Audi Q3 1.4 TFSI
- Form an orderly Q for our new arrival
- Steering me softly
- Does the 1.4 TFSI cut it in a family car?
- Q3 or Q2?
- Real world economy falling short in our Q3
- A striking design? Or generically dull...
- Does the Q3 already feel past its best?
- What other family cars can you get for Q3 money?
- Your view on the Q3
- Our Q3 springs a leak...
- Will there be a hybrid Audi Q3?
- It's a final farewell to our Q3
Form an orderly Q for our new arrival
David takes delivery of the latest Q3 replacing the Octavia Estate vRS. Will it fit the bill as a more economical form of family transport?
Date: 6 June 2016 | Current mileage: 240 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 34.4mpg
A few months after saying goodbye to the much loved Skoda Octavia vRS Estate, our new family transport has arrived. We've followed with the masses and switched from an estate to a crossover in the shape of the latest Audi Q3. But while the badge may be posher, we have in fact made compromises in terms of engine power, going from a 2.0 TSI to a 1.4 TFSI.
While we loved the Octavia vRS, the 2.0-litre engine was far from economical, something Real MPG shows with owners only seeing around 34mpg. Our annual mileage doesn't justify a diesel so we decided to go for a smaller and hopefully more economical petrol. Hence the Q3 with its 1.4 TFSI engine.
Despite the SUV looks, our Q3 is a front-wheel drive model and also comes with what Audi calls CoD. It's nothing to do with fishing or a popular among teenage boys console game franchise, but rather stands for cylinder on demand. This works by temporarily deactivating two of the four cylinders when not needed, the idea being it saves fuel.
On paper it looks promising. The Q3 is relatively light, weighing less than 1.4 tonnes and the fact it's two-wheel drive rather than quattro also helps reduce fuel consumption. The official Audi figures say it should be averaging 49.6mpg which is pretty good for a petrol with 150PS. Of course whether we see that is another matter...
Good looking 19-inch 'Off-Road' design alloys are a £595 option
Having saved money by choosing a 1.4 TSI over the 2.0 TSI, we've splashed out a bit on the specification, going for the top S line. It certainly looks good in its Hainan Blue metallic paint with the optional £395 black styling package. That replaces the chrome around the grille and windows with a gloss black trim and includes black roof rails too.
As with most Audi models it's easy to add on optional extras. Our car starts at £27,515 but you've already added on £550 for the metallic paint plus our car is fitted with 19-inch 'Off-Road' design alloys which are a further £595. So without even trying there's another grand on the price.
The biggest layout was the Technology Pack at £1495 which comes with the MMI Navigation Plus system along with Audi Connect and a colour Driver's Information System (that's a posh name for the bit between the two main instrument dials). We've also gone with electric front seats at £795 with another £295 to have them heated, along with Damper Control at £680.
Okay, so we did get a bit carried away, ending up with a car that now costs £35,175 on the road. But that's not unusual for a new Audi Q3 - the average spend on options is £32,687. The Audi quality is immediately evident as soon as you get behind the wheel. But will the Q3 cut it as frugal yet practical family transport for the next six months?
Steering me softly
One criticism of the Q3 has always been its overly light steering. Has Audi sorted this out for the facelift? It would seem not...
Date: 20 June 2016 | Current mileage: 463 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 34.9mpg
I remember going on the UK launch of the Audi Q3 in late 2011. This was a year or so after the BMW X1 had arrived but it was still a time when 'crossovers' - yes that's a description I still don't like - weren't on every street corner as they are now. So the launch of a smaller Audi SUV created plenty of interest, especially given how desirable the Audi badge was - and still is.
Audi of course knew it was onto a good thing and the Q3 has proved a hugely popular seller for the German brand. But I remember coming away from that launch feeling distinctly underwhelmed. The Q3 was good but didn't blow me away. And the one thing that stood out - and not in a good way - was the steering.
It's not fair to dismiss a car over one criticism, but with the Q3, the steering set-up stood out like such a huge red sore thumb, that it was impossible to ignore. I was fairly kind at the time describing the steering as feeling 'quite artificial' and not having much in the way of feel. But really it was the big fly in the ointment.
In the intervening years I've driven several Q3 models, with various engines and gearboxes, but the steering has always been odd. So when the Q3 was facelifted in 2015 I thought that surely the steering would be top of the list of things to 'revise' as the say. It seems I was wrong. For all the changes, Audi left the steering as it was. Which seems strange.
We really wish this bit of the Q3 was better
Given how perfectly good - and well weighted - the steering is in other Audi models, like the bigger Q5 and the similar, if a bit lower down A3, I'm yet to figure out why it feels so unusually light in this model. It's a real shame as the Q3 actually handles impressively well through corners, but the steering doesn't give you much confidence when you're approaching those corners.
Now I know what you're saying. Surely with all of Audi's posh fangled adaptive settings, you can alter the steering. And you'd be bob on. The facelifted Q3 is fitted with Drive Select as standard. This has different modes, including efficiency and dynamic, alongside the rather vague 'auto' setting. Go for dynamic and it firms up the steering making the Q3 much nicer to drive.
So that's the problem solved. Unless like me, you've gone for the optional Damper Control. Because this means that when you put switch on dynamic mode, not only does the steering firm up but so does the suspension. And the stiffer suspension does the Q3 few favours in everyday driving, in fact it's best avoided.
So at the moment it appears the £680 Damper Control has actually been detrimental to the Q3. What would solve the problem is an individual mode, which most Audi models with a drive select option come with. This lets you set each element - steering, suspension, gearbox - indivdually. So you could have the nicer sports steering with everything else in comfort. Sadly, that doesn't exist on our Q3...
Does the 1.4 TFSI cut it in a family car?
A 1.4-litre engine may seem too small for a car like the Q3 so how does it cope with every day life?
Date: 4 July 2016 | Current mileage: 594 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 34.7mpg
The every growing move to downsize petrol engines means that cars that a few years ago would have had a 1.8-litre petrol as the 'entry-level' model are being powered by ever smaller turbocharged engines. It's why the Skoda Octavia now comes with a 1.0-litre petrol engine as does the Ford Mondeo with it's 1.0 EcoBoost unit.
Audi has made similar changes. So the 1.4 TSI engine which first appeared in the A3 is also available in the Q3 and now the A4. It should be no surprise of course. Downsizing to a smaller turbocharged engine means better economy and improved performance from low down, making them more enjoyable to drive around town.
It's exactly why we opted for it. Our Q3 is going to spend most of its time around town with lots of short journeys. It certainly won't be pounding up and down the motorway so there's no need to spend the extra on a diesel and the associated DPF problems. Which left us with the choice of two models - the 2.0 TFSI or the 1.4 TFSI.
The 2.0 TFSI would be the default choice for many. It comes with quattro as standard along with a seven-speed S tronic gearbox. However, that all costs more. An equivalent S line starts at £35k without any options. It's quick of course with 180PS and is around a second-and-a-half quicker from 0-62mph than the 1.4 TFSI.
The 1.4 TFSI may be small but does come with posh shiny twin exhausts
Then there's the economy. The 2.0 TFSI averages a claimed 42.2mpg but you'll be lucky to see around 30mpg in real world driving. And that's the real clincher for us. Our Q3 will be used as family transport for our toddler daughter so economy (and saving money) is far more important than perfomance or four-wheel drive.
The 1.4 TFSI is a CoD unit (that's cylinder on demand) which means that it switches off two of the cylinders when they're not needed. So when you're coasting along or at a constant speed. The thinking is that it saves fuel. Is it working? Well so far we're seeing just shy of 35mpg. Some way short of the official 49.6mpg but Real MPG shows that around 39mpg is more realistic.
With 150PS the 1.4 TFSI has more than enough performance for our needs. In fact it's a enjoyably sporty engine low down with a nice little rasp from the exhausts when you accelerate. Yet it's still very refined and smooth - this is an Audi after all. The fact it's turbocharged means it has good in-gear pulling power with 250Nm of torque.
The six-speed gearbox does require a gentle touch at times. In combination with the TFSI engine it's not always that easy to make gentle progress at low speeds. Too much acceleration and an attempt at a quick gearchange will have you lurching backwards. Traction is good though, even without quattro. The front-wheel drive set-up of our Q3 has so far been impeccable. We just hope that economy figure improves.
Q3 or Q2?
Audi has launched its new small crossover - the Q2. Does it make a better value alternative to the Q3?
Date: 18 July 2016 | Current mileage: 674 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 34.9mpg
Earlier this month I went off to Switzerland (get me) to drive the new Audi Q2. You can read some of the words I wrote about it here. The Q2 is Audi's new small crossover - because the world needs more crossovers - that's sort of similar to the MINI Countryman. And it's a car that will doubtless prove very popular - partly because of the Audi badge and a starting price of £21,000.
But it will also prove popular because Audi is giving people what they want - small crossovers with a bit of style that are cheap to run and carry a premium badge. How it drives is almost irrelevant. Although FYI it's a lot like an A3, which is no bad thing, but with a firmer ride. In a nutshell it's good but not particularly exciting.
In many ways the Q2 does pretty much what the Q3 does. But in a smaller package. One thing it has highlighted is the Q3's age. It's feeling decidedly last generation now, particularly inside. It's always amazing how quickly modern car interiors can date and the Q3 is a prime example. Compared to the Q2 it feels a little clunky and plastic heavy.
But one question did become apparent during my drive of the Q2. And that is - is it now a better choice than a Q3? After all, here is a compact Audi crossover that does a very similar job to the Q3. Its more up to date inside, it's cheaper to buy and comes with more technology.
Will the new Q2 effectively replace the Q3?
Of course I know what you're going to say - the Q3 offers more space than the Q2. And that is true. Up to a point. But then even with our 15 month old daughter, me and my other half could quite easily live with a Q2. The boot is only 15 litres smaller than the Q3 but is still wide and easy to load - so getting a pushchair in there is no problem.
Rear legroom is the biggest difference. There's not huge amounts in the Q3 but there's even less in the Q2, especially if you have two six-footers in the front. The Q2 is about 20cm shorter than the Q3 and in the back it shows. The lower roofline means if you're a big 'un, you'll feel hemmed in too. However, if you've only got a child (or two) in a car seat to worry about, you'll be fine as long as they're forward facing. A rear facing child seat means the front seat has to be quite far forward.
As a family of three - and considering our Q3 is mainly driven by my other half with our little girl in the back, a Q2 would suit us perfectly. And I doubt we would find the drop in interior space a problem. It's also available with pretty much the same engines, including the 1.4 TFSI . In the Q2 it's slightly more economical with a claimed 52.3mpg compared to 49.6mpg in our S line model.
The Q3 is one of the elder statesman of the Audi range, having been first launched in 2011 so a new model is due, with rumours it could arrive in 2018. Will Audi make the next generation more ike the Q2 or stick with a more conventional Audi design? Hopefully we'll see by late 2017 with rumours it could be shown (in concept form at least) at the Frankfurt Motor Show next year.
Real world economy falling short in our Q3
Fuel economy in our Audi Q3 is slowly improving but it's still some way short of the official average figure.
Date: 4 August 2016 | Current mileage: 899 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 35.2mpg
Before we start, yes let's be clear that this is an update all about fuel economy. Snoozefest time right? It's hardly the kind of topic that's going to make you a draw at parties, "have you met Ken, he likes talking about fuel consumption...", but for the majority of people buying a car, it's a key factor in which car they end up buying.
It's now become accepted that in real world driving, a car will rarely match the claimed figures manufacturers are obliged to publish. The current EU test is the perfect example of 'not fit for purpose', but it's all we have at the moment. The small print from manufacturers being that these figures are only a guideline and for 'comparitive purposes.'
Essentially these figures are now seen as pie in the sky. And the worrying thing is, the gap between those official figures and what people are actually seeing is widening. Over the past ten years the difference has continued to grow, so that now there's a big disparity between 'claimed' and real figures.
How do we know? Well we launched Real MPG in 2011 as a direct response to the complaints from readers who were fed up with their cars never matching the claimed figures. Now, with more than 100,000 submissions it's a great resource if you're looking to find out what economy you can expect in real world driving, not in a laboratory.
A few trips around town and the Q3 economy soon drops...
So I really shouldn't be surprised that our Q3 is not getting near its 49.6mpg claimed economy. But that doesn't stop me being disappointed. We're currently seeing 35.2mpg which is the best we've had since the Q3 arrived. True we've not been doing any economy runs sitting at 56mph on the motorway, but neither have we been racing around everywhere.
Instead we've been driving the Q3 like, well normal people. It potters around town, takes our little girl out to nursery or swimming, it's often found parked at the local Sainsbury's and occassionaly undertakes a longer journey at the weekends for a day out at some sort of National Trust house. Yes we're so middle class.
Even if we take the official urban figure of 42.2mpg, our car is still falling short of that. And living in fairly rural Hertfordshire, the most 'urban' we get is a trip to Hitchin on a Saturday. Hardly the centre of London.
Our current average of 35.2mpg is similar to what other owners are seeing on Real MPG which currently has a real world figure of 39.2mpg. But there's a wide range of submitted figures from as low as 34.0mpg up to 43.1mpg. Clearly the Q3 is a car capable of better so we're hoping this will improve as we put more miles on the clock.
A striking design? Or generically dull...
There seems to be a mixed opinion on the Q3 design. Some say it's a good looking crossover but others think it's dull.
Date: 18 August 2016 | Current mileage: 1022 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 35.0mpg
Cards on the table here. I'm not a huge fan of the looks of the Q3. It's neat - I'll give it that, but it doesn't do much for me visually. To be fair, few modern cars do and especially not crossovers. And there's always the danger that what initially looks exciting and striking, can soon look ordinary when you've got used to it.
Some car designs will no doubt become iconic - the first Audi TT being a prime example. However, they seem to be few and far between. Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder. One person's stylish is someone else's ugly. And no where else is that more true than in car design. You only have to look at any car-related forum to see the arguments that a new car design will cause. Seriously, take a look, these people need to lighten up...
Our Q3 is a good example. It's very typical Audi. Which is a nice way of saying it's fairly conservative, understated but hardly groundbreaking. There's nothing wrong with that of course. Audi has a consistent design running through all its models and the Q3 has proved one of its biggest sellers so the brand is clearly doing something right.
The Q3 is one of those cars that's quite sensitive to colour and wheel choice. Like most cars, it looks lovely sat in a showroom all clean and shiny with huge alloys fitted. But it's less alluring when you see a base-level white with 17-inch wheels parked in the Sainsbury's car park on a wet February afternoon.
The most exciting 10 seconds you'll ever witness...
So in an attempt to make sure our Q3 looked good - and not like every other Q3 on the road - I went for metallic Hainan Blue paint (yes that is how you spell it apparently) with the black styling package. That's a £395 option but does add a gloss black bit around the grille and black trim around the windows rather chrome.
Along with the black roof rails I think it gives the Q3 a more sporty look and contrasts well with the blue paint. I was close to choosing red but thought the Hainan Blue was a bit more classy. That's me all over. And as ever, I went for the biggest wheels I could get.
Forget ride comfort, it's all about the alloys for me. So we've got the 19-inch Off-Road design wheels which cost an extra £595. Despite the fact our Q3 won't actually ever go off-road. Although we did recently have to park on some grass at a local open farm day. It's non-stop with us...
I think it looks pretty good in this spec, especially as it's in S line trim. And there are some nice details to the Q3 too, my favourite being the dynamic indicators which sweep across. Check out the video above. They have no practical advantage but they do look nice. Seems I'm easily swayed after all...
Does the Q3 already feel past its best?
The Q3 may have been revised in 2015 but despite that it's already feeling quite dated in many areas.
Date: 5 September 2016 | Current mileage: 1197 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 35.2mpg
Five years is a long time in the car world. Since the Q3 was first launched in 2011, Audi has subsequently introduced a new A3, the replacement A4 and the latest A5, among others including the Q7 and the new Q5 which arrives in early 2017.
The thing is, this has rather left the Q3 feeling like the old man of the Audi range. I recently drove the revised A3 Sportback - which feels very much like our Q3, only a bit lower down - and despite only being two years newer than the Q3, was far nicer inside.
This isn't a quality complaint. Our Q3 is sturdy and well built with no squeaks or rattles on the move, but when it comes to design and innovation, it is starting to feel distinctly last generation. And that's especially noticeable in comparison to the A3. The hatchback is hardly ultra-modern, but it feels a better quality and more up to date.
One of biggest complaints about the Q3 is the air conditioning controls. Not only are they buried away down the botton of the central stack, meaning you have to take your eyes of the road to change the temperature, but they're fiddly too. There's no sync mode (or if there is I can't find it...), so you have to change both sides independently - and this involves one click of the dial for every half a degree in temperature. To say it's a bit annoying is an understatement. The A3 does it much better and with a slicker look too - check out the picture below.
Latest A3 Sportback feels far more modern inside
The infotainment system - what Audi calls MMI - is also much improved in the A3 compared to our Q3. The screen is thinner and slides neatly away into the dash when you switch it off. Our Q3 has a boxy screen plonked on the top which you can fold down with your hand. Hardly cutting edge. The display in our Q3 isn't especially good either, it reminds of the original iPad screen - it looked great when new but has been quickly superseded.
The control for the MMI is also not the best in the Q3 with a dial on the dash and four buttons around it. The newer systems have an easier to use rotary control by the gear lever. There's also no option for the new Audi Virtual Cockpit - first seen on the TT - which is being rolled out across the Audi range and will also be available in the revised Volkswagen Golf, due in early 2017.
Maybe I'm being too harsh on the Q3. It is after all still a very good quality car inside and with a brand new model due in 2018, the next generation version will no doubt be as cutting edge as you expect from Audi and perhaps with similar inside to the Q2.
One thing the Audi has proved is hard wearing inside. With an 18 month old toddler and a heavy car seat that's constantly in and out of the Q3 (the joy of having two cars but only one car seat...), the half leather and half cloth seats are standing up well to the abuse with no signs of wear. Similarly, the boot floor, which is usually covered in mud from dirty pushchair wheels, looks as good as new after a vacuum.
What other family cars can you get for Q3 money?
The Q3 is a premium crossover with a premium price tag. Our car costs more than £35,000 with all the options fitted...
Date: 22 September 2016 | Current mileage: 1316 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 35.0mpg
Value for money is a hard thing to measure. There is the old phrase, 'you get what you pay for' which is something I firmly believe in. As my mum always says - buy cheap, buy twice. But when it comes to cars what you get for your money varies hugely. But with the likes of Dacia proving hugely popular, it's clear people are getting more savvy about where their money goes when it comes to buying new cars.
The thing that annoys me - and many others - is when a car is advertised as 'priced from'. Because as we all know, that gets you the most basic version of that particular car that's usually sparsely equipped and will become pretty much impossible to ever sell on second hand...
With PCP now by far the most popular way to get a new car, it's all about the monthly payments for many people, but list prices remain a good way of comparing what you're getting as an outright purchase. So what about our Q3? Well the list price for our Q3 1.4 TFSI S line is around £27,500. Which seems a lot for what is the entry-level petrol engine with front-wheel drive, wven if it is a high spec S line model.
With the options on our car - which didn't seem that excessive at the time - the price is hiked up to a rather more considerable £35,000. Ouch. Those options include £1500 on the Technology Pack, which is basically a posher sat nav system, close to £700 on Damper Control - something I've regretted since day one - and £765 on electric seats. Looking back on it, those do now seem quite excessive after all...
Car Chooser shows an interesting shortlist of Q3 alternatives
So if we ignore that and go back to the base price of £27,500, what else is around for that money? Well if you're looking at the direct competition you could get an entry-level BMW X1 for the same price - although that would be an SE 18d. More powerful but not as well equipped as our Q3 S line.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA is more competitive and £27,500 can get a GLA 200 AMG Line with a manual gearbox. Despite the badge it's actually powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine and has similar power to the Q3 with 156PS. It also has a bigger boot.
But if you want a wider picture of what else is out there, our Car Chooser can help. It's something we launched this year to help people narrow down their car choices. We know it can be quite confusing with so much choice out there, and that's why we launched Car Chooser earlier this year. Essentially you can choose what features you want from a car - as many or as few as you like - and it will give you a shortlist of cars.
So the reason I picked a Q3 was because we wanted a car with room for a pushchair that was petrol (we don't cover enough miles to justify a diesel), economical and had an electric tailgate. Yes we've got that lazy that an electric boot is now a must. Car Chooser comes up with a good shortlist (including our Q3) that you can further filter by price. So down to
With it filtered down to new cars at up to £28,000 there's a good choice of cars. You can see the results here. The Skoda Superb stands out for me and the Hyundai Tucson. The Skoda may not be an obvious rival to the Q3 but it represents a lot of car for similar money, especially as you can get the same 1.4-litre engine in a Superb Estate in Sportline trim for £27,690.
Your view on the Q3
So what do other owners think of the Q3? Our Owners' Reviews section shows a mixed ownership experience when it comes to the Audi.
Date: 6 October 2016 | Current mileage: 1594 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 34.8mpg
Getting a shiny new car is exciting. Whether it's your first car or your 21st, there's nothing quite like that day when your new pride and joy turns up on your drive. But getting to that bit isn't always that straightforward. No one wants to buy the wrong car - one they find out isn't as good as they were promised by the nice salesman at the dealership in the shiny suit who made you a coffee.
Of course there are plenty of reviews out there, you only have to do a quick search online to find what the big magazines and websites think. But more often than not when it comes to the final decision, most people will ask their friends and family.
That's why we have an Owners' Reviews section. It lets you - our lovely users - see what fellow owners think of their cars - the good, bad and ugly. Plus of course you can leave your own review and share your views with other. A bit like Amazon. But with cars. And we have almost 5000 on the site now thanks to you.
So what about fellow owners of the Q3? Well there's not exactly a glut of reviews (okay so there's only four) but owners on the whole seem satisfied it not overjoyed by the ownership experience. The main complaint seems to be about fuel economy - something we're also experiencing.
Owner's reviews for the Q3 have been pretty mixed
One of our readers, has the same 1.4 TFSI engine and is struggling to get above 40mpg - we're currently seeing 37mpg in ours. They also mention it's not that fun to drive, something we agree with, ending on "Looks like Audi-VW may have have exaggerated the performance of this petrol engine along with their diesels..." We'll just leave that there.
Looking through the reviews what you notice is people commenting on niggling faults - something we've luckily not experienced on our Q3. And when you're paying this much for an Audi, you do expect quality. As one owners puts it: "Generally pleased with the car, but have had some niggly faults which should not happen from a supposedly quality car manufacturer."
Does that impact people's perceptions? Well the quote "this is my first Audi, but because of these these faults, I would not recommend it. I'll return to BMW for my next car," is the answer to that. Ouch. Not what Audi execs would want to read.
So if you own a Q3 (or any other car for that matter), whatever model and whatever age, we'd love to hear from you. You can leave an Owner's Review here and write as much or as little as you like. Plus you can even post a picture. Enjoy!
Our Q3 springs a leak...
Our Q3 has been getting through windscreen washer fluid a little too quickly it seems. A pesky leak is the culprit.
Date: 20 October 2016 | Current mileage: 1867 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 34.8mpg
And it was all going so well. There was me thinking that the six months with our Q3 would pass without any issues, but the Audi had other ideas. And all over something as inconsequential as windscreen washer fluid. Hardly the first thing you'd imagine would pose a problem on a £30,000 car. But not many people realise that it's actually a legal requirement to have enough washer fluid in order to keep your windscreen clear.
Since I've had the Q3, around five months now, I've only had to fill up the windscreen washer fluid once. I'm not a serial squirter when it comes to cleaning the windscreen. Yes I realise that sounds creepy. But with the weather getting worse and the gritting lorries already starting to make an appearance, the Q3 windscreen has needed a bit more of a clean.
So it was no surprise when the light came up on the dash saying it needed refilling. Isn't life very simple with a modern car. So I nipped to the local petrol station and got me some windscreen washer fluid. It was even on special offer.
Armed with my special plastic funnel, because I'm one of those people, I topped up the washer fluid right to the brim, giving it a healthy ratio of fluid to water, seeing as it's about to get very cold. I'd like to say I followed the instructions on the bottle but I just guessed...
Remembering the summer. When I could wash my windscreen with abandon
So all seemed fine. I even had a celebratory windscreen wash to make sure it worked. But then next morning I get into the Q3 and start the ignition to be greeted by a familiar warning light, 'please refill washer fluid'. Initially I did start to question whether I'd actually filled it up and whether this was the early stages of a mental breakdown. But then I remembered the funnel.
So aside from the potential that this was like a really boring version of the film Groundhog Day, why was this warning back? Surely I'd not used it all up in less than 24 hours. Which would be an achievement considering the reservoir is around 2.5 litres. Maybe a fault sensor? No the issue was far more simple - a leaky reservoir.
Under the car was a neat puddle of blue washer fluid, which I'm sure did no good at all to the environment. So thanks Q3 for making me kill some plants. I had a look around and there were no obvious signs of where a leak would be coming from. I refilled it with water and kept an eye out around the bottom of the reservoir but nothing. Odd.
I've not been tempted to fill it back up since. I don't want to finish off any more rare flora. Instead I've put about half a litre of water in with a small amount of washer fluid, just to keep me going. But with winter on the way, its far from ideal...
Will there be a hybrid Audi Q3?
Given the popularity of cars like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, is a hybrid e-tron version of the Q3 likely?
Date: 3 November 2016 | Current mileage: 2277 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 35.2mpg
Hybrid technology in cars is nothing new. The first Toyota Prius was launched in 2000 and has since become a very big seller, while Lexus has embraced the same technology across its line-up, blending luxury and hybrid power with performance. Other manufacturers haven't been quite as quick to pick up the baton though and despite all the benefits of hybrid power, the way they perform in real life often doesn't match up to the promise.
But it seems hybrid power could finally be taking off. And it's come about due to the plug-in hybrid - or PHEV as they've become known. The difference over a standard hybrid is that you can charge the battery pack in a PHEV from a socket at home (or more likely a fast charger). The car can run in purely electric mode without needing the engine. So if you're commute to work is say, 25 miles, in theory you could drive there and back without ever using fuel.
This means much lower claimed CO2 levels compared to a diesel which has huge benefits for company car tax rates. You only have to look at the popularity of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV for evidence. Choosing the PHEV over the diesel would save a company car driver in the 20 percent bracket an impressive £1200 a year. It's a no brainer.
Keen to take advantage of this, there are now more PHEV crossovers and SUVs coming on the market including the Kia Niro and Toyota CH-R. Plus 2017 will see the launch of the Audi Q7 e-tron. It won't be the first Audi plug-in hybrid - that was the A3 e-tron - but the Q7, with its sheer size and £65k price tag, will be a very different proposition.
Following on from the Q7, will we see an e-tron version of the next generation Q3?
So will there be an e-tron version of the Q3? It would certainly make sense, especially seeing as the Q3 is used as a second car by many families. Being able to run solely on electric power the majority of time would make it very cheap to run. Which it would no doubt need to be given the initial price. Given that the A3 e-tron is close to £36,000 you'd expect a Q3 version to be even more. Ouch.
This is where PHEVs currently fall down. It's not that buyers don't understand the technology, but for many the high price tag immediately rules one out. That's what made the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV so popular when it was launched - the PHEV was priced identically to the diesel equivalent. Although that's no longer the case.
If there is going to be a Q3 e-tron, it's unlikely to happen with the current generation. Instead it will appear when the new model is introduced in 2018. It's likely to be powered by the same 1.4 TFSI and e-tron unit as the A3 e-tron, a car we video reviewed in 2015.
If you want a premium hybrid SUV then you don't have to wait for the new Q3. There's a BMW X1 xDrive30e plug-in hybrid due early next year and don't forget the Lexus NX 300h, which is admittedly bigger.
It's a final farewell to our Q3
Our Q3 may have its flaws but it has proved an excellent family car for the last six months. Now it's time to say goodbye.
Date: 24 November 2016 | Final mileage: 2633 | Claimed economy: 49.6mpg | Actual economy: 35.0mpg
After six months with our good-looking Audi Q3 it's time to bid it a farewell. It's been a bit of a mixed bag but on the whole the Q3 has proved to be a comfortable and reliable family motor. We haven't done huge miles in it but that's because our Q3 has done the job of a second car, ferrying children to nursery, doing the weekly shop and generally pottering around town.
It's this kind of driving that many Q3s will be bought for. That's why we went for the 1.4 TFSI petrol rather than a diesel. Lots of short journeys and no long distances meant the extra expense of a TDI wasn't needed. Plus it means no worries about DPFs.
While we haven't been covering big miles in our Q3, the fuel economy has been disappointing. The manufacturer claimed figure says it will do 49.6mpg. Of course we've all learnt now to take these figures with a pinch of salt. Well, more a large packet really. We've seen around 35mpg. Real MPG shows other owners are getting around 39mpg, an improvement but still some way short of the 'official' figures.
Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on the Q3 here. But I was expecting a bit better than 35mpg even though the Q3 isn't sitting on the motorway at 70mph all day. It's driven gently, there's no hard accelerating, mainly because it usually has our 18 month old daughter in the back.
Wide opening boot and low load lip make getting a pushchair in and out easy
There have been lots of positives about the Q3 though. It may not be the most modern Audi model in the range - the interior lags behind the A3 for instance - but it still feels like a premium car. It's very quiet with the TFSI engine and there's minimal wind or road noise. Despite choosing big 19-inch wheels, the ride comfort has been very good. It also handles well so it's a shame the steering feels so over assisted.
After coming from a Skoda Octavia Estate, the Q3 was never going to feel as spacious and indeed, it does feel a little cramped with our 360 swivelling Group 0/+1 seat in the back. The boot is a good size - as shown above - although our bulky iCandy Strawberry pushchair does take up most of the room.
We did have an issue with a leaky windscreen washer reservoir but overall the Q3 has proved as reliable as you'd expect. We've had no other faults or problems with it. My one big mistake was going for the optional Damper Control. This means that when you put the Q3 into 'sport' mode, the suspension stiffens. The problem is, it makes the ride horrible. So i've never used it. We'd suggest avoiding paying an extra £680 for it...
With the Q3 gone, there is a family car sized hole on our driveway. We will miss the prestige of having an Audi - there's still plenty of kudos attached to the brand. It's going to be replaced by something a little different in the shape of a DS4 Crossback. It's a car that wants to be taken seriously as a premium model, but it will have a hard act to follow after the Q3.
