Replaced my Crysta 2.8 with an Audi Q3 Sportback: Initial impressions

Essentially the interior is plush and it, combined with the Audi brand value, is perhaps the main reason to choose the Q3/Q3 SB over VW’s/Skoda’s offerings if one has to consider it.

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NCR's 10-year diesel rule and frequent bans on the plying of diesel vehicles in the winter, coupled with an intrinsic desire to own a true luxury car meant we were in the market for a new car. We were 'upgrading' from our 2.8 Z, 150 HP Innova Crysta, which was even recently serviced and in pristine condition. Honestly, it felt wrong to even sell it considering how well of a state it was in but it is what it is - anyways the new car had big shoes to fill. (Also do note I'm writing from the perspective of a 17 y/o so all driving anecdotes are from my father's point of view)

Selection Process

We initially began with a budget of 35-40 lacs and were considering a used (within 4 years) German petrol. The first car my dad test-drove was a 2020 BMW X1 from Spinny, and although it was more refined, he didn't find it to be a definite step above our crysta with its powerful 2.8 l. Though the looks were on point, the interior, perhaps because it was getting somewhat dated, didn't have the charm he was looking for. Although he considered it we had to try something else.

My father decided to extend his budget (by quite a bit) and got in touch with one of the many Audi dealers in NCR, who happened to have a Technology Audi A4 in a stunning dark grey. A test drive was arranged and right from the first impressions our inclination changed. The interior had much more of a premium feel and the sound system (Bang and Olufsen) was wonderful. The 2L 208 HP engine was smooth and powerful, and the gearbox made the shifts almost indiscernible - as my dad put it, if the Innova pulled like a Lion then the Audi sprinted like a cheetah. Being in the rear it was comfortable and spacious and the deal we were getting was great. The caveat was that it was a demo car with ~10k km on the Odo, which isn't too much but we all know how demo cars are abused. Nevertheless, we put down a deposit to book the car for a couple of days and explored a few other options.

BMW's offering was particularly disappointing. Although we did try the 3 Series Gran Limousine (which was awesome) since we were at the showroom, it was well beyond what we were willing to spend, so the only other option was the new X1. The design and features aren't too bad but shame on BMW for offering a 3-cylinder 135 HP engine for ~60 lacs otr. It's honestly disrespectful as an enthusiast. The car felt massively underpowered and while the shifts were smooth the engine was a massive disappointment, so despite any possible discounts we weren't considering it.

Merc's GLA would be over-budget and the A class's design was a deal breaker, so Mercedes was out of the window too.

Audi's pre-approved site had a 2019 built, 2020 registered white Audi A6 with 46.6k km on the dash. Knowing that the A6 is a complete segment above anything we'd looked at until now we did think of it, but after consulting a few experienced friends we decided not to pursue it because of possible maintenance issues down the line and the fact that it was used, after all.

It was around this point that we were contacted by Audi Delhi West who were offering :

• An Audi A4, technology variant in Tango red - which appealed to 17y/o me but my family (and perhaps many others, which is probably why it was offered at a discount) didn't think it would be an apt colour for our main car...so not it then.
• An Audi Q3 Sportback in Chronos grey: This immediately piqued my father's interest because he prefers SUVs (or at the very least cars with some more ground clearance) over sedans. Moreover this, like the aforementioned A4, would be brand-new and not a demo model.

A home test drive was promptly arranged by Audi West Delhi, and since my father liked it, we decided to book it after negotiations.

A looker...

Before I dive into the details here's a brief list of Pros & Cons I think worth mentioning:

Pros:

• Engine, Gearbox & Performance - Best among Competitors (Petrol X1 & GLA, 2024
• Quattro AWD System - Useful in Low traction situations
• Brilliant Design and Styling - Looks great from all angles
• Build Quality, good fit & finish - no noticeable panel gaps either
• 5-star safety rating & equipment (6 airbags + a host of electronic aids
• Quality of Materials used in the Interior, and Ambience

Cons:

• Height - Even though the Q3 SB is officially an SUV, it isn't a tall car, standing at about 5'1.5" only.
• No Bang & Olufsen Sound System - This is offered on the top variant of the A4 but not on the Q3 SB. Audi's 180W, 10 Speaker System is competent but the B&O System is still missed.
• Rear Headroom, Recline, Legroom - Although this shouldn't be an issue, taller passengers might face issues.
• Lack of Memory Seats - Again, another feature available on the A4, which the Q3 doesn't get.
• No heated/ventilated/massaging seats - Considering that the heart of the vehicle is shared with the Tiguan & Kodiaq, one would expect such a feature to be included while paying extra for an Audi.
• No cooled glovebox/sunglass-cubbyhole - Surprising considering the Crysta had them.

Sharp Contours around the rear...

Driving Dynamics

The heart of the vehicle (engine and gearbox) is the same as the VW Tiguan and the Skoda Tiguan, boasting 190 HP and 320 NM of torque, and a claimed 0-100kph time of 7.3 s. Never tested but it sure is rapid.

The Q3 Sportback gets a Haldex Quattro system, which from what I’ve read means that it’s relatively forward-biased and more of a ‘reactive’ AWD system - which inspires confidence during fast cornering and limited traction situations.

The gearbox is a 7-speed DCT but I’ll tell you my experience. We went on test drives with the A4 Technology (top), Q3 Premium (base) and Q3 SB. While the shifts in the SB and A4 (best in the A4) were smooth, they were discernable in the Q3 base model. It’s like a split-second hesitation in shifting to higher gears at speed, which I haven’t felt in the SB till now. It could very well be placebo but anecdotally we felt it. And no, there isn’t turbo-lag.
It looks great, is refined, and goes like a beast. The throttle response is instant and powerful, making it a test of self-control on empty roads. The Innova was comfortable, but larger bumps and unevenness were still felt, (perhaps due to its body-on-frame design or suspension type, can't say). Compared to that the Audi dampens everything and the ride is extremely composed. It also has progressive steering (variable steering ratio) but I can't describe it as I haven't driven it :/. There are paddle shifters but they’re plastic and more of a gimmick.

We haven’t been on long trips yet (so can’t give highway mileage) but it cruises at 120kph quite effortlessly on the Delhi-Mumbai expressway.

The Q3 SB gets 5 driving modes: Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, Offroad, and Individual.

In Individual mode you can vary your steering and throttle response as per preference, but not the suspension.

In comfort mode, it's been able to achieve an incredible 14 kmpl after conservative driving! (claimed - 14.9). For context, it's driven around 34 km per day in moderate to heavy traffic depending on the time, averaging 12-13 kmpl. (~500 km covered at the time of writing this)

Also, Auto-hold is handy at red lights meaning one can let go of the brakes and not worry - although note that this is only available for MY2024, ours is a MY2023 (end of last year, which is part of the reason we got a deal). We unfortunately found this out the hard way whilst driving home after delivery. Apart from that the 2 model years are virtually the same.

Design

The first thing you notice about a car is its size and undoubtedly many will be put off because it’s not a tall vehicle. Although it is a long car (XUV700 is about 7 inches longer) it is only about 5’1.5” tall so that took getting used to. If asked, one would call it more of a crossover/raised hatchback than a proper SUV.

Apart from that, I think the design and styling is brilliant. We went with Chronos Grey because that was the one with a discount but personally I like Navarra Blue the best. The coupe roofline isn’t seen often but it does give it a sportier appearance from the side. Unlike the standard Q3, the grille has a hexagonal pattern with chrome inserts rather than vertical slats. The front bumper and trim pieces are also different giving the SB a more aggressive expression (especially with the DRLs).

The rear too is styled differently, since we get a fake diffuser rather than fake exhausts :/. It looks good but it is plastic which takes away from an otherwise premium finish. Dynamic indicators are standard but still appreciated.

Like the Q3, the Q3 SB gets 18-inch alloys but with a different design. And this is where I have to fault Audi – I understand Indian roads don’t warrant lower-profile tires, but the rims could’ve been so much better. The standard Q3’s rims are disappointing and the SB’s are better but aren’t as good as they could've been.

At the very least different designs/black rims (which would’ve suited grey more) should be on offer? Just look at Audi’s website/press photos v/s what we actually get.

For the extra cost, you get the coupe design and the ‘S-line’ exterior styling package, which basically comprises the aforementioned design changes, and ‘S-line’ badging on the sides & door scuff plates.

However, Audi doesn’t offer the black optics styling package in India (black trim pieces instead of chrome), which in my opinion would’ve suited grey more. Currently, only black badges can be purchased as an accessory. Ideally, paying extra just for design should include such options right?

Passenger door is open here hence the slight misalignment..

While the Q3 gets a panoramic sunroof, the SB only gets a ‘normal’ sunroof, a compromise one has to make for the unique roofline.

So overall I’d say that while the Audi Q3 Sportback looks brilliant as it is, with the right styling choices, it could’ve been an absolute head-turner.

Interior

Earlier I’d mentioned how it’s all VW underneath – but the difference in interior makes up for the fact that the internals are shared to such a large extent.

The Q3 Sportback’s interior gets leather seats, leatherette upholstery and 30 shades of ambient lighting, so it is a nice place to be in. The use of high-quality materials is evident and also much appreciated is the tactile buttons, especially after the capacitive-touch switches that Mercedes is doing nowadays.

Rear- Compared to the Innova, which had captain seats in the rear that could be reclined to almost 180°, the rear seats can't be reclined nearly as much (although this would be true for most 5-seaters). The maximum recline position is comfortable but on long trips, I'll probably end up sitting awkwardly to relax. There is a centre armrest with cupholders, and while there are 3 seatbelts it’s best for 2 people only. Rear legroom and headroom are fine (despite the lower roof), but will be an issue for people above 6’2”; especially if the front passengers are tall as well. There is decent underthigh support and ample storage with extra space for phones/wallets etc wedged between the door and the seats – apart from the storage within the door itself. There are rear A/C vents but the lack of USB charging ports for the rear passengers is disappointing.

Front- I will admit, it is more of a driver’s car. The front seats are electrically adjustable with 4-way lumbar support while the rear ones are in a 60-40 split (sliding). No heated/ventilated seats which is again not expected at more than half a crore. Still, the seats are very comfortable and the cabin feels worth the price. Headroom and legroom are rarely an issue for front seats so no point mentioning that.

There are 2 choices for interior colour – brown and beige. Ours has beige (closer to white) which looks neat but will get dirtier, quicker. Also worth mentioning is that there’s no dedicated place for sunglasses which the Crysta did have.

Essentially the interior is plush and it, combined with the Audi brand value, is perhaps the main reason to choose the Q3/Q3 SB over VW’s/Skoda’s offerings if one has to consider it.

Sound System

The Sportback, despite being the top variant of the Q3, doesn't get the Bang&Olufsen sound system as the A4's top version gets; however, it does get Audi's in-house (and extremely competent) 180 W surround sound system with 10 speakers. The sound quality is impeccable & there isn't a noticeable difference. The speakers are decent (much better than our Crysta tbh), so not a big deal to miss out on the B&O.

Continue reading BHPian sh3lby's review of his Q3 Sportback for more insights and information.