Audi Q3 Sportback Review 2023

You’ll struggle to find any objective reasons to buy a Audi Q3 Sportback over the standard Audi Q3. But, if you want to stand out, the Sportback is rarer than the regular car and barely any more expensive on the used market. It’s cheap to run - and it’s more practical than you might expect.

Combine that with low running costs and a strong engine line-up (including the 1.5 mild-hybrid petrol), and the Q3 Sportback gets easier to justify. 

Sure, a cheaper alternative like the Volkswagen Tiguan will do the job, but the Q3 Sportback will attract more envious looks from your neighbours. It’s also got a brilliant interior that will keep you comfortable on long journeys and will continue to feel special the longer you spend in it.

We reckon the most affordable engine in the Audi Q3 Sportback is actually the one to go for. The 1.5 TFSI is quick enough for most drivers, cheap to run and available with a manual or S tronic automatic transmission. An automatic gearbox is desirable in a car like this but it can be a bit hesitant, so don’t dismiss the manual.

In terms of trim levels, the Q3 Sportback will look sharper and get more equipment if you opt for one of the pricier models, but the standard Sport model has pretty much everything you could possibly wish for. In typical Audi form, the Q3 Sportback is at its most comfortable on the smallest wheels - the 18-inch alloys fitted to Sport models.

The BMW X2 is the Audi Q3 Sportback’s main rival - based on the BMW X1 with sleeker looks and a less practical cabin. We’d be very tempted by the Volvo XC40, which is a trendy small SUV with a brilliant interior, while the latest Range Rover Evoque is another solid alternative (although don’t be tempted by the old model, replaced in 2019). 

If practicality’s what you want, look at the standard Audi Q3 instead, or the very similar (but less premium) Volkswagen Tiguan. Then there are left-field alternatives like the Lexus NX and even the bigger DS 7 Crossback.

If you’re looking for a quality interior, you won’t go wrong with an Audi. The Audi Q3 Sportback’s cabin feels every bit as upmarket as we’ve come to expect from the brand, with lots of soft-touch materials and finishes that feel like they can take decades of abuse.

Having said that, once you start to rummage around, you might find a few plastics which feel a bit on the flimsy side. The glovebox lid, for example, and some of the plastics lower down on the doors. Not that these are things you’ll touch regularly.

As well as leather upholstery, higher-spec models come with things like ambient lighting and brushed aluminium dash inlays which do a really good job of making the cabin feel that bit more special.

There are various buttons and switches around the cabin that feel satisfyingly German in their operation. It might sound like a small thing, but even tapping the indicator reminds you that you’re driving a premium car thanks to its smooth operation (not to mention the pleasing indicator sound). It’s probably time we moved on...

No matter which specification you opt for, the Audi Q3 Sportback comes with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (the former with wireless functionality… clever).

This is an easy system to use with logical menus and fast responses. It’s a shame that you can only operate it via the touchscreen. Older Audis (and, indeed, the BMW X2) use a rotary controller positioned between the front seats - this is much easier to use on the move than jabbing away at the touchscreen. There aren’t any physical shortcut buttons, either.

We’re not entirely against progress though. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit is the kind of feature you didn’t know you needed until you tried it. It’s standard across the range, using a 10.25-inch digital display instead of conventional dials. 

A button on the steering wheel lets you switch between various displays such as a widescreen map of your location, information about what song is playing on the radio or useful stuff like your current speed. Unfortunately, you can’t display phone apps on here via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

With its rakish rear roofline, you might expect the Audi Q3 Sportback to be less practical than the standard Q3. But it’s probably not as impractical as you might think.

The Audi Q3 Sportback's dimensions make it longer and lower than the standard Q3 at 4500mm long, 2022mm wide (including mirrors) and 1567mm tall. 

The rear seats slide backwards and forwards, with the Audi Q3 Sportback providing up to 530 litres of boot space. Fact fans will notice that’s exactly the same as the standard Q3 - that’s because the Sportback is slightly longer, providing a longer (but shallower) boot. The rear bench can be split into three and dropped easily, creating up to 1400 litres of lovely space for carrying bulky items. That’s loads of room.

You’ll obviously have to lift items higher into the Sportback’s boot than you would a conventional hatchback like the Audi A3, but access is fairly easy and a standard electric tailgate helps (provided you don’t mind waiting for those annoying few seconds as it slowly lifts up).

If you want to minimise the boot lip when loading, the boot floor can be used at various levels.

As well as being able to slide backwards and forwards (by up to 13cm), the rear seats can be reclined - allowing your passengers to lie back and pretend they’re in the bigger, more luxurious Audi Q8, if they really want.

Indeed, space for rear-seat passengers is fine for most, apart from the tallest of adults who will find the roof messing up their hair. How inconvenient.

Up front, there’s loads of the space for the girthiest of drivers and passengers. You’re unlikely to have an issue with headroom and that seat adjustment we discussed earlier means there’s plenty of legroom, too.

There are stowage areas aplenty (in the front and rear), with generously-large door bins big enough to take bottles of water and everything else a family might want to chuck in them. 

Unless you cover mega miles, the majority of Audi Q3 Sportback drivers will be best buying one with a petrol engine. We rate the entry-level 1.5-litre petrol engine, which produces 150PS and is confusingly badged the 35 TFSI. 

This is available with a manual or S tronic automatic gearbox - while an auto is tempting in a car like this, it can be a little hesitant. With that in mind, it might be worth saving money and opting for the manual.

If you’re after more performance, there’s a 2.0-litre petrol available with 190PS or 230PS, badged the 40 and 45 TFSI respectively. Combined with Quattro all-wheel-drive and the S tronic transmission as standard, these feel pretty rapid and fun to drive - although you’ll have to be prepared for how much fuel it uses.

The big-selling diesel engine is the 35 TDI, which is a 2.0-litre diesel with 150PS. This is available as a Quattro with a manual or automatic gearbox, or a front-drive model with the S tronic transmission. If you cover a lot of motorway miles, this is the engine for you - it’s more frugal than the petrols and has plenty of torque for effortlessly covering distance.

If the standard 35 TDI isn’t powerful enough, there’s also a top-of-the-range 40 TDI. Again, this uses a 2.0-litre TDI but with power boosted to 190PS. With an automatic gearbox and quattro four-wheel-drive as standard, this will be the Q3 Sportback of choice for anyone looking to tow anything.

It’s the Audi Q3 Sportback’s refinement levels which distinguish it from more mainstream crossovers - and even other pricey competitors. No matter which engine you go for, the Q3 Sportback is an extremely refined choice, doing a superb job of lowering noise levels and making sure you reach your destination feeling thoroughly relaxed.

The 2.0-litre petrols are more refined than the 1.5, despite the smaller engine using a 48-volt mild-hybrid system when combined with the automatic gearbox. This allows the Audi Q3 Sportback to coast with the engine off, primarily aiding fuel economy but also improving refinement levels, particularly in stop-start traffic around town. 

Of course, the diesel engines are a little noisier - particularly when cold. But no more so than other diesels and once up to speed and temperature, there’s little in the way of engine noise.

One important thing to bear in mind if you’re concerned about refinement is your choice of wheels and suspension. The adaptive suspension helps improve refinement and comfort thanks to its more compliant ride but cars with large alloy wheels counter that improvement.

The Audi Q3 Sportback comes with a long list of standard safety equipment intended to prevent you having a crash. And, in the case of an accident, keeping you and your family safe.

It features Audi’s Pre-Sense Front with pedestrian and cyclist detection. This clever system uses radar sensors to detect other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists in front of the car. 

If it detects an imminent collision, it will warn the driver - and if you don’t react, it applies the brakes to prevent a crash or, at the least, reduce the impact. We wouldn’t recommend trying it out, but it’s certainly a good feature to have.

Other handy safety tech highlights include a lane departure warning, which will nudge the steering if you accidentally stray from your lane, plus a camera-based traffic sign recognition system. Again, these are standard across the range - meaning all used Audi Q3 Sportbacks will have them.

Vorsprung models do come with some extra features such as the cross-traffic assist rear system. This will alert the driver of any approaching traffic when reversing out of a parking space - and even apply the brake if required.

Euro NCAP is the independent body responsible for crash testing new cars in Europe. While it hasn’t tested the Q3 Sportback, the standard Audi Q3 performed very well indeed when it was tested in 2018, receiving a maximum of five stars out of five.

It scored well across the board, receiving a 95% rating for adult occupants and 86% for children. NCAP also awarded the Q3 85 per cent for its safety assist features, and 76% cent for protecting vulnerable road users.

Audi performs well for reliability, with the brand achieving a score of 9.12 out of 10 in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index. However in the latest index Audi had an 86.9% rating for overall satisfaction. 

Insurance groups range from 20 to 27 depending on engine and trim level, with the Sport 35 TFSI manual being the cheapest to insure. That’s broadly in line with competitors like the BMW X2.

Unsurprisingly, you’re likely to pay a little more to insure the Audi Q3 Sportback than something like a Volkswagen Tiguan. Shop around if you’re concerned - unless you’re a young or inexperienced driver, insurance for the Q3 Sportback shouldn’t be extortionate.

The Audi Q3 Sportback was launched in 2019 so all models will cost a flat £150 a year in road tax under the latest system.

Be careful you don’t get stung by the so-called ‘premium tax’, though. This applies to all vehicles with a list price of more than £40,000 - meaning some Q3 Sportback models. If the car you’re looking at cost more than £40,000 when it was new, you’ll have to pay an extra £325 a year for the first five years.

The entry-level Audi Q3 Sportback is well-equipped as standard, with highlights including 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights (and fancy dynamic rear indicators), cloth sports seats and Audi’s MMI Navigation Plus, as well as its Virtual Cockpit. Apart from looking a little less special than more premium models, there isn’t really anything missing from the Audi Q3 Sportback Sport trim level.

The Audi Q3 Sportback S line builds on that with 19-inch wheels and bespoke exterior styling with privacy glass - making the Q3 Sportback look a bit fancier. Other highlights include part-leather sport seats and ambient interior lighting, both of which make the Sportback feel a bit more special.

Audi Q3 Sportback Edition 1 models are pricey but feature things like 20-inch wheels, Audi’s clever Matrix LED headlights (including front and rear dynamic indicators), a black exterior styling pack and full leather upholstery. The ambient lighting pack is extended, too, giving you a choice of colours.

Topping the range is the Audi Q3 Sportback Vorsprung model, which comes with its own take on 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and premium Bang & Olufsen sound system. It also has the Driver Assistance Pack which includes a range of nice-to-have features like adaptive cruise assist and a 360-degree camera.

While Audi’s options list is fairly extensive, there aren’t any that will make a car particularly more desirable on the used market. The Comfort & Sound Pack is worth looking out for on lower-spec models - this adds things like the posh B&O sound system, a rear-view camera and heated front seats.