The 2022 Audi Q3 was spied in Thane, Maharashtra

The model year 2022 Audi Q3 has been spied in India and the premium crossover was completely disguised from bonnet to the boot lid.

MotorBeamer Shlok Shukla spotted the vehicle, that has not arrived on Indian soil for quite some time now, at Thane in Maharashtra.

The second-generation model of the Q3 has been on sale overseas for over 3 years now. The model to go on sale in India will be the refreshed version with updated looks.

This time around, the Q3 will ape the styling of the Q8 and will be bigger inside than its predecessor and will come with a long list of equipment as well.

To be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol motor teamed to 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the recently spotted 2022 Audi Q3 should be launched later this year and rival the BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, and the Volvo XC40.

For now, Audi, which sold 3293 units in India last year with a 100 percent growth in sales, is getting ready to launch the 2022 Q7 luxury SUV in the Indian market. Bookings for the vehicle have officially commenced.

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Replacing the current Audi Q3, which is actually about five years old, will be the 2019 Audi Q3 that the company has just launched. This is only an unveiling and there’s still time before the compact SUV reaches our Indian shores.

Audi’s base ‘Q’ model in India is the Q3 as it doesn’t sell the Q2 model here. The car sells well and the 2019 Audi Q3 will appeal to more customers with it new sportier and aggressive looks. It is also about 9.65 cm longer than the existing model while the wheelbase too has increased by about 7.6 cm. This does make the car look slightly bigger while also adding more legroom for passengers. The new vertically placed grille is taken from the Audi Q8 and looks amazing.

The feature list too receives an upgrade with the 2019 Audi Q3. It now comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster called the Virtual Cockpit that the driver can configure using buttons located on the multi-function steering wheel. The centre console houses a more modest, 8.8-inch version of the excellent MMI Touch Response infotainment system found in bigger models like the A6 and A7.

A 10-inch option is also available. The graphics and key functions look the same, but the big difference is that the Q3 has one screen instead of two. Therefore, it retains the manual dials for the climate control. Like most premium cars nowadays, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard. You can also get an internet-connected navigation with Google Earth integration at an extra cost.

Safety systems for the 2019 Audi Q3 include forward emergency braking, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist and active lane assist. There’s also ‘Swarm Intelligence’ in the connectivity portfolio which helps cars communicate among themselves regarding road and weather hazards. The system will be available in Europe and possibly in the U.S. too, but is highly unlikely to make it to India.

The 2019 Audi Q3 will also get multiple diesel and petrol engine options. Though the company has not clearly defined the engine specifications yet, reports suggest that there will likely be a 2.0-litre turbocharged motor that makes either 190 HP and 320 Nm of torque or 230 HP and 350 Nm of torque. Power will be sent to all four wheels using Audi’s quattro system. Transmission duties will be handled by a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The 2019 Audi Q3 will first start selling in Europe by the end of 2018. The beginning of 2019 will see the car reach the United States. It is only after that will we get the car here in India which is about one year from now.

2019 Audi Q3

– The compact SUV has been revealed and will first reach Europe by the end of 2018
– It has gotten bigger in size and gets advanced technologies
– India launch is still far, i.e. in 2019

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2018 Audi Q3 35 TDI Review

Car Tested: 2018 Audi Q3 35 TDI; Road Test No. 929

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 45.33 to 49.06 lakhs

This minor facelift for the Q3 brings slight changes to the exteriors & interiors

The Audi Q3 has been around since a lot of years now and while competition has moved ahead, this compact luxury SUV is still on sale and to keep the product line-up fresh, the Ingolstadt-based automaker has given the SUV a minor facelift which brings about small tweaks to the exteriors and interiors while the core of the vehicle remains similar.

Motor Quest: Based on the PQ35 platform, the Audi Q3 made its debut in India back in 2012. The diesel model was launched first and then, a year later came the petrol version. Audi currently stands third among the luxury car manufacturers in India in terms of volumes and the Q3 has a very pivotal role to play here.

Exteriors – The 2018 Audi Q3 remains vastly unchanged but there are some visual differentiators. To start off, there is a revised front bumper with a silver skid plate but the LED headlights with the LED DRLs continue to feature as before. The sides remain untouched and continue with the Y design 10-spoke alloy wheels while the rear profile is also identical to the previous model. The Audi Q3 looks a proper SUV thanks to its butch design and the all-around black cladding.

Interiors – The interior too remains largely unchanged and continues with the dual-tone black and beige upholstery with Aluminium Tangent inlays. While we have no complaints with regards to the quality of the materials used, the cabin itself feels dated. In terms of features, the baby Audi gets a panoramic sunroof, cruise control, MMI infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, electrically adjustable front seats, automatic climate control and rear AC vents. What is really surprising is the fact that we’re in 2018 and the Q3 still doesn’t get even a single standard USB port! Both the front and rear seats are comfortable and offer good support. Headroom is generous in the rear seat while the knee room is limited. Having said this, the cabin can accommodate 4 adults as the transmission hump at the rear seat will make the third passenger feel he/she is uninvited. The 460-litres boot is well-shaped and is class leading.

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Audi recently launched the updated versions of the diesel Q3 and now the automaker has brought in the Q3 1.4 TFSI that is priced from Rs. 32.20 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The petrol version of the Q3 comes with the 1.4-litre TFSI engine, mated to a 6-speed S-Tronic transmission.

The petrol engine produces 150 HP of power and 250 Nm of torque and it goes from 0-100 km/hr in 8.9 seconds. The ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency is 16.9 km/l. On the outside, the petrol Q3 gets a tweaked bumper while other styling elements are the same. It gets 17-inch cast aluminium alloy wheels with 235/55/17 rubber.

The Audi Q3 gets other features like LED headlights with LED DRLs, panoramic sunroof, LED interior package, MMI Radio, Voice Commands, 2-zone auto AC, Driver Information Display, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Assist, ESP, 6 airbags and cruise control.

The Audi Q3 competes with the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA.

Audi Q3 1.4 TFSI

– The Q3 TFSI is priced from Rs. 32.20 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi)
– The 1.4-litre engine churns out 150 HP and 250 Nm
– The equipment list remains similar to rest of the Q3 line-up

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Audi had given the Q3 a facelift in 2015 and now the automaker has launched yet another updated version of this luxury compact SUV. The 2017 Audi Q3 has been launched at a starting price of Rs. 34.20 lakhs for the FWD variant and Rs. 37.20 lakhs for the quattro variant (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Audi Q3 now comes with panoramic sunroof, 17-inch wheels and LED headlamps with DRLs as standard fitment. The interiors of the Q3 FWD get Walnut Brown inserts while the quattro trim gets Aluminium Tangent inserts. The Q3 also gets a new front bumper which also gets redesigned air intake vents. Other than this, it gets features like MMI infotainment system, Hill Start Assist, Parking System Plus with Rear Camera, Cruise Control, 6 airbags, ESP and electric adjustment for the front seats.

The Audi Q3 FWD gets the 2.0-litre TDI engine producing 150 HP and 340 Nm. 0-100 km/hr comes up in 9.3 seconds and the ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency is 18.51 km/l. The quattro variant produces 184 HP and 380 Nm with 0-100 km/hr coming up in 7.9 seconds and an ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency of 15.17 km/l. Both the engines are mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic gearbox which has been given an update.

2017 Audi Q3 Price

– The 2017 Audi Q3 starts from Rs. 34.20 lakhs and Rs. 37.20 lakhs for the FWD and quattro trims respectively
– The exteriors get minor tweaks to the design
– The 2.0-litre TDI engine produces 4% more power on the quattro trim

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Audi India has launched the Q3 Dynamic Edition at Rs. 39.78 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). This version is limited to only 101 units in India. It comes loaded with all the high-end tech available in the Q3 along with some premium exterior updates to make it look distinctive compared to the regular Q3 models.

The Audi Q3 Dynamic Edition comes with new sporty bumper up front with huge airdams and lip spoiler. It is equipped with LED headlamps and clear lens tail lamps having dynamic turn indicators. The wheel arches get full paint finish instead of the blacked out cladding across the body. The front grille is embellished with chrome accents too.

Some of the key features of the Audi Q3 Dynamic Edition include Audi logo projection carpet lamps, MMI Navigation System and Parking System Plus with Rear View Camera, LED interior lighting package and power-adjustable front seats, etc. The interiors of the special edition Q3 get Tangent Aluminium inlays to lend a sporty feel inside the cabin.

The Audi Drive Select system also comes as standard in this version of the Q3. You can adjust the engine, steering and transmission modes to suit your driving style. It doesn’t tweak the suspension setup though.

Powering the Audi Q3 Dynamic Edition is a 174 BHP 35 TDI 2.0-litre diesel engine that is mated to a 7-speed S tronic automatic transmission. The special edition Q3 comes with Audi’s permanent all-wheel drive Quattro system as standard. The Dynamic Edition was also introduced in the pre-facelift Q3 with similar changes.

2016 Audi Q3 Dynamic Edition

– Limited edition Q3 launched in India at Rs. 39.78 lakhs
– The Audi Q3 Dynamic Edition is limited to 101 units
– Offers cosmetic tweaks, LED headlights, clear lens tail lights
– A range of high-end tech offered along with Tangent Aluminium interior inserts

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The Indian car market is seeing a shift in demand towards petrol vehicles and thus manufacturers are bringing back petrol engines to their vehicles. Mercedes recently committed to equipping all its cars with a petrol engine and Audi has done the same. Meanwhile, BMW recently brought back petrol versions of the 3-Series and 5-Series to India.

Audi will launch a petrol variant of the A6 in the next few days while the fourth generation B9 A4 is being launched with a petrol engine only, the 1.4-litre TFSI motor. A diesel version of the Audi A4 will be launched later. Audi will be launching a petrol variant of the Q7 later this year with the SQ7 diesel also planned.

The German automaker recently imported the Q3 30 TFSI to India which is powered by the same 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine that does duty in the Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Jetta, it will also be made available on the Polo. The mill outputs 148 BHP and 250 Nm, paired to a 6-speed DCT gearbox, power going to the front wheels in the Q3. While the top speed is 204 km/hr, the 0-100 km/hr acceleration time is 8.9 seconds. The motor also gets cylinder-on-demand tech to reduce fuel consumption.

Audi is taking this step of equipping all its cars with a petrol engine due to the NGT ban on big diesel engines and the higher taxes on diesel cars as the government perceives them to be more polluting. Audi estimates a loss in sales of 1500-2000 units a year, valued at around Rs. 760 crores.

Audi Q3 1.4 TSI

– Audi has imported the Q3 1.4 TSI to India
– The Audi Q3 1.4 TSI does the 0-100 km/hr sprint in a respectable 8.9 seconds
– The petrol Q3 might have less displacement but is no slouch
– The new Q3 variant will become the entry-level Audi model in India

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The data accumulated by the Indian government reveals that a road accident occurs every minute, 16 deaths occur every hour and 20,000 deaths happen due to drunk driving every year. Now a part of these statistics is the Janhavi Gadkar case, the big-shot high profile lawyer from Mumbai who rammed her pricey Audi Q3 into an oncoming taxi, a Maruti Eeco on the Eastern Express Freeway. Janhavi drunk (180 ml) way beyond the permissible limit (30 ml), was driving on the wrong side of the road at high speeds and collided head on with the cab.

Yet, Janhavi survived with bruises while the driver and front passenger in the cab lost their lives and the rear seat occupants were subjected to serious injuries. Why the difference? Because the Audi Q3 (the said car seems to be the S Edition) gets airbags, rigid body, collapsible steering column, crumple zones and a host of other safety equipment. The Maruti Eeco, on the other hand, comes with seat belts. Period. The occupants in the cab paid a heavy price for something that wasn’t their fault, but could have been saved and walked away just like the lawyer, had the Eeco built by Maruti Suzuki prescribed to the United Nations vehicle safety norms. In essence, if you have the money, only then you are entitled to safety.

Clearly, building cars to meet safety norms isn’t working out for most Indian manufacturers. Global players like Nissan that scored the highest levels in safety in the US last year, retails a sub-standard car (in terms of safety) like the Datsun GO in India. The car’s safety levels and structural rigidity has been openly questioned by the Global NCAP (GNCAP). Maruti has been evading the safety issue on its vehicles by stating that its cars meet local safety norms. However, its made-for-India vehicles including the Swift and Alto 800 have failed miserably at the Global NCAP crash tests. The GNCAP further stated that cars like the Datsun and Alto would fail even if they were equipped with airbags due to their structural weakness.

The rules set by the government in developed markets mandate automakers to fit a host of basic safety features. In India though, the government for the longest period has been ignorant about safety features on mass market cars. In 2013, light motor vehicles accounted for 22.2 percent of all road accidents in the country, 21.6 percent in 2012 and 21.3 percent in 2011. The accident numbers aren’t going down and it seems, it will take something dramatically eye-opening to levy stricter safety norms. Let’s not even get started on the implications of driving under influence or who’s moral responsibility was it to stop Janhavi from driving drunk.

The government has proposed setting up Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme (BNVSAP) as part of the new Road Transport and Safety Bill, under which cars will be tested through front and side crash tests, and will adhere to at least basic global safety standards. Furthermore, vehicles will be given a star rating based on their safety levels. However, the BNVSAP will come into play after five years from the date of notification of the bill. Meanwhile, manufacturers will have to develop new assembly lines, change the structural design or design all-new cars in order to meet safety norms. Then, there is also the crash test centre which needs to be setup to conduct the tests. While the future might just be a tad bit safer, the present accident numbers are unlikely to come down anytime soon.

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The Audi Q3 was the second of the premium compact SUVs to hit the market and the Ingolstadt manufacturer made sure to get it right from day one. Having completed three years in the Indian market now, Audi India is making sure to keep its entry-level SUV relevant amidst new competition and has launched the 2015 Q3 facelift in the country with prices starting from Rs. 28.99 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The base trim is now more expensive by Rs. 1.16 lakhs while the mid-level trim is dearer by Rs. 1.46 lakhs, the top-end variant sees a price drop of Rs. 1.09 lakhs. With three new colours on offer, the SUV gets exterior upgrades and a host of equipment inside the cabin. Here is everything that’s new on the Q3 facelift.

Styling – While the overall silhouette remains the same, the front fascia gets a major revision on the Audi Q3 facelift with a new hexagonal shaped single frame grille that extends to the headlights and a revised bumper, which gets larger air intakes. The headlights are sharper and get new pattern LED DRLs while the top-end trims get full LEDs. The side profile is largely the same save for the new alloy wheels and the rear sports a revised bumper, while the tail lights have been updated with dynamic turn signals.

Interior – Inside the cabin, the Q3 facelift retains the same layout for the dashboard but with subtle changes like the new 3D aluminium inlays, which replaces the wood finish and is extended to the door and centre console as well. The black and beige interior colour scheme offers a rich and sporty look. The interior space remains the same as its predecessor since there are no changes to the dimensions of the vehicle.

In terms of equipment, the 2015 Audi Q3 facelift gets a revised multi-function steering wheel, an updated instrument cluster with a colour screen in the centre, an updated MMI system with navigation, Audi sound system with 20 GB hard drive storage, two SD card slots and a mobile phone holder with a charger in the front arm-rest. In addition, the Q3 facelift gets a rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines on all trims and a panoramic sunroof.

Engine – Things stay as they are under the hood and power on the Audi Q3 facelift comes from the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TDI diesel engine that is tuned to produce 177 HP at 4200 RPM and 380 Nm of peak torque between 1750-2500 RPM. Power is sent to all four wheels using the Quattro All Wheel Drive system via the 7-speed S Tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the Q3 S is powered by the same diesel engine that produces 140 BHP of power, channelling power to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Performance Figures – Coming to the performance, the Audi Q3 facelift is capable of doing the 0-100 km/hr run in 8.2 seconds while the top speed achievable is 212 km/hr.

Fuel Efficiency – The premium compact SUV comes with an ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 15.73 km/l.

Rivalling the new Q3 facelift is the Mercedes-Benz GLA that recently commenced local assembly in India and also saw a price drop, while the BMW X1 continues to be assembled at the automaker’s Chennai based facility and the second generation model will be launched in India early next year. The Q3 was dominating the segment until the Mercedes GLA arrived last year, but Audi’s latest update makes sure to keep the model fresh in the market. The automaker will also launch the petrol variant of the Q3 later in the year. With the extensive amount of changes and a strong road presence, Audi surely has a winner up its sleeve once again.

2015 Audi Q3 Facelift Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi) –

* Q3 S – Rs. 28.99 lakhs
* Q3 Premium – Rs. 33.99 lakhs
* Q3 Premium Plus – Rs. 37.50 lakhs

Make sure to read our review of the 2015 Audi Q3 Facelift HERE.

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Audi Q3 Review

Car Tested: 2015 Audi Q3 35 TDI

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 35.64 – 46 lakhs

The Audi Q3 is a practical luxury SUV with more equipment, it is now very attractive too

Just recently we put the three big German compact luxury SUVs in a shootout and the Audi Q3 emerged on top. Now the Ingolstadt based automaker has brought the facelifted model to India, a case of the segment leader getting even better. The Audi Q3 is a very important car for the four-ringed brand because not only is it among the affordable of luxury cars, it also sells in excellent numbers for the company. Audi overtook BMW to become numero uno in luxury car sales in India a couple of years back and the Q3 can be credited with leading the charge in sales. So what all is new in the updated Q3?

Motor Quest: Audi launched the Q3 globally in 2011 while its India launch happened in 2012 with a diesel engine. The company launched the petrol and Q3 S models in 2013 while the Q3 Dynamic was launched last year. Audi unveiled the facelifted model in November 2014. The vehicle is based on the PQ35 platform.

Exteriors – When Audi launched the Q3, its only rival was the BMW X1 and in front of the Bavarian vehicle, the baby Q looked more attractive. However, recently the GLA came along and although the Q3 is the most masculine car in its class, the Mercedes’ fresher looks made it the king in the design department. Now with the facelift, Audi has induced some fresh appeal in the Q3 which makes it stand out in this German dominated segment. While the overall body remains the same, the changes are the most striking at the front and rear while the side remains unaltered, save for the new Y design alloy wheels whose 10-spokes look quite cool.

The Audi Q3 not only looks fresher now, it is also more imposing

A quick glance at the front and the first thing one will notice is the new grille which is extended to the headlight with the silver finish. There are revisions to the bumper as well as the hexagonal grille while the headlight looks similar to the pre-facelift model but has got slimmer and features a new pattern for the daytime running lights while the internals now use full LEDs on the top trims. This new face of the Q3 is in-line with the new Audi SUV design language which is also seen on the second generation Q7. At the rear, the car gets a different pattern for the tail lights and a new bumper while the most striking update are the dynamic turn signals (for the rear only) which were only seen on the A8 and R8 till now.

Interiors – The facelifted Audi Q3 retains the same layout for the dashboard and the cabin is very similar to the model it replaces. There are subtle changes though like the instrument cluster gets a colour screen in between the dials that displays crucial information like phone call and navigation. The MMI system has also been updated and in the Technology trim, features a 20 GB hard drive storage, two SD card slots and satellite navigation. Audi has also added a mobile phone holder with a charger in the front centre arm rest, that also gets a booster which uses the car’s antenna to amplify signal, thereby saving your smartphone’s crucial battery from draining fast.

The Audi Q3 now gets a host of new equipment

Audi has replaced the wood inserts on the dashboard, door and centre console with 3D aluminium inlays that looks sporty while the car now uses chrome accents for that premium feel in the cabin. One can opt between all black interiors or the airy beige and black option. The Audi Q3 now gets a rear-view camera (with dynamic guidelines) for all trims and there is also a large panoramic sunroof. Space inside the cabin is good enough to seat four people as the transmission hump is big enough to hinder a third person at the rear while headroom is good and boot space is class leading. The Q3 comes with rear AC vents which although isn’t a big feature, isn’t offered by its rivals.

Performance – Audi is offering the Q3 facelift with a diesel engine option only, the petrol version will be launched later, just like how the pre-facelift model was launched. The 2.0-litre TDI diesel mill gets no changes whatsoever and produces the same 177 BHP of peak power at 4200 RPM while peak torque of 380 Nm is available between 1750-2500 RPM. The oil burner offers good performance throughout as it dolls out punchy performance and revs quickly to its under 5000 RPM redline. 0-100 km/hr takes 8.2 seconds while top speed is rated at 212 km/hr.

The Q3’s diesel engine offers a good balance of power, economy, low NVH

The Audi Q3’s TDI mill is very smooth and NVH levels are low, save for the sound it emits post 3000 RPM when you go hard on the big pedal. The engine shows no signs of stress even when you drive at high revs and keeps pulling with enthusiasm to high speeds. The vehicle comes with Audi’s Drive Select (Comfort, Sport, Auto modes) wherein it alters the engine, gearbox and the steering. There is a bit more pep in Sport mode while the Q3 now gets steering mounted paddles too which is a great addition. The 7-speed S tronic automatic gearbox is quick with shifts and is very responsive to throttle inputs, downshifting in a jiffy when you need a quick burst of power. The compact SUV is quite frugal and will return upwards of 12 km/l.

Driving Dynamics – Audi hasn’t altered the suspension of the Q3 and it rides and handles the same as before, there is nothing to complain about though. That’s because the baby Q has always carried a good balance of ride and handling, taking bad roads in its stride with confidence while also being sharp through corners. The Q3 is the only car which can carry the SUV tag with pride in its segment as it comes with the quattro all-wheel drive system, making it quite capable off-road. We took our test model through some off-road sections and it didn’t bat an eyelid. The steering is light at low speeds which is a boon in the city while at high speeds, the feedback could have been better. Braking performance is excellent and the Pirelli tyres offer very good grip.

Verdict – The Audi Q3 has had it easy since the time it was launched in India because it was quick to beat the BMW X1 in the sales chart while it held off fresh competition from its Stuttgart rival with relative ease. With all the updates made to the car, although none are to the engine or suspension, the Q3 continues to be the best luxury compact SUV in the market today. Audi is starting off with the diesel model as that’s where majority of the sales come from but soon the petrol version will arrive and even the manual gearbox equipped Q3 S (which is our pick of the Q3 range). Now Audi only needs to bring the Q3 RS to tackle the GLA 45 AMG, we are waiting!

The 2015 Audi Q3 now gets more appeal along with a host of very useful features (even on lower trims), making it an even better buying proposition than ever before.

What’s Cool

* Looks fresher now and packs in more visual appeal, gets 3 new colours too
* Added equipment makes the Q3 on par with its rivals as far as features go
* In spite of no changes on the mechanical front, it still boasts of good performance and dynamics

What’s Not So Cool

* Tweaks to the engine like the international model would have been nice

Alternatives: Mercedes GLA, BMW X1, Volvo V40 Cross Country

Further Reading –

Audi Q3 vs Mercedes GLA vs BMW X1
Audi Q3 vs Mercedes GLA vs BMW X1 – Video
Audi Q3 Dynamic Review
Audi Q3 Review
Audi Q3 Petrol Review

Picture Editing – Sri Manikanta Achanta

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Shootout: BMW X1 vs Audi Q3 vs Mercedes GLA

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 35.09 – 48.29 lakhs (Audi Q3), Rs. 38.31 – 47.09 lakhs (BMW X1), Rs. 42.62 – 47.99 lakhs (Mercedes GLA)

All 3 German offerings are compact luxury SUVs but that’s where the similarities end

The sense of desirability around German luxury cars is so high that people in India are lapping them up with no second thought. However, even those with the dough and the willingness to make a statement want to club their expensive car purchase with practicality. It’s the compact luxury SUV which ends up giving them the best of both worlds. While entry-level German cars aren’t new to us (remember the time when the A4, C-Class and 3-Series could be had for the same price as today’s CLA and A3), entry-level SUVs are surely a new and trending phenomenon. But among the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and the new arrival, the Mercedes GLA, which makes the strongest case in the segment?

Motor Quest: BMW was the first mover in this segment and launched the X1 in India in 2010 while Audi was quick enough to follow with the Q3 in 2012. Mercedes took its time and the GLA only went on sale in the second half of 2014.

Styling – One look at all these cars and instantly your eyes stick to the Mercedes GLA, after all, it is the freshest car of this lot and its young age shows. Having some striking elements make it stand out boldly, with the BMW X1 looking dated in comparison, in spite of it getting a facelift not so long back (2013). The Bimmer has been on sale for long and the station wagon like profile simply looks out of place on what is positioned as an SUV. No such problems on the Merc though, it has a nice profile, those headlights being beautiful to look at and it’s also the only car here to feature bigger 18-inch wheels.

However, the Mercedes simply isn’t big enough to justify being called an SUV, it does look like a pumped up hatchback, so calling it a crossover is apt. This is where the Audi Q3 comes into play, it looks every inch an SUV and although it is the shortest car in length here, it still does justice to the SUV design. Taking a big hint from its bigger Q siblings, the Q3 has quite a lot of presence and the design elements just fit in right with the Audi. Among the three cars, if any one of them stays true to the SUV design theme, it is indeed the Ingolstadt machine.

The Mercedes GLA has the best interior here with the design really making you feel special

Interiors – When one steps inside too, it is yet again the Mercedes which offers the freshest cabin, the dashboard design being quite appealing. Although shared with the A-Class and CLA, the GLA’s interior packs in a sporty appearance which makes you feel quite special. Neither the Q3, nor the X1 feel exciting in front of the Merc when it comes to visual appeal of the cabin, the X1 fairing worse with its boring and ubiquitous BMW layout. But as always, there is more than what meets the eye. Because when you factor in rear seat space and overall comfort, the Audi easily edges ahead of the other two cars. Not only do you sit higher in the Audi Q3 (for that SUV commanding position), you also get more rear legroom and headroom than the X1 and GLA.

The Audi Q3 excels when it comes to interior comfort and space, it has the biggest boot here

The Audi also beats its rivals in terms of boot space, having a 40-litre bigger boot, while the X1 and GLA are almost identical. However, the GLA’s space saver spare wheel is placed on the boot, hampering usability. When it comes to the features on offer, one will be disappointed to know that even cars which cost half as much come with more equipment. None of these cars come with keyless go with the Q3 and GLA getting a conventional key to start the car (the BMW getting a push button start but you still have to insert the key in a slot). The Mercedes GLA doesn’t get climate control system (other cars gets a dual-zone) while it also misses out on front parking sensors (even the BMW doesn’t get them) which are offered by the Audi and is also available on the smaller and cheaper A and B-Class cars.

The BMW X1 feels quite dated and the all black cabin lacks excitement in comparison

Then the Audi and BMW miss out on a rearview camera (the Merc gets it with guidelines) but even compact sub 4-metre cars like the Hyundai Xcent come with a reverse parking camera! The Audi misses out on a rear-seat centre arm rest, a shocking omission but gets rear seat AC vents which are shockingly not present on the BMW or Mercedes. The multi-information display on the X1 appears to be from last decade and it is with very limited data on offer but its iDrive system is very loaded and doesn’t appear paired down like on the other two cars here. However, all these cars do get some equipment which is common between them like leather seats, large sunroof, headlight washers, six airbags, electric adjustment for the front seats and rear parking sensors.

Performance – The Q3 draws power from a 2.0-litre TFSI motor that belts out an impressive 211 BHP and 300 Nm of torque, matched to a fast shifting 7-speed gearbox. The Mercedes also employs a 2.0-litre turbo mill like the Audi but has 181 horses on offer, although torque output is identical at 300 Nm, with cogs being swapped by a 7-speed gearbox. The difference in power alone puts the GLA behind the Q3 in terms of outright acceleration, the Q3 being faster by 0.7 seconds to the ton, taking just 6.9 seconds. But that’s not all, the petrol powered Audi is much more fun than the petrol powered Merc while also being more eager with its wider torque band. But demand for diesel powered cars is higher in this segment and all three come with similar displacement diesel engines.

The BMW X1 and Audi Q3 are much faster than the Mercedes GLA, offering better performance too

Now all these cars get multiple driving modes so while in the Mercedes you can choose between C, E and S; one can shift into Sport and tiptronic modes using the gear lever on the Audi and BMW (the GLA gets paddle shifts). These settings alter the engine and gearbox, nothing more. But what is interesting is the drive configurations of these vehicles, the Mercedes is a front-wheel drive, the BMW is a rear-wheel drive and the Audi is an all-wheel drive (front biased though). So when you go aggressive with the GLA’s throttle, you do end up with some torque steer which isn’t an issue on the other two cars. But there is no replacement for power and the GLA suffers with the deficiency it carries.

Its 2.1-litre oil burner only has 134 BHP on offer, with 300 Nm of torque, meanwhile the 2.0-litre engined Audi and BMW produce 177 BHP/380 Nm and 184 BHP/380 Nm respectively. The Mercedes is simply no match for its rivals when it comes to acceleration, the X1 and Q3 simply blowing the GLA out in a straight line with a 0-100 km/hr time of 8.2 seconds on the Audi and 7.9 seconds on the BMW, the Benz being slower at 9.9 seconds. The bigger engine in the Merc makes the car as heavy as the four-wheel drive Audi while the BMW is the lightest here, giving it an advantage in both acceleration and top speed. While the GLA has enough city and highway performance, it only feels lacking when you put it against its rivals which are both quicker and come with a better gearbox too.

Between Audi’s 7-speed transmission and BMW’s 8-speed gearbox, it is the latter which has the better shifts. Where the Q3 feels better than the X1 is in NVH, the motor is more calm and also feels more at home in the city as the power is a bit spiky in the BMW in the low-end. But out on the highway, one will appreciate the way the diesel X1 pulls to the 5000 RPM redline and makes an aural note in return. There isn’t much to differentiate these cars when it comes to mileage but what is crucial is the tank range, the GLA having the smallest tank of 50-litres while the X1 has a bigger fuel tank of 61-litres and the Q3 has the biggest of them all, holding 64-litres.

Driving Dynamics – The BMW X1 is the best handling car here and is such a hoot to drive. The Bavarian automaker always gets its dynamics spot on and the same can be seen on all its cars. Even with the X1, the body control, steering feel, grip, stability and brakes are the best in the segment. The BMW is so good that when you drive it, you simply forget it is a car with a high ground clearance, it simply doesn’t feel like an SUV with its immaculate driving manners. The Mercedes follows second and is quite fun to drive too although not in the same league as the BMW, it scores better than the Audi whose steering feels vague in comparison.

Meanwhile, the Q3 is the car with the best ride quality, it isn’t stiffly sprung which hurts its handling (although still good but not as good as its rivals) but the BMW and Mercedes are stiffly set-up and thus don’t have the same cushioning effect as the Audi. Where the baby Q further pulls a large advantage is its ability to go on the less beaten path. That’s because its quattro system enables it to take on terrains and emerge out victorious which are a challenge in the non 4-wheel drive GLA and X1. Mercedes and BMW do have 4-wheel drive versions of the GLA and X1 but they aren’t offered in India yet.

Safety and After Sales Service – Priced quite similarly, all these German companies understand that most of its customers would be first time luxury car buyers so there are maintenance plans to ensure they don’t burn their pockets but Mercedes offers a class leading Rs. 1.99 per km for its NGC (New Generation Cars) products, thereby making the GLA the easiest to upkeep. All cars come loaded with a lot of safety kit so not much to differentiate on that front but Mercedes does have the biggest service network in the luxury car space which Audi and BMW can’t match.

Verdict – When one buys an entry-level luxury car, they want to feel special and the X1 simply fails to impress in that regard. Yes, the BMW is the most fun to drive car and the most involving for the driver but that can’t take away from the fact that its age has started to show. With the second generation model coming next year, things will certainly change but today, it finishes third in this shootout. This puts the fight to the top between the Audi and Mercedes, now the GLA is fresher and thus feels more special to look at and sit in but it isn’t true to the SUV tag like the Audi. The Q3 is roomier, offers better ride quality and has more presence, attributes which justify its SUV proposition better. With Mercedes still bringing the GLA via the CBU route and Audi having gone the CKD way, the Q3 costs less than the Merc. This equation is hard to ignore, making the quattro vehicle easily trump the three-pointed star to win this shootout.

The BMW X1 isn’t as impressive a vehicle as the Audi and Mercedes but between the latter two Germans, the Q3 makes a stronger case than the GLA and is thus our choice of a compact luxury SUV. The quicker and better equipped Audi Q3 is set to reign this segment as a facelift is coming soon which will make it an even better bet against its rivals.

Further Reading –

Audi Q3 vs Mercedes GLA vs BMW X1 – Video
Audi Q3 Dynamic Review
Audi Q3 Review
Audi Q3 Petrol Review
Mercedes GLA Review
BMW X1 Review

Picture Editing – Sri Manikanta Achanta

The post BMW X1 vs Audi Q3 vs Mercedes GLA – Shootout appeared first on MotorBeam.

Luxury carmakers are quickly moving to bring more affordable and value for money products in India. BMW started this very move by launching the quite successful X1 while Audi quickly followed and brought in the Q3. The Audi Q3 has been raking in high volumes for the company ever since its launch. The current generation Audi Q3 has been in our market for more than three years now and duly deserves an update taking into fact that the competition in the entry level luxury segment is as hot as it can get at the moment.

Just recently, one unit of the Audi Q3 facelift has been imported to India from Martorell, Spain, which is the European home for the Q3 SUV. The imported Q3 is the top diesel variant which features a 2.0-litre TDI engine which uses a Variable Geometry Turbocharger and churns out 177 BHP of power at 4200 RPM and 380 NM of torque between 1750 – 2500 RPM. The engine is mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic DSG gearbox which is one of the best dual clutch gearboxes currently in the market and the Q3 can hit a top speed of 212 km/hr. The reason stated for the import has been mentioned as testing purposes. We can guess that the launch of the Q3 facelift is not somewhere around the corner, but isn’t that far away either, the car is expected to be launched in May.

The Audi Q3 can hit 100 km/hr from standstill in just 8.2 seconds. One might judge that the Audi will return single digit mileage figures, but that assumption will be incorrect. You can expect a mileage of around 12 km/l in the city (little less when driven around like a maniac) and about 16 km/l on the highway. This particular variant comes with safety features such as six airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP and the likes. The interiors offer comfortable front seats with a nice infotainment system. Rear seats are best suited for two passengers and does feel a little cramped due to the transmission hump.

Changes in the interior department on the facelift will see an updated centre console design along with a sporty three-spoke steering wheel. The exteriors will carry the similar design language forward but will feature mild updates on the front and rear to make it look young and sporty at the same time.

Source – Zauba.com

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