Audi Q3 Sportback 2024 Review & Pricing

Introduction

Major manufacturers are making so many different cars that there's just about every possible combination of shape and size.

Audi has it all. Small hatchbacks? Check. Supercar? Check. Large saloons? Check. Mid-size SUVs? Check.

Small-to-medium-sized SUV crossovers designed to better resemble a coupe by having a wedge cut out of their boots?

Erm… you’ll be wanting the Audi Q3 Sportback, then.

That sums it up - a Q3 in which everything is identical, except for the back looking slightly sportier.

Sportier usually means more expensive, and that's the case here, with the Audi Q3 Sportback priced around 3.5% more than the standard Q3 when bought outright. Leasing prices are also typically higher for the Sportback than with the boxier Q3.

So, is this Audi worth it? That is what we’re aiming to find out.

At a Glance

The Q3 Sportback is quite trendy looking.

As is the case with all Audis these days, the front is dominated by the enormously wide, hexagonal grille, with air intakes on either side, while the headlights are jagged in shape, adding to the aggression.

A front splitter enhances its sporting credentials, while a thick, dark side skirt hints at the ruggedness typical of SUVs, along with a sizeable indentation in the doors just above it.

The back is aggressively styled, too, with a shallow-angled rear window and a roof spoiler, while the expansive taillights sprawl out around the sides.

There is also a large dark grey bumper, rounded towards the bottom, to prevent the car from grounding should you take it off-road. Not that many Q3 Sportback drivers are likely to tackle the rough stuff.

Key Features

The Q3 Sportback is now available in three trims, as Audi simplifies its range.

The entry-level Sport comes with 18-inch alloys, a 10.1-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a DAB radio, and a 10.25-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit display, replacing the analogue dials behind the steering wheel.

You also get LED headlights, an acoustic windscreen, a powered tailgate, electrically folding door mirrors, sports seats with Index cloth upholstery, dual-zone climate control, a leather steering wheel, and an LED interior lighting pack.

The mid-range S Line trim gets 19-inch alloys, sports suspension, LED taillights with dynamic indicators, S Line sports exterior styling, rear privacy glass, ‘S’-embossed sports seats and pullout cupholders if the rear middle seat isn’t in use.

Illuminated door sill trims, a leather gear knob and leatherette armrests, plus stainless-steel pedals and an ambient lighting pack, are also included.

The top-of-the-range Black Edition gets 20-inch matt grey alloys, plenty of black exterior styling, piano black interior décor, and a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel with gear-shift paddles.

Several powertrains are available, too.

The 35 TFSI and 35 TDI are 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines, respectively, producing 150PS. However, while the petrol comes with a choice of a six-speed manual or S-tronic seven-speed automatic, the 35 TDI is only available with the latter transmission, although both units are available on all trims.

There are more powerful 2.0-litre lumps, with the petrols – the 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI producing 190PS and 245PS respectively, while the diesel – the 40 TDI – churns out 193PS.

All the 2.0-litres have Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system and the S-tronic automatic gearbox, but none are available with entry-level Sport trim.

Alternatively, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Q3 Sportback is offered - called 45 TFSI e. This combines a 1.4-litre petrol mill with an electric motor, producing a combined 245PS, matching the most powerful petrol engine.

Again, the PHEV isn’t available in the entry-level Sport trim.

Range & Batteries

The PHEV comes with a 13kWh battery (10.4kWh usable).

Official figures state it’s capable of 31 miles on electric power only. However, you’ll likely not achieve this in practice, so low-to-mid 20s is more realistic.

Performance & Drive

Our primary focus is the PHEV, which we drove in S Line trim.

With 245PS on tap, it feels brisk, especially as the electric motor's acceleration comes instantly in a burst.

It does 0-62mph in 7.3-seconds, which is perfectly adequate for most, topping out at 130mph (on private roads, obviously) – and it’ll do 87mph in electric-only mode.

However, the most potent petrol, the 45 TFSI, does 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds despite having the same clout.

That is not a problem, but it indicates that weight is a factor. Indeed, the PHEV is 115kg heavier than the 45 TFSI due to its electric motor and battery and nearly 200 kilograms heavier than the entry-level petrol engine.

The result is that the handling in the corners is diluted, costing the Q3 Sportback the agility that might appeal to would-be owners.

The PHEV has a firmer suspension to deal with that extra heft, but the weight compromises most of the car’s playfulness.

At average speeds, though, you’ll struggle to notice – it still corners smoothly and doesn’t resist in the slightest.

However, if you’re considering the Sportback over the standard Q3, it’s likely because you value its athleticism. But the PHEV is undoubtedly the least adept in these areas.

As for the rest of the Sportback line-up, the entry-level petrol should suffice for most.

Besides, it incorporates mild-hybrid technology, which aids acceleration through a small electric motor powered by a small battery, which is charged up under braking.

It can feel a tad lacking in terms of acceleration, though. It takes 9.5 seconds to get from 0 to 62mph (9.4 seconds with the S-tronic transmission) and needs to be worked hard to get decent performance out of it.

Therefore, some may prefer the 40 TFSI petrol (0-62mph in 7.3 seconds), which has a little more poke, although that requires upping to the S Line trim, further adding to the cost.

The diesels are similarly positioned, albeit offering more torque to increase acceleration at lower revs. But they’re barely any quicker than the equivalent petrols.

Dissuading you from the diesels even more, the higher-powered 40 TDI is pricier than the lower-powered petrol, partly because it's not available on the entry-level Sport trim, forcing you to upgrade to S Line.

Nevertheless, if you're a high-mileage driver and fuel economy is a priority, diesels will likely be preferable.

The six-speed manual is okay in terms of transmission, but the smoothness of the seven-speed S-tronic automatic is preferable. However, it can be a bit hesitant to downshift - a common trait of automatics.

The petrol and diesels are sprightlier than the PHEV. But no Q3 Sportback feels particularly thrilling to drive fast around a bend, with other rivals offering more engaging driving dynamics.

Ride comfort is okay, especially on the entry-level Sport, which has smaller 17-inch rims and standard suspension. The larger wheels and sports suspension of the higher trims sacrifice some of the absorption.

If you want agility, playfulness, and raw power, then you're better off leasing an Audi performance model, such as an SQ2 or SQ5 Sportback (sadly, there are no R/RS models in the Q3 range nowadays after the RS Q3 was discontinued last year).

Charging

If you pick the PHEV, charging speeds are limited to 3.6kW.

That means a 0-100% top-up takes around four hours – and it'll be no quicker whether you plug it in via a three-pin socket, a 7.4kW home wall box or a much faster public charging point.

Running Costs & Emissions

Of course, the PHEV is by far the most economical, returning official figures of 148mpg in the S Line trim or 157mpg in Black Edition, emitting 44g/km of CO2.

However, getting anywhere near these figures requires keeping the battery topped up and ensuring the car runs on electric power only as often as possible.

If the hybrid doesn’t appeal, the next most economical is the 35 TDI diesel, returning 47-51mpg, emitting 145-156g/km of CO2, depending on trim and transmission.

The more powerful 40 TDI manages 40-42mpg and 177-181g/km of CO2.

For the petrols, the entry-level 35 TFSI returns 39-42mpg and 151-164g/km of CO2.

By comparison, the mid-range 40 TFSI quattro does 33-34mpg, emitting 187-191g/km of CO2, while the top-of-the-range petrol, the 45 TFSI, returns 31-32mpg, producing 202-206g/km of CO2.

If you're looking for a company car, the PHEV is a no-brainer. Its ultra-low emissions will generate the best savings in Benefit In Kind tax.

Servicing intervals on the PHEV are every 19,000 miles or two years, whichever comes first, whereas it's every 10,000 miles or yearly on the petrol and diesel models.

Interior & Technology

Audi makes some of the best interiors – and the Q3 gets the same treatment.

It looks very smart and sophisticated and has a superbly premium feel, especially the two-tiered dashboard, which is bathed in silver and grey décor. It houses an embedded infotainment screen that is slightly angled towards the driver.

The silver pedals and light door trims in our test car make the interior look inviting, validating Audi’s claims of making the best cabin designs in the business.

These claims are enhanced by the superb build quality, with everything - including well-dampened switches, dials, and buttons - feeling solid, sturdy, and well put together.

Cheaper plastics do exist, although these are mainly lower down and hidden from view.

The infotainment system is among the best in the business, with intuitive menus and a crisply clear, high-resolution display.

There is no rotary dial, which means it's not the easiest to use on the move, but all models come with voice control, which works reasonably reliably.

There are no traditional dials behind the steering wheel; instead, they are replaced by the Audi Virtual Cockpit display, which offers a variety of customisable options so you can choose what information you want to see.

When the SatNav is active, it’ll use the entire screen to display the map, which makes it easier to follow the directions.

Boot Space & Practicality

Finding a comfortable driving position is easy in the Q3 Sportback, with plenty of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel.

The driving position is reasonably high, providing good forward visibility, while the windscreen pillars are kept reasonably slim, aiding your view at road junctions.

Rearward visibility is far more restricted, though, with thicker diagonal rear pillars, making the rear windscreen’s angle very shallow, further limiting your view.

The sloping roofline also adds to the problem. Still, it's mitigated somewhat by including rear parking sensors on all models, although a rear-view camera is only available as an optional extra.

There is enough headroom in the front to accommodate drivers well over six feet tall, and the cabin is reasonably wide, too, providing sufficient shoulder space.

Things aren’t so rosy in the back, though. The sloping roofline makes the rear hostile to the tallest passengers, but there’s a decent amount of legroom.

The rear seats recline, too, which may reduce your head banging off the ceiling somewhat.

Another downside of the Q3 Sportback is that the boot effectively has a chunk chopped off it compared with the standard Q3. Interestingly, Audi claims this doesn't lessen the Q3 Sportback's boot capacity at all.

It is listed as 530 litres for both models – although the space is clearly more usable in the standard Q3.

However, choosing the Sportback PHEV reduces the capacity to 380 litres (again, the same figure is quoted for the standard Q3).

The back seats can be folded down in a versatile and convenient 40:20:40 split, expanding the available boot capacity to 1,400 litres in the petrols and diesels.

With the seats folded, there is a difference, as the equivalent standard Q3 models can stretch to 1,525 litres.

The Q3 Sportback PHEV's figure is 1,250 litres, though, with the standard Q3 PHEV expanding to 1,375 litres.

You can create more space with the rear seats in place as they slide back and forth, although the boot still isn’t tiny, even in its most compromised configuration.

As a result, you’ll easily fit folded-up prams, golf clubs and supermarket sweeps.

Safety

Euro NCAP has not tested the Sportback version, but the standard Q3 was put through its paces in 2018 and earned a five-star safety rating.

Although the testing criteria have become stricter since then, it scored an impressive 95% for adult occupants, 86% for children, and 85% for safety assists.

Those assists include six airbags, Audi pre-sense front (auto emergency braking) alongside pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, hill descent control, hill hold assist, plus camera-based traffic sign recognition.

Parking sensors are included on all models, while a reversing camera and parking assistance are incorporated into the Technology Pack, which is an optional extra.

A more enhanced option, Technology Pack Pro, also adds a 360-degree camera, while a Driver Assistance Pack adds upgraded parking assistance, high beam assist, adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring.

Options

The additional packs mentioned above are worth considering but are expensive.

Still, there are a large number of other optional extras available, and the body colour can be chosen from solids, metallics, or pearl-effect finishes.

You can also change the wheel design or upgrade to a larger size altogether.

Lower trims can upgrade their upholstery, while door mirror casings, extended ambient lighting and upgraded interior storage are among the other additions.

There is a wide variety of accessories, such as ‘dynamic hub caps’ which appear not to move (a la Rolls-Royce), Audi-branded tyre valve caps, interior and exterior styling elements, bicycle racks, roof boxes and carpets.

Rival Cars

The Audi Q3 Sportback has plenty of competition – notably from Audi itself.

The standard Q3 is arguably the best alternative, given it’s more practical.

However, long-distance drivers should consider the all-electric Q4 e-tron, as it’s a better car in many respects.

Elsewhere, the obvious leasing alternatives include the Range Rover Evoque, BMW X2 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class.

A left-field option is the Seat Ateca, which is slightly more fun to drive than the Q3 Sportback.

Verdict & Next Steps

The Q3 Sportback is a tempting car with plenty of attributes in its favour.

We would stick with the entry-level Sport, which is suitably well equipped unless you need the PHEV, which is only available in the top two trims.

In truth, the S Line trim doesn’t really add anything significantly worthwhile over the Sport model.

The sports suspension sounds tempting in theory, but in practice, it does little to improve handling and makes the ride firmer.

If you don’t need the PHEV, the entry-level petrol engine should be fine for most, although long-distance drivers may find the entry-level diesel more suitable, given its superior fuel economy.

Viewed in isolation, the Q3 Sportback is a very good car. It has refined engines, a lovely interior, and reasonable handling.

However, the ride is a little on the firm side for a car that isn’t much fun to drive, which is frustrating, given the Sportback name naturally makes claims of athleticism.

Nevertheless, if you can live with that and the drawbacks of the limited rear headroom, there are plenty of worse leasing choices than this.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Audi Q3 Sportback.

**Correct as of 15/05/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £3,628.71 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.