Audi’s contender in the premium subcompact crossover segment comes with a high-quality cabin and standard AWD, but newer rivals now outpace it.
Audi’s subcompact Q3 crossover is still a relative newcomer to the market and is now only in the second of the Q3 generations. The first Audi Q3 generation was launched in the US in 2014 to give Audi a rival to premium crossovers such as the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. It had already been on sale in world markets since 2011, so it had a relatively short product cycle here, so just four years before the redesign of the Audi Q3 reached the local market for MY2019. It was bigger and more comfortable, with a larger trunk and more power, but only AWD was now offered.
2019-Now Audi Q3 2nd Gen (F3)
After the 8U’s short life cycle of four model years, the Audi Q3 underwent a redesign to renew its onslaught on the premium subcompact segment, now with a bigger body and cabin. The 2.0L four-pot remained, but now made 228 hp and was linked to a new eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro AWD, with no FWD available anymore. A base version of the engine with 184 hp would later be added.
|
Engine |
Transmission |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|
|
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
All-Wheel Drive |
Second Generation Q3 Production Years:
2024 Audi Q3 Review
2023 Audi Q3 Review
2022 Audi Q3 Review
2021 Audi Q3 Review
2020 Audi Q3 Review
2019 Audi Q3 Review
|
TRIM |
ENGINE |
TRANSMISSION |
DRIVETRAIN |
|---|---|---|---|
|
F3 Premium 40 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 Premium Plus 40 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 2.0T Premium quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 2.0T Premium Plus quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 Premium 45 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 Premium Plus 45 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 2.0T S line Premium quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 2.0T S line Prestige quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 2.0T S line Premium Plus quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 Prestige 45 TFSI S line quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 Premium 45 TFSI S line quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 Premium Plus 45 TFSI S line quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 S line Premium 45 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
F3 S line Premium Plus 45 TFSI quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
8-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
2016-2018 Audi Q3 1st Gen (8U) Facelift
While it was a proper four-year mid-cycle refresh in international markets, it had been on the US market for just one year before the changes to the Audi Q3 that accompanied its update were applied for MY2016, so the pre-facelift 2015 model is relatively rare. The update made no changes to the powertrains, which stayed in place for the duration of the product cycle.
|
Engine |
Transmission |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|
|
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
Front-Wheel Drive |
|
All-Wheel Drive |
First Generation Q3 Production Years:
2018 Audi Q3 Review
2017 Audi Q3 Review
2016 Audi Q3 Review
|
TRIM |
ENGINE |
TRANSMISSION |
DRIVETRAIN |
|---|---|---|---|
|
8U 2.0T Premium |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
FWD |
|
8U 2.0T Premium Plus |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
FWD |
|
8U 2.0T Prestige |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
FWD |
|
8U 2.0T Sport Premium |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
FWD |
|
8U 2.0T Sport Premium Plus |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
FWD |
|
8U 2.0T Premium quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
8U 2.0T Premium Plus quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
8U 2.0T Prestige quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
8U 2.0T Sport Premium quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
8U 2.0T Sport Premium Plus quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
2015-2015 Audi Q3 1st Gen (8U)
The one-year-only pre-facelift Q3 landed in the US with a 200-hp turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed automatic transmission, and giving buyers the choice of FWD or AWD from the start.
|
Engine |
Transmission |
Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|
|
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
Front-Wheel Drive |
|
All-Wheel Drive |
2015 Audi Q3 Review
|
TRIM |
ENGINE |
TRANSMISSION |
DRIVETRAIN |
|---|---|---|---|
|
8U 2.0T Premium Plus |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
FWD |
|
8U 2.0T Prestige |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
FWD |
|
8U 2.0T Premium Plus quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas |
6-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
|
8U 2.0T Prestige quattro |
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Ga |
6-Speed Automatic |
AWD |
