X1, BMW really laughed away to the bank, minting money like never before. However, it also opened up a new category of vehicles, that of the luxury compact SUVs and Audi is the first one to take note of it – the potential that lies in this segment. The all-new Q3 is set for an Indian debut soon and surely packs in everything that a customer of this segment will be looking at, including the most important 4x4 part. In Audi’s dictionary, it’s called the Quattro system and complimenting this is a long list of other standard features and then more! Read on…
Design
At 4385mm in length, 1831mm in width and 1608mm in height, the Q3 indeed is a baby Q5. It is almost a foot shorter than its elder sibling but the wide body means it overshadows the likes of X1, Pajero Sport and X-Trail in this regard. Further, at first glance, the design lines are so similar to the Q5, you can pass it off as the medium Q easily – this indeed works in its favour as well. However, spend a few minutes and you realise that Audi have aptly used the slogan “Start Young” for the Q3 – the design is sharper, curves are sexier and overall stance sportier. Take for instance the day time running LEDs in the wedge shaped headlamps – touch of art we say!
The side profile, going by the customer base it is targeted at, is dominated by the flowing, coupe-like roof that quickly begins sloping back downward. It flows into an unusually flat D-pillar reminiscent of the A3 models. The silver finished roof rails are part of the standard affair and look great. Things are even better at the rear - the large, undivided tail lights (a distinguishing feature of the Q models) have a wedge shape similar to the front lamps. These feature a three-dimensional look that is continued in their interior. The tail lamps have two high-performance LEDs which require just two watts of power generate the light - a flat bar in the style of the daytime running lights - by means of light guides. To put more numbers, there are 21 yellow LEDs for turn signal, 18 red ones for the brake light!
The Q3 runs on wide 235/55 tyres mounted on 17-inch alloy wheels. They easily fill up the wheel arches (Audi says wheels upto 19-inch can be accommodated) and infact, seen side on, the wheels look a tad big for the vehicle’s size – blame the low height for that. However, this does give the Q3 a mean stance!
Interiors:
As is the case with most Audi models, the Q3 also follows the same design philosophy. Infact, if you make a blindfolded auto enthusiast sit in the Q3 and then open his eyes, I bet he won’t be able to recognise the model he is in. Audi has left no stone unturned to make sure the Q3 feels and experiences like their other premium models – full thumbs up to them for this. The first thing that strikes you once in the driver’s seat is the space here. Immediate comparisons to the BMW X1 will be inevitable and being 33mm wider and with lighter coloured materials, the Q3 definitely gives you a better sense of space.
The design lines are not funky or outwardly modern and chic. Instead they are clean and simple with a sense of premium-ness. Touch and feel of every material is top notch and Audi doesn’t seem to be going the cut-cutting way here. Infact, the model we drove comes loaded with goodies to the brim including a panoramic sun-roof, excellent BOSE audio system among other features.
I stand 6 feet tall and prefer my driving posture to be relaxed than sporty. The Q3 surprisingly has massive seats which do go a long way back. With multiple electrical settings, getting into a comfortable position is pretty easy – it does lack a memory function though. The whole fascia is slightly angled towards the driver for better usage and talking of which, the MMI interface is pretty easy to use, even for first timers!
Space in the second row is pretty good if not very comfortable. It will seat three adults with ease (provided that the front seats don’t have two 6 foot+ adults), much better than what the X1 can do. The reason for this is the transversely mounted engine that helps free up passenger space in the cabin to an extent. However, we did miss a drop down arm-rest for the second row.
To summarize, the Q3 manages to strike the right cord at this price – it never really lets you feel that it is the cheapest Audi product. It doesn’t make you compromise on quality, features or the ever important premium feel – now that’s very vital for someone shelling out Rs 30 odd lakh (on-road price) for a compact 5-seater SUV.
Engine:
Audi is known for their expertise in diesel engines and the Q3’s power-plant is no different. Infact, it is already in use in various models under the Audi group (Skoda and VW) in various states of tune. Audi has thankfully gone full throttle here and what we have is the range topping 177PS version of the 2.0-litre diesel engine. The power is on par with the X1 though the torque is a good 30Nm extra at similar engine speeds. The mill is mated to a 7-speed S-tronic gearbox which simply put, is in a segment of its own. The ability with which this gearbox shifts between gears is phenomenal! The S mode further reduces the shift timings and holds each gear for higher engine speeds – best for those who like grinning moments , like yours truly who had a blast on the open and winding roads of South Goa.
Reason for the grinning moments should also go to the engine. The variable vanes turbo means power comes in pretty quickly and you don’t have to wait for the torque gush to hit you. The engine is pretty smooth as well and with the windows rolled up, NVH levels are like what you should expect from an Audi! The Q3 not only looks smokin’ hot, it also performs equally well!
Later in the year, a 213PS 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine is also expected.
Suspension
Another ace up the Q3’s sleeve is the all-wheel drive system. Audi had prepared a small off-road section for us where, despite its limited ground clearance, the Q3 proved its mettle pretty well. But I still feel that 95% of owners will never take a Rs 30 lakh possession in to the unknown. For them, the Quattro will prove beneficial in other ways – for example during high speed drives on highways when it’s pouring, or up North in the hills when it’s snowing. These driving scenarios can go a long way in revealing the true traits of an all-wheel drive system.
In day to day driving, the Q3 will impress its owners with its ease – light steering, peppy engine and good visibility. Infact, one of the biggest advantages I see in the Q3 over the X1 is the effortless steering. The latter’s steering is simply too heavily weighed for daily driving.
Our driving route was mostly well paved and on such roads, the suspension behaved ably, soaking up minor imperfections with ease. However sharp undulations, rough pot-holes and broken roads are where the firm suspension makes itself felt easily. We are sure though that with 3 or more people on board, this shortcoming with be taken care of to an extent.
Worthy of mention is the fact that some of my industry colleagues felt that the steering was too over-assisted and lacked the feedback at high speeds. My say will be the opposite. A car like the Q3 won’t be taken on racing circuits or around a set of twisties everyday. It will however see city roads on a daily basis at crawling speeds in heavy traffic and this is where the light steering makes life so easy.
Verdict
The reason for the X1’s runaway success has been its low sticker price and big car look. Owning a big premium German car for such money was never heard of before. With the Q3, Audi will try to do just that though it will be fair to say that the Quattro system will add in a couple of lakhs to the price tag. Further, it looks better, has more space and the S-tronic transmission is superior. All this means that a premium of Rs 3 to 4 lakh over the X1 is justified and this means the Q3 range will start at around Rs 27-28 lakh making it around Rs 10 lakh cheaper than the Q5 – that is a full loaded Vento or a Rapid for you!
The selling point about the Q3 is also the fact that inspite of being a smaller product than the Q5, it doesn’t really make you feel the lack in space or quality. There is no compromise on the brand value, performance, features or the ownership feel. The Q3 will initially be imported as CBU and later assembled in India but the prices will remain same from the launch period itself.
At this price, the Q3 does make sense as a worthy alternative to the X1 and even to its own sedan sibling, the A4. Don’t be surprised to see the sales gap between Audi and BMW narrowing down further in the 2nd quarter of 2012!
More pictures
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