Audi Q3 Sportback 40 TFSI quattro S line 2021 Review

The Audi Q3 Sportback joins the regular Q3 SUV as a sportier, more hatch-like alternative. Still a genuine five-seat compact SUV, the Q3 Sportback goes up against rivals such as the BMW X2, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40. 

It is now available in three powertrain configurations: 1.4-litre 35 TFSI (110kW/250Nm) and 2.0-litre 40 TFSI (132kW/320Nm) four-cylinder turbo-petrol engines – both of which carry the S line trim, but the 1.4 misses quattro all-wheel drive – along with a stove-hot 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo (294kW/480Nm) in the RS Q3.

The 2020 Audi Q3 Sportback range opens at $49,900 plus on-road costs for the front-wheel drive Audi Q3 Sportback 35 TFSI. Just above that is the 35 TFSI Launch Edition, which gains more equipment for a $6550 premium, while the model tested here is the mid-tier 40 TFSI priced from $61,900 plus ORCs.

The Audi RS Q3 Sportback is in another league altogether, starting at $92,900 plus ORCs.

Our MY20 40 TFSI quattro test car was fitted with Audi’s ‘premium plus’ package ($3900) and optional Turbo Blue special solid paint colour ($950), which brought the price tag up to $66,750 plus ORCs.

The ‘premium plus’ package adds a Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system, black exterior styling pack, Matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators, headlight washers, ambient LED colour interior lighting package and a panoramic sunroof.

Standard features include 20-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels, Alcantara inlays around the door trims and dash, Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display, heated front seats and tinted windows.

Despite the lower roofline, luggage capacity for the Q3 Sportback is actually the same as the regular Q3, with 530 litres available when the 40/20/40-split folding rear seat is in place, and 1400 litres once folded flat.

That said, this is a function of the manner in which luggage volume is measured. In the real world, the ‘fastback’ Sportback’s sloped rear-end does cut away some of the boot’s internal height.

Servicing the Q3 Sportback with Audi’s Genuine Care Service Plan program costs $1610 for the first three years and $2630 over five years, with visits due every 12 months or 15,000km.

As you’d expect given Audi’s status and reputation, the 2020 Audi Q3 Sportback 40 TFSI quattro S line is equipped with five-star safety and a load of tech.

Adaptive cruise control with stop/start function, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning, lane assist, high beam assist, a 360-degree camera, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors and park assist are all standard.

Audi’s Virtual Cockpit Plus is a highlight of the standard package. It features a huge 12.3-inch digital dash which is customisable and simply superb to use. Able to display satellite views of Google maps between the speedo and tacho, or a number of other vehicle settings, it’s arguably the best in the business at present.

In the centre stack, every Audi Q3 Sportback gets a 10.1-inch touch-screen infotainment unit, kitted out with navigation, Apple CarPlay (with the option of wireless) or Android Auto connectivity, 3D map display, voice recognition and digital radio.

With the crisp 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system option fitted to our tester, the only thing that bugged about the audio was the reach to the volume dial (underneath touch-screen on passenger side). Even though you can still adjust it via the steering wheel, sometimes an old-fashioned dial is easier.

Electric front seats – leather-appointed in every Q3 Sportback – offer four-way electric lumbar support in the 40 TFSI. 

Another stand-out feature is the panoramic sunroof (as mentioned, another option); blacked-out and in tilt position, it adds a bit more flair to the Q3 Sportback’s already sweet silhouette.

Rear seat room is good, but taller passengers in the outer seats might struggle with headroom owing to the Sportback’s lower roofline. And fitting three across the back can be done, but if you plan on carrying five passengers regularly, you might want to size up. 

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in the 2020 Audi Q3 Sportback 40 TFSI drives all four wheels via the German car-maker’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive system and a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission.

While it’s not exactly a potent combination – Audi says it takes 7.8sec to hit 100km/h from standstill – it feels plenty quick, with enough grunt to be the city slicker it was designed to be.

Take it out cruising on coarser country roads and the athletic engine has no trouble keeping up, although low-profile tyres wrapped around its 20-inch rims remind you it’s more comfortable on smoother tarmac.

Something else you’ll notice is the average throttle response. Sure, at the end of the day it’s an SUV, but a troubling amount of delay in take-off is particularly noticeable when pulling out in front of traffic – from a side street, for example.

Stamp your foot on the accelerator and not a whole lot happens for a second, before it gets the message and takes off.

We also drove the 35 TFSI Launch Edition the following week, fitted with the smaller 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine that drives the front wheels only through a six-speed S tronic auto – and found that the difference in output (110kW/250Nm versus 132kW/320Nm) was more obvious on paper than when out on the road.

The smaller engine keeps up well, cruising up steep, winding hills with ease and driving around town without a hitch. What was a lot more obvious, however, was the front-drive layout in the 35 TFSI, which takes some throttle-finessing to get the best out of it.

Peak torque in the 1.4 arrives between 1500-3500rpm, so giving it too much right foot pedal pressure when taking off results in wheel spin, screeching tyres and passers-by giving you that look.

On the road, the 2020 Audi Q3 Sportback 40 TFSI doesn’t immediately feel like an SUV, with nothing resembling spongy suspension or body roll.

Instead, it does a good job of maintaining composure through corners and soaking up bumps in the road – the latter more so in the 35 TFSI Launch Edition, where it gets 19-inch wheels and more forgiving rubber. 

The bigger-engined 40 TFSI has shift paddles to facilitate sportier driving, while selectable driving modes (including dynamic and off-road) and progressive steering are fitted to all Q3 Sportback variants. Adaptive dampers can be optioned, however weren’t fitted to either of our test cars.

The suspension feels sporty and taut, but it’s liveable. On the road, steering input is light and direct, making it a breeze to manoeuvre and park.

Every Q3 Sportback also gets a leather-clad steering wheel, with the tiller on the 40 TFSI a flat-bottomed design with perforated sides and an ‘S’ emblem.

Sportier ‘S’ front seats in the 40 TFSI also provide extra support, with thicker side bolstering and silky Alcantara inlays.

With plenty of electric seat adjustment, combined with a telescopically adjustable steering wheel, finding a comfortable driving position is easy.

A small, though certainly premium, SUV for almost $70K on the road is up there. This is especially the case considering mainstream manufacturers like Mazda are now offering some pretty ‘affordable-lux’ SUV models, including the new 2020 Mazda CX-30 and the incoming 2021 Mazda MX-30.

But overall, the 2020 Audi Q3 Sportback 40 TFSI quattro S line is one of the most well-equipped and stylish models in its class.

You’ll be hard-pressed getting the same amount of luxury, tech and safety features elsewhere without spending even more money.

How much does the 2020 Audi Q3 Sportback 40 TFSI quattro S line cost?
Price: $61,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 132kW/320Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 8.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 188g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2018)