Unshrunk violet

What we like:

It’s now heck of a lot faster and grippier

What we dislike:

Isn’t as dynamic as the X3

Why does it add more life and relevance?

Because the Q3 in either engine spec isn’t going to go off the road very much here, which means that it serves as an urban accessory rather than a utility vehicle.

The quattro system that has been fitted to this car takes the expanded hatchback feeling away; front-wheel drive tends to create that impression and with the Q3 you can see why very quickly.

Instead, because power is now sent to the rear wheels as well, under hard acceleration you feel like you’re being pushed along instead of pulled along, somewhat similar to a rear-wheel drive car. This is a good thing because the A6 equalling 320 Nm of torque doesn’t force the front wheels to squirrel around when you put your foot down.

All this means that the 2.0l Q3 is more zippy, holds the road better and has more grip as the all-wheel drive system can send power to the wheels that need it most to save you from burning a hole in your wallet should you get adventurous on a twisty or wet road.

Unlike its big brother the Q7 though, the Q3 doesn’t feel quite as solid or composed so you probably won’t want to get too adventurous anyway. The car will roll around quite a bit if you go around bends quickly enough and because it doesn’t have adaptive air suspension like on the much more expensive Q7 doesn’t ride anything like it either.

That’s not to say the Q3 is uncomfortable, but the car’s slightly firm ride coupled with the responsive engine can cause some nausea in passengers if you’re not careful. Thankfully the S tronic gearbox is excellent and shifts imperceptibly so no one’s getting their head kicked in even if you use the paddle shifters.

In all if a compact crossover is your thing and you want something that doesn’t look angry all the time but still feels quick and nimble like a proper city car should the uprated version of Q3 is not a bad choice. Although for nearly $20,000 I’m not sure you’d be kicking yourself if you went with the smaller engine version instead.

Credits: Story and Photos by Alvan Sio