Audi Q3 Sportback Review 2024

BMW was laughed at when it put a coupe-like body on the BMW X5 to make the BMW X6. However, it’s the marketing men from Munich who are laughing now, because everyone else has followed suit – even in their smaller SUV models. The Audi Q3 Sportback is just such a thing, with a tapered roofline, sloping rear end and looks that appeal to the cool kids. There’s an extensive range of petrol and diesel engines, plus it’s also available as a plug-in hybrid.

Once the SUV craze took off, it was inevitable that car companies would begin looking at different body styles to suit a range of buyers. Convertible SUVs such as the Range Rover Evoque are definitely a niche proposition, but coupe-like designs are now all the rage. We still aren’t completely convinced, though. After all, an SUV is supposed to be all about practicality, so why would you want one that compromises this?

In the case of the Audi Q3 Sportback, the German premium brand has essentially taken its Audi Q3 and completely changed the back end, with a tapered roofline, sloping tailgate and more sporty looks. It does mean a few compromises in terms of the interior and boot space, but the trade-off is an SUV that looks more urban and dynamic.

It’s not just the coupe looks that are different either; the Audi Q3 Sportback is also lower and slightly longer than the regular Q3. It takes on the BMW X2, Mercedes-Benz GLA and electric models such as the Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV and Volvo C40 Recharge.

There’s no pure electric version of the Audi, though. If you want to electrify, you have the option of the Q3 Sportback TFSI-e plug-in hybrid, with its claimed 28 miles of electric-only driving range.

The rest of the range is extensive, including petrol and diesel models, front-wheel drive, quattro all-wheel drive and Sport, S-Line or Black Edition trim levels. At the top of the tree sits the 400PS RS Q3 Sportback.

It might be based on the regular Q3, but the Audi Q3 Sportback’s coupe-like profile and more dynamic looks command a price premium over its more practical sibling.

All Q3 Sportback models are fitted with sports suspension. This can feel a bit firm at times, yet is perfectly in keeping with the car’s character. Depending on the type of road you are travelling on, or your mood at the time, Audi Drive Select provides a range of driving settings. It provides the most variation in models fitted with adaptive suspension.

Quattro-equipped cars provide confidence-inspiring grip, especially in inclement weather. Most of the time, though, the front-wheel-drive models will not only cope well, but will use less fuel. Overall, ride quality is fairly good, although not a match for the dynamic nature of the BMW X2.

There’s a full choice of petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid engines for the Q3 Sportback. The Sport 35 TFSI petrol kicks off the range with 150PS and 250Nm of torque between 1,500-3,500rpm. The smooth six-speed manual will get to 62mph in 9.5 seconds, but opt for the commuting friendly S-tronic auto and you will arrive a tenth quicker.

The 40 TFSI petrol provides a jump in power to 190PS and 320Nm of torque between 1,500 and 4,100rpm, plus a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds. If that’s still not enough, the 45 TFSI S-tronic will sprint to 62mph in 5.8 seconds courtesy of its 245PS, 370Nm of torque and quattro all-wheel drive. If you still want more, you’ll have to look at the Audi RS Q3 Sportback with its 400PS five-cylinder engine.

Want to travel further between fill-ups? The 35 TDI gives you 150PS and 360Nm of torque between 1,600 and 2,750rpm. It’s Audi’s much loved 2.0-litre turbodiesel, which delivers great torque and combined fuel consumption of up to 55.4mpg. You’ll get more like early 40s mpg from the 40 TDI models, but added performance thanks to their 200PS and 400Nm.

Then there are the plug-in hybrid TFSI-e models. These combine a 1.4-litre petrol engine with a 10.4kWh battery and an electric motor. The engine delivers 245PS and the combined torque is 400Nm. Audi reckons you can do up to 28 miles in electric mode only, with an official fuel consumption figure of up to 176.6mpg. Realistically, you can expect this number to be in the 40s, perhaps lower if the engine is forced to work hard.

As with rivals like the BMW X2 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, safety is high on the priority list. The Audi Q3 Sportback comes with multiple airbags, Isofix child seat anchors and lots of electronic systems. These include automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning. They all contributed to it receiving the maximum five stars when crash-tested by the Euro NCAP vehicle safety organisation.

Note that some of the safety systems are in extra-cost optional packs, though, including the Driver Assistance Pack.

All versions of the Audi Q3 Sportback are rated to tow a 750kg unbraked trailer. The majority can pull a 1,800kg braked trailer, although some of the more powerful petrol engines are rated at up to 2,000kg.

If you don’t need the rear-seat headroom or luggage space of a regular Q3, the Audi Q3 Sportback version does offer good practicality. The front seats are spacious and the rear seats slide to provide either more legroom or increase the space in the boot. The coupe styling does mean taller adults will struggle a bit in the back seats, especially on models fitted with a panoramic glass roof.

Boot space is 530 litres, slightly less than in the regular Audi Q3. Split-folding back seats make loading that Saturday flat-pack furniture purchase easy, with up to 1,400 litres of space available. However, if you opt for the plug-in hybrid version, the battery takes away even more of the available boot capacity.

As you would expect, it all looks rather premium inside the Audi Q3 Sportback, although there are a few materials that feel a bit underwhelming. The trim all fits together well, there’s a nice reassuring firmness to the dashboard and the fake metal surfaces add a luxury ambience.

It might have a upmarket flavour, but at the same time the upholstery and door trims all feel hard-wearing – perfect for those planning to use a Q3 Sportback as family transport.

Audi’s superb Virtual Cockpit display provides most of the information a driver needs. There are multiple themes to choose from and you can select what information you want to display, allowing you to focus on the road ahead and just scroll through menus via controls on the steering wheel.

The centre console features a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s a fairly straightforward setup to use, with clear icons and the ability to swipe through screens and scroll through menus. It contains everything from radio stations to vehicle settings, as well as a range of smartphone-compatible apps.

The Audi Q3 Sportback range starts from £33,930, with no less than seventeen models in the line-up. It starts with the Sport 35 TFSI petrol, which comes with a six-speed manual gearbox. You can add a couple of thousand pounds for the S-tronic automatic version, while if you want the diesel, with its combined consumption figure of 55.4mpg, then expect to shell out £37,100.

The slightly sportier and more luxurious S-Line starts from £36,280 for the manual version, or you can have the more powerful 40 TFSI quattro in this spec for £40,370, the 40 TDI diesel at £41,470, and even more power in the 45 TFSI quattro for £42,270. Black Edition models start at £38,330, rising to £44,320.

At the top of the Q3 Sportback range are the 45 TFSI e plug-in hybrid versions, costing £44,270 for the S-Line and £46,320 for the Black Edition. All prices are correct at the time of writing.

Audi also offers some optional warranty packages on top. The four-year, 75,000-mile warranty costs £365, while five years or 90,000 miles is £830.

In theory, you will get the best fuel consumption from the plug-in hybrid version of the Audi Q3 Sportback, especially if you keep the battery topped up and regularly only travel within its 28-mile electric range. However, except for the ferocious RS Q3, the PHEV is the most expensive model in the range.

The diesels should give you a fuel consumption figure in the early 50s, while petrol versions will vary from the early 30s to the mid 40s for miles per gallon. Some versions also benefit from mild-hybrid technology to reduce consumption.

Opting to add larger wheels will, of course, impact not just fuel economy, but also the cost of replacement tyres. So think carefully before you get too excited about the options list.

All Audi Q3 Sportback models have a three-year or 60,000 mile warranty, but Audi offers optional packages on top. A four-year/75,000-mile warranty costs £365 and the five-year/90,000-mile warranty is £830.

The Audi Q3 Sportback range kicks off with the Sport models, which get smart 18-inch alloy wheels, Audi Drive Select driving modes, a start-stop system, LED headlights, cloth sports seats with lumbar adjustment, dual-zone climate control and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit with its 10.25-inch digital instrumentation display.

There’s also a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay integration, plus you get a three-year subscription to Audi Connect Infotainment Services Plus – including Amazon Alexa integration. If the price makes you think it’ll be a bit basic, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Sportier than Sport models are the S-Line versions, which add sports suspension, 19-inch alloys, S-Line exterior trim and leather sports seats. Dark matt brushed aluminium adds to the sporty theme inside, as does a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel.

It will come as no surprise that Black Edition models have plenty of dark detailing, including black Audi rings on the grille, black wing mirror covers and piano black inlays for the interior, all in addition to S-Line equipment. These versions also get Audi Beam, a puddle lamp that projects the Audi logo onto the ground when you open the door in the dark. It’s not in black, though, because that would be silly.

Before you dive into the extensive options list, Audi has put together some useful equipment packs. The Technology Pack, priced at £1,395, includes a Sonos 3D premium sound system, a reversing camera, an upgraded parking system and heated front seats.

The £4,495 Technology Pack Pro contains all the goodies in the Tech Pack, but adds a panoramic glass roof, 360-degree cameras, electric front seats and Matrix LED headlights.

The Driver Assistance Pack gives you high-beam assist for the headlights, Audi Parking System Plus, adaptive cruise assist and emergency assist. It’s a very comprehensive package.