AUDI Q3

Audi's popular SUV is late to the party but impresses nevertheless

- BENJAMIN GRACIAS

AUDI Q3 TECHNOLOGY

 Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol Power: 190PS @ 4,200-6,000 rpm Torque: 320Nm @ 1,500-4,100 rpm Weight: 1,700kg Gearbox: Seven-speed DSG Price: ₹50.39 lakh ex-showroom

The Audi Q3 has been a popular offering, being the German carmaker's most accessible entry point for SUVs. It was discontinued in April 2020 owing to the BS6 changeover and also to make way for the second-generation Q3. Pandemic-induced delays meant the Q3 took a long time to reach our shores. Meanwhile, its rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40 have moved the goalpost further. The Q3 comes all guns blazing and is larger and more-feature packed. Does it have the same appeal as its predecessor? 

Styling is a major factor in the entry-level luxury segment and the Q3 scores major brownie points with Audi's flagship Q8-derived styling accents. In fact, you won't be amiss in calling it a baby Q8. The Q3 looks larger than its predecessor and has more street presence thanks to its broad, upright grille and large headlamps. It is still recognisable as a Q3 mainly due to the sharply raked rear windscreen. I quite like the 'Pulse Orange' paint job which makes the new Q3 further stand out from the crowd. That said, the 18-inch wheels on the India-spec SUV tone down the design quotient especially given the cool alloy designs on the international models.

The new Q3 is even more impressive inside with a new driver-centric cabin that has the dashboard controls angled towards the driver. The dashboard itself features sharp, angular lines and layers lending a modernist vibe. The steering wheel is not of the flatbottomed variety though, a miss in my opinion.