Audi Q3 Sportback long term review, 11,500km report

Okay, first, a clarification: that’s not me hooning around in the Audi Q3 Sportback. That’s a certain Mr Saumil Shah, who borrowed the car from me for ‘work’ – in the biggest air quotes imaginable.

The Q3 Sportback was the support car for our Lamborghini Sterrato shoot at Nanoli Speedway. And, naturally, a muddy track with acres of runoff was an opportunity that proved far too tempting for him to resist. Fun cars do have a way of making you do slightly silly things when the right opportunity presents itself. And I’d definitely put the Audi Q3 in that category. It’s got a peppy engine, neat handling and even good ground clearance, all wrapped within a compact footprint. As someone who loves smaller cars, the Q3 is right up my alley. 

I’ll admit, life with a luxury car can be a little stressful on Mumbai’s congested roads, where you’re sharing whatever road space is left after all the construction with cars, bikes, battle-hardened buses and everything in between. But the Q3 takes a lot of that stress away. The small size and elevated seating make it very easy to place, and what makes things more relaxing still is the excellent noise insulation. It’s no EV (the engine does get vocal in a good way when rushed), but the Q3 does cut out a lot of the cacophony outside. Another highlight on the Q3 is ride comfort. It makes light work of bad roads with the chunky tyres taking up a lot of the initial impact. Just wish the Q3 got snazzier wheels. The boring alloys undo much of the glamour of the Sportback’s SUV-coupé shape. Gun to my head, I’d still take the standard Q3 with its more conventional derriere.    

In cars with ADAS, my SOP is to first check if auto-braking functions are off. The Q3 doesn’t have ADAS, but I do still have a pre-flight check. And that is to ensure Automatic Parking Sensor Activation is turned off. The Q3’s overly sensitive proximity sensors seem to react to absolutely everything around the car and the constant beeping can get alarming in heavy traffic. Of course, connecting my phone via a wire is also a requirement because there’s no wireless connectivity in the Audi.  

Thing is, I don’t want to overplay these small irritants. Because, in the big picture, the Q3 remains a charming option for buyers looking for an entry luxury car. More so now with some great deals going on the model as it makes way for the next-gen Q3 that comes later this year. Having lived with one, I know I won’t get bored of this Q3 for a long time to come. Heck, maybe I need to scout around for a good deal myself.