Audi Q3 2.0 TDI S line 2012 Review

Praise aplenty has been heaped on Mazda's new CX-5. Variously scribes have talked about its excellent diesel engine and (especially) its "European prestige levels" of cabin finish. And there's good reason for plaudits -- it is by many measures an excellent piece of work.

But it takes about two seconds flat in the cabin of Audi's latest and smallest SUV to re-appraise how high the bar is set when you choose to benchmark best European prestige levels of fit and finish. The Q3's cabin, at least in optional S line form, is all but faultless.

Dash plastics; the mixed seat surfaces of leather and a perforated alcantara-style fabric; metallic touches to dash and doors... If the CX-5 did a great job (at a significantly lower price point) to approximately where the Euro standard for this type of vehicle sat, that benchmark has just been moved. Substantially!

Based on the VW Group's Tiguan/Yeti platform but with a very different feel and character, the Q3 may very well become this writer's favourite Audi. Smart, styled more like a hot hatch than a softroader and very much right-sized for the smaller families now commonplace (and active singles), it even has plenty to endear itself to middle-aged editorial types.

The seven-day tester in this case was a S line equipped 2.0 TDI. And unlike most Q3s sold Down Under it sported the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

Rated at 103kW and 320Nm, the 2.0-litre turbodiesel thoroughly suits the Q3 and is possessed with levels of torque that mean the manual ’box is rarely a chore. Perhaps commuting is the only sore point but the excellent auto stop start system sees to dull the pain a little. It's fuss-free and fires the diesel into life almost instantly.

Practical types will note the Q3's fastback styling limits load space marginally, but there's enough to satisfy most buyers of this size SUV. Need more space? Along with Audi, we'd suggest you step up to a Q5.

Also limiting versatility a touch is the rear seat. The 60:40 splitfold will keep most users content but, for the record, Q3 lacks the Tiguan's sliding function. Nor does it have the Yeti's clever Vario system.

The S line kit adds a substantial $7500 to the standard Q3's sticker price. Though this is not an inconsiderable amount, the kit really does transform the car. We back-to-backed our S line TDI with a standard TFSI petrol Q3 and have no problem in recommending the up-spec diesel.

Inside the S line kit adds an extra level of panache to the interior and gifts the car sport seats that are not only more comfortable but lend the impression of a lower seat height that suits this driver. The seats' extra adjustability was also welcome.

Outside a sports body kit and bigger wheels give the Q3 more of a hot hatch flavour that also was a hit with the style council. You could probably live without the extra cost of replacing 19-inch tyres in the long term but what price fashion?

The diesel proved economical – we averaged better than 7.5L/100km for our week with the car in mainly urban running. One freeway and extra-urban trip saw that trip average down into the sixes.

Compared to the TFSI four-cylinder car we drove (fitted S-tronic twin-clutch automated transmission), the diesel is definitely noisier and a touch gruffer, but we'd choose it thanks to the excellent midrange performance. It's likely the TDI/S-tronic combination would be the pick of the Q3 bunch.

At around $55,000 as tested, the S line Q3 is hardly cheap motoring. Add in navigation (not standard, though Audi's excellent Bluetooth phone and audio interface is) and you're sitting closer to $60,000. This is a lot of money for a compact SUV.

On the other hand, how much would you be prepared to pay for smart, sexy and versatile European sports hatch or wagon? The Q3 straddles these segments. Expect Audi to sell truckloads...

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