Audi Q3 2.0T review, test drive

The smallest Q gets a petrol motor and may just be a better rounded option than before.

Published on Mar 12, 2013 10:45:00 PM

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What’s even more exciting in this case is the presence of the 208bhp, 2.0 TFSI motor under the hood. The motor uses direct injection for added pulling power at low engine speeds as well as a turbo to boost overall performance. The engine is very refined, settling into a really smooth idle, and feels willing and ever-ready for action on the move. There is almost no turbo-induced delay in throttle responses from this free-spirited motor – tap the throttle and the engine just sings, a sporty snarl emitted every time. It feels very eager at almost all engine speeds and closing up gaps in traffic, as a result, is a mere flex of the right foot away. In Sport mode, the urgency is even higher, although this feels a little jerky in traffic.

On open stretches, you can wind the motor up to 7000rpm and enjoy bursts of acceleration that make this car fun to drive. And this is one seriously quick SUV with the 0-100kph sprint taking a blistering 8.3 seconds, while 150kph comes up in 17.4 seconds.

Audi has chosen to omit gearshift paddles in the Q3, although the twin-clutch gearbox does work really well when you slot the gear lever into manual mode and push it forward to up-shift and pull back to down-shift. Quick downshifts in Normal mode, however, are not the smoothest.

The baby SUV handles very well. The car turns tightly into corners, with body roll well contained. The steering, however, feels a bit too light. It’s better than the one on the diesel and feels more precise, but there are times when you’ll be left wanting more feel.