-Sn!PeR- Posted May 28, 2020 Posted May 28, 2020 Pros 2020 Best Buy Award winner for subcompact luxury SUVs Impressive technology Roomy interior for its size Standard all-wheel drive Stylish & sporty Cons Transmission can feel jumpy No hybrid or performance variants Adaptive cruise control still costs extra What’s New this Year? S line exterior styling becomes standard Prestige trim dropped. Premium Plus trim can be optioned with its features. Technology package now includes Bang & Olufsen audio Parking Assistance package available New Black optic package with darkened aesthetics People Also Ask How much does the 2021 Audi Q3 cost? The 2021 Audi Q3 starts at $36,000. If you’re looking for ways to save a little money, Audi does offer a very flexible lease program that may help make the monthly payments a bit easier. Does the 2021 Audi Q3 hold its value as well as the competition? Yes. The Q3 is expected to have better-than-average resale value, though not as high as the Volvo XC40 or Lexus UX. Is there a hybrid or plug-in Audi Q3? No, for now, the only powertrain offered in the 2021 Audi Q3 is a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. If you’re looking for something a bit more green, look to the Lexus UX Hybrid. Where is the 2021 Audi Q3 built? This Audi is built in Gyor, Hungary. Other Audis built there include the A3 sedan and TT coupe and roadster. Overview The 2021 Audi Q3 is the German luxury brand’s smallest crossover SUV. Starting at $36,000, the Q3 is also Audi’s least-expensive SUV. The Q3 was totally revamped just two years ago. This 2nd-generation Q3 brings bolder design, innovative technology, and excellent fit and finish. Last year’s model impressed us so much that we named it our Best Buy Award winner in a segment that includes formidable rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1, and Volvo XC40. The Q3 stands out with its standard quattro all-wheel-drive system and a long list of included features such as leather interior and a panoramic sunroof. Unlike rivals, only one powertrain is offered in the Q3, and we found its transmission in need of more refinement. But there’s good power on tap. Cargo space isn’t quite as generous as that of the boxy Volvo’s but considerable nonetheless for a subcompact SUV. Driving the 2021 Audi Q3 The latest generation of the Audi Q3 is now in a much better position to compete with its rivals thanks to its handsome style, a spacious interior, and a wide array of technology features. While this Audi isn’t as sporty as other models in the company’s lineup, it proved an entertaining vehicle on twisty roads. The biggest shortcoming we found in driving the new Q3 is its transmission programming: Shifts from the small SUV’s 8-speed automatic are somewhat jumpy when accelerating at lower speeds. Putting the vehicle into Dynamic mode does help smooth things out. Once you get past that initial jumpiness, power delivery is good. The Q3 wrings 228 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. That is enough to scoot the Q3 from 0-60 mph in seven seconds flat. That won’t blow your socks off, but it’s plenty quick enough to merge onto freeways without drama. We also like that despite its small size, the Q3 feels at home on open roads. Steering response is light and accurate, and Audi has done an admirable job of balancing performance and comfort. The Q3’s interior looks like it was pulled from a much more expensive Audi, making the drive that much nicer. This isn’t a vehicle that’s about hard-core performance; it’s about the overall experience. Favorite Features GORGEOUS, FUNCTIONAL INTERIOR Tall passengers will find the 2021 Audi Q3’s rear seating rather accommodating without infringing on cargo space. From the quality materials and stunning design to the integration of such high-tech features as a 10.1-inch touch screen and digital instrument cluster, the Q3 looks the part of a luxury SUV. TECH POWERHOUSE Along with the aforementioned features, Audi’s Q3 also comes with both Type A and C USB ports, Audi Pre Sense collision warning and preparation, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Optional are Audi’s brilliant Virtual Cockpit – an all-digital instrument cluster – top-view camera, and superb Bang & Olufsen audio system. 2021 Audi Q3 Interior With this latest Q3, Audi took an already attractive interior and made it better. Its high-quality materials and sharp, modern design give the Q3’s cabin the look and feel of an interior that’s a class above. Front and rear seats are respectably roomy given that this is a subcompact crossover. The second row slides forward and back for added space. Cargo space is also good, with 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 48 cubic feet with them folded. That does trail the 57.5 cubic feet of space in the more angular Volvo XC40. Up front, the Audi Q3’s center stack has an 8.8-inch or optional 10.1-inch screen that controls infotainment, with heat/vent/air-conditioning (HVAC) controls below. Nestled underneath those hard buttons is an available wireless smartphone charger, which worked with an iPhone 8+ without having to take it out of its case. The Q3 comes with a digital gauge cluster. Even better is the optional Audi Virtual Cockpit fully digital instrument cluster that can be configured to relay audio info, satellite maps, and more. Unlike rivals, the Q3 comes standard with leather upholstery. In addition to the usual black or beige, we are fans of the Okapi Brown. The new Black optic package also offers a choice of black or gray sport seats with contrast stitching. 2021 Audi Q3 Exterior This 2nd-gen version of the Q3 has a handsome, more mature design. It now looks less like a raised hatchback and more like a smaller-scale Audi Q5 SUV. Details we like include its classy grille, subtle sheet metal creases, and sharply angled lines around the LED headlights. Wide wheel arches house big 19- or 20-inch wheels touting bold designs that make the Q3 look like it’s moving fast even when standing still. An integrated rear spoiler is both beautiful and functional, as are the LED taillights found on every model. The formerly optional S-line treatment with exterior details like a more aggressive front end and wider lower openings is now standard. New for 2021 is the Black optic sport package that adds darkened 19-inch wheels, black accents, and roof rails. 2021 Audi Q3 Standard Features For an entry-level luxury SUV, the Q3 allures with a long list of standard features. A base model, which Audi dubs the “Premium” trim, includes leather upholstery, heated and 8-way power front seats with 4-way lumbar support, panoramic sunroof, a power tailgate, and tri-zone climate control. Audis are known for their impressive tech, and here, too, the Q3 excels out the gate. Standard is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster plus an 8.8-inch central touchscreen. As is becoming par the course these days in most new cars, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility is standard. There are four USB ports, including USB-C ports, and a 10-speaker/180-watt audio system. Standard safety features include lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. 2021 Audi Q3 Options Stepping up to higher-trim Audi Q3 levels brings features like the Virtual Cockpit, the MMI touchpad with a larger screen (10.1 inches) and navigation, and a 15-speaker/680-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system. You can also get a top-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, power-folding side mirrors, and rear side airbags. Added safety and driver-assist features include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a system that aids in parallel and perpendicular parking. For 2021, the Premium Plus trim now comes with adaptive cruise control, customizable LED interior lighting, and a stainless-steel trunk sill. 2021 Audi Q3 Engine Audi offers just one engine and transmission in the Q3: A 228-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission with manual-shift mode. Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive is standard. With an estimated high of 27 mpg and 22 mpg combined, the Q3 falls on the lower end of subcompact luxury SUVs. 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 228 horsepower @ 5,000-6,700 rpm 258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-4,400 rpm EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/27 mpg How Much Does the 2021 Audi Q3 Cost? The Audi Q3 brings a higher starting price for 2021 because it now comes standard with the S line package. That brings the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) to $36,000, plus destination. That’s $1,300 more than last year’s model. Loaded, a 2021 Audi Q3 can reach into the mid-$40,000 range. Even with its higher starting price for 2021, the Audi Q3 is in line with competitors. This is especially true if you factor in the Audi’s included all-wheel drive, which costs extra on rivals. Before buying, check the Fair Purchase Price to see what others in your area are paying for the new Q3. The Audi Q3’s resale value is above average. It is predicted to hold its value well, though not quite up to the level of a Volvo XC40. Which Model is Right for Me? 2021 Audi Q3 Premium All-wheel drive Panoramic sunroof Heated leather seats Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration Power liftgate 2021 Audi Q3 Premium Plus Audi cruise assist Wireless smartphone charger Keyless start & smart key Audi side assist with lane-departure warning 2021 Audi Q3 Safety Technology Audi Pre Sense front with pedestrian detection Standard on all models, this system checks for possible collisions up ahead with an object or a pedestrian. It warns the driver of any possible incidents, then uses sharp braking to further alert the driver, then uses the brakes to intervene if the driver doesn’t react. Audi side assist with rear cross-traffic assist and lane-departure warning This comes standard on the higher trim Premium Plus. It includes a blind-spot monitor, alerts you if you drift out of your lane, and warns you of cross traffic while you’re backing out of a parking space. Adaptive cruise control Standard on the Premium Plus, adaptive cruise control keeps the Q3 at a preset distance from the vehicle ahead, braking, and accelerating as needed. It can also work in stop-and-go traffic, and can bring the SUV to a complete stop.
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