The attractive Audi Q3 is the smallest and most affordable SUV in the Audi lineup. Pricing starts at $36,400. Drivers looking to dip their toes into automotive luxury might be considering a small luxury SUV. The 2023 Audi Q3 is a solid choice in this class for its elegant interior, eager turbocharged engine, and standard all-wheel drive (AWD), all at an attainable price point. It has some tough competition from rivals like the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, but the Q3 benefits from top-notch interior quality, some outstanding available tech features like the Virtual co*ckpit and Sonos audio, and some truly eye-catching paint options. The Q3 is definitely worth a test drive for anyone shopping in this segment.
2023 Audi Q3 Pricing
The 2023 Audi Q3 has a starting sticker price of $37,995, with the range-topping Q3 45 TFSI S line Premium Plus kicking off at $43,695. But Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Pricing currently suggests paying $2,351 to $2,771 less than MSRP, depending on trim and equipment. These prices are updated weekly.
MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
40 TFSI Premium | $37,995 | $35,563 | ||
45 TFSI S line Premium | $40,395 | $38,044 | ||
40 TFSI Premium Plus | $41,295 | $38,524 | ||
45 TFSI S line Premium Plus | $43,695 | $40,946 |
Driving the 2023 Audi Q3
The Audi Q3 has refined ride quality and an energetic turbocharged engine under the hood, but don’t expect the driving dynamics of a sports sedan. It’s quicker and more agile than the average non-luxury SUV this size, but some competitors in this class are sportier, namely the BMW X1. If comfort is a bigger priority than performance, you’ll be more than satisfied. The base 40 TFSI powertrain makes adequate power and torque for urban driving and on-ramp sprints. However, we recommend the more powerful 45 TFSI model if you have a little extra room in your budget and want some extra muscle. The added power and torque are welcome and noticeable, and you’re only taking a slight fuel economy penalty. Although it has a smooth ride and comfortable seats, the transmission sometimes interrupts the serenity. The 8-speed transmission generally does its job well, but shifts can sometimes be a bit jerky. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it can be annoying. A highlight of the Q3 is standard quattro AWD on every model. It’s not much of an off-roader, but AWD adds confident traction when the roads get nasty.
Interior Comfort
Audi has a reputation for making some of the most refined interiors in the luxury car world, and the Q3 is no exception. This is a top-notch interior with quality materials and a premium design. It’s not as nice as the bigger, more expensive SUVs in the Audi lineup, but it’s certainly among the nicest interiors in its class. Standard interior features include leather seating, heated front seats, a sunroof, tri-zone automatic climate control, and modern tech features like a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster. There are multiple options for interior colors, and you can choose aluminum or wood trim. If you get the Black Optic Sport Package, you upgrade to sport seats with contrast stitching. The passenger space is pretty good for an SUV this size. Both rows of seats are adult-friendly with plenty of headroom and legroom, and the back seats can slide and recline. As for cargo space, it’s a little above average for this class, but there’s not a ton of room. It has 23.7 cubic feet of space behind the back seats, which increases to 48 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
Exterior Styling
The Audi Q3 is a stylish take on the brand’s design language. The design is sleek, and the body lines are a little bolder than Audi’s typical conservative style. Its stylish aesthetic is emphasized by some fun paint options like Pulse Orange and Turbo Blue. The look can change a bit depending on how you option this SUV. Upgrading to the 45 TFSI model adds a sporty appearance package to match its boost in performance. An available Black Optic Package adds stylish black exterior trim, unique wheels, and black roof rails to the Q3. The Q3 is the smallest SUV in the Audi lineup. It’s on the bigger side of subcompact luxury SUVs with dimensions similar to the BMW X1 but bigger than the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and Volvo XC40.
Six Cool Features
Standard quattro AWD Technology Package S Line 45 TFSI Simple Model Range Fun Paint Options MMI Infotainment System
The quattro all-wheel-drive system comes standard on every Audi Q3. This makes it a good choice for drivers in snowy climates. It improves acceleration and handling on dry pavement and inclement roads alike.
The Technology Package available for the Premium Plus trim adds many desirable features, including a 10.1-inch screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Sonos premium audio system, Virtual co*ckpit, navigation, and traffic sign recognition. We highly recommend it if your budget allows it.
The S Line 45 TFSI model adds a little extra excitement to the Q3 with a sportier engine tuning and a more aggressive appearance package. It has a sporty body kit and some interior enhancements like illuminated aluminum door sills and paddle shifters.
Many luxury SUVs have a dizzying number of configurations with enough option packages and individual options to make your head spin. The Q3, however, is a relatively easy SUV to shop for with two powertrain options, two trims, and a modest list of options.
Many German luxury SUVs are on the conservative side when it comes to paint. There are plenty of neutral paint options for the Q3, but there are also some more adventurous colors like Pulse Orange, Turbo Blue, and Tango Red if you want to stand out.
The intuitive MMI infotainment system in the Q3 has a standard 8.8-inch screen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth. It’s upgradable to a bigger 10.1-inch screen with navigation, wireless smartphone connectivity features, and more.
Engine & Transmission
A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine powers every Audi Q3. However, it’s available in two different tunings. The base 40 TFSI model makes 184 horsepower and gets a combined fuel economy rating of 26 mpg. Upgrading to the 45 TSFI model brings more power and torque with a slight fuel economy penalty. Every Q3 has an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. This engine is good, but it would be nice to see more mechanical variety in the Q3. By comparison, the Volvo XC40 is available as an EV, the Lexus UX is a hybrid, and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has two exciting AMG options. 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (40 TSFI) 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (45 TSFI)
184 horsepower @ 4,800 rpm
221 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy: 23/30/26 mpg
228 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy: 21/28/24 mpg
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Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
