New 2015 Audi Q3 35 TDI Review: Deft & Dashing

Hey Pedro! Tell me about Quattro

The only vehicle in its segment that distributes the engine’s power to all four wheels, this is a definitive piece of tech that makes the Q3 stand out from the crowd. Of course those Pirellis were hard at work as we put the agility of this baby Audi to test around hairpins and narrow mountain roads, but it was the all-wheel drive Quattro system which lends the car an on-rail like poise around bends. Even on wet tarmac, the Q3 went about its business, gripping the surface like a crab’s claw.

Quattro eh! Can I make it climb hills?

It is more of a casual off-roader and as long as you aren’t thinking of traversing through Dakar stages, you should make it to the top. We did too, here’s the proof. You can also see a demonstration of the Quattro system at work by clicking here

What sort of renovation happened inside?

So you get to pick between a black-beige or an all-black cabin now, although the architecture inside is more or less the same, wooden inlays on the dashboard and door pads have been replaced with Aluminium Tangent inserts.

The ‘Technology’ variant we sampled comes with full satellite navigation, 20 gigs of electronic space for your virtual belongings, a nice sounding Audi sound system, rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines and a panoramic sunroof as standard.

Two SDHC card slots, Bluetooth connectivity, LED interior lighting package, power-adjustable front seats and anti-glare mirrors everywhere are standard too.

Another addition is a dock beneath the front centre armrest for your cell phone. It lets your phone use the car’s radio antenna to receive its signal, helping that little device extend its battery life.

A new colour display has been introduced in the instrumentation cluster, which tells you about the terrain you’re driving on, the track that’s blaring out from the speakers, your phone book and a multitude of information related to the car. It has various menus you can flick through with buttons on the wheel, without the need to peek through sideways at the central MMI display.

Regenerative braking tech, that stores energy in the battery which is harnessed during acceleration and Hill-descent assist are part of the package too.

Must be a good buy then?

With competition like Merc’s GLA and the upcoming new BMW X1, where the starry SUV scores on appeal and design, while the latter is more focused as a vehicle, the Audi Q3 shines out as an all-rounder that ticks all the boxes for an entry-level premium SUV.

It is a no-brainer if a well-proportioned, comfortable, frugal and now feature packed car is what’s on your mind. Powered by an intelligently attractive engine-gearbox package, the Q3 builds on its appeal and remains a compelling choice in its segment.

There must be something amiss?

In order to change a track, one has to manually find the next button on the centre console, which would’ve made things easy had it been on the steering wheel.

The boot gate requires some effort to be brought down and the horn pad is definitely a mile away from the steering’s circumference, needs one of your hands to be taken off the wheel. We weren’t always this good at nit picking, but we’ve specially developed this ability since we knew you’d ask.

I’m sold, should I go buy one?

The Q3 S Edition (base model, no Quattro AWD, 140 bhp) retails for Rs 28.99 lakh, ex showroom, both in Delhi and Mumbai. Then there’s the Premium edition, which is priced at Rs 33.99 lakh, and the Premium Plus, priced at Rs 37.50 lakh. The prices pretty much undercuts its immediate competition, and along with its all-round competence, the Q3 makes itself an extremely compelling buy within the segment.

Here are the specifications: Click for an enlarged view