Shrinking Violet
Audi make some brilliant cars that go like stink, make a big impression in the parking lot, eat dirt roads and are perfect for cruising at 250+kph down German autobahns...
The Q3 is fun to drive - and for a mere 1.4 litre unit, really responsive. It's nippy, the seating position is great for all-round visibility and the driving aids (obstruction warnings, rear camera, park assist) are all of a quality that could suggest you were in that Q7 big brother. The Brake Assist can be a little intrusive though; brake firmly and progressively and the last few inches will see you nutting the dashboard if you don't let off.
The Q3 is that it is good for what is though: an expanded small hatch. Ride is great for general gentle cruising, but it is nowhere near as planted on the road as bigger Audis. Head for the twisties and you will be rolling like a trawler in a heavy swell, although it never feels uneasy. Around town that is no big issue, but if you want to go on adventure, it could be. The upside is the car's light weight and compact outside dimensions. Parking, threading gaps, zipping about and chasing the lights are all a delight in this car. For town it's perfect - and it is impressively quiet inside too.
To sum up - the Q3 does indeed look like shrunken Q7. It turns heads, is more together styling-wise than the BMW X-1, and is more frugal on petrol than the similarly-performing Mercedes Benz GLA 200. It's just that the interior errs towards the practical rather than Q7 luxury, and the handling errs towards capable rather than tautness. If you can live with those, the Q3 is well worth a look.
Credits: Story and Photos by Jeremy Torr
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