Last Monday morning, I was due to pick up an electric car but there were some issues with delivery of the car, and it just wasn’t ready. But I had no complaints when I was handed the key to an Audi Q3.
I have re-booked the electric car, but when I got the key to the petrol Q3 my first thoughts were positive. It meant no hassle charging a car for the wet week ahead with a reading on the dash saying a range of 760km was available with a full tank of petrol on board.
So, a good start to week and while the weather didn’t improve, the range in the Q3 was impressive in what is definitely a frugal 1.5-litgre engine.
The Audi Q3 has been with us since 2011, and originally it was built on the same platform as the Volkswagen Tiguan. We got the second generation in 2018 and now the third generation is raising the bar again. It now has a muscular new look, with a new honeycomb grille finished in piano black that is accentuated by massive air intakes either side and slimmer LED headlights.
Audi have cut back on their lettering on their cars, with just Q3 printed on the back. I drove the S-Line version with red brake callipers which was very eye-catching.
Inside, the dash is dominated by a huge screen that has all the information you require and underneath there is just one old-style button for the radio volume. Plenty of cubby holes to hold drinks, a wireless charger and adjustable arm rest complete a neat lay-out.
Regular readers might know that I love listening to Marty Whelan and other presenters on various radio stations, but it’s long time since I have seen a car radio where you get an image of the track being played. However, my luck was in last week as on the extreme left of that huge display panel on the dash in the Q3 you get to see a small image of the artist who is singing.
It’s a bit cluttered around the flat-bottom steering wheel where the stalks for the lights, and front and rear wipers are very tight. It just takes a little getting used to.
Plenty of room for three adults in the back seat and if you have only two passengers, they can use the divider to hold drinks. The blue stitching on the seats brightens the interior décor. I have driven new cars where the interior is totally dark, not so in the Q3.
My daughter, who is better at deciphering colours than me, wondered aloud if the colour of my test car was light grey or maybe light blue. But the answer was in the tag attached to the key fob, which read, Arrow Grey Metallic.
Boot space is impressive at 488 litres and that space will rise to 1,300 litres with the back seat folded down.
Prices for the petrol version start at €52,525. Also on the way is a plug-in hybrid option where you should be able to up 120km in full electric mode.
I really enjoyed my week in the Q3. We are told that the switch to electric cars is inevitable, but for now let’s enjoy the comforts of a classy petrol car like the Audi Q3. And a plug-in hybrid version is due here soon.
Audi has always been a classy brand, and we are often told that you can get good value in a second-hand Audi, if you cannot afford a new one.
