The Audi Q3 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV produced by Audi since 2011. The Q3 has a transverse-mounted front engine. It was unveiled in April 2007 at the Shanghai motor show. A coupe SUV variant has been produced since the second generation, called the Q3 Sportback.
Since the discontinuation of the Audi A1 and Audi Q2 in 2026, the Q3 is Audi's smallest combustion engine model, alongside the Audi A3.
__TOC__
First generation (Typ 8U; 2011)
Concept Vehicle: Audi Cross Coupé quattro (2007) Designed by Julian Hoenig in 2006, it was a concept vehicle with Liquid Silver body colour, 20-inch wheels, fabric folding roof, electrically controlled hood, 4-cylinder 2.0 TDI engine rated at and , diesel particulate filter and Bluetec emission control system, quattro permanent four-wheel drive system with Haldex clutch, Audi S tronic dual-clutch gearbox, MacPherson strut front axle and a four-link rear axle, Audi drive select system with 3 modes (dynamic, sport, efficiency), MMI control panel with touch pad and dual-view technology, sound system with the prominent extending tweeters.
The vehicle was unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2007.
Initial release Audi Q3 (2011)
The car uses the Volkswagen Group A (PQ46) platform of the Volkswagen Passat B6, the same as the Volkswagen Tiguan compact SUV. The Q3 slots above the Audi Q2 subcompact crossover SUV. Compared to the compact luxury crossover SUV Q5 and mid-size luxury crossover SUV Q7, which are positioned more for family practicality and off-road performance, the Q3 is aimed as more of a lifestyle/sports automobile. Design and development began following board approval in the second half of 2007. Julian Hoenig's design was chosen for production and frozen in 2009.
The Q3 shares components, transmissions and engines with amongst other vehicles utilising the PQ35 platform, the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and Škoda Yeti.
The vehicle was unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2011.
The vehicles went on sale in June 2011. Early models include 2.0 TFSI quattro (170/211PS), 2.0 TDI (140PS), 2.0 TDI quattro (177PS).
Indian models went on sale in 2012. Early models include 2.0 TDI quattro (177PS).
China models went on sale at the end of July 2012 as an import vehicle. The Changchun-made Audi Q3 entered market in April 2013, which included 35 TFSI (170PS), 35 TFSI quattro (170PS), 40 TFSI quattro (200PS), with 7-speed S Tronic transmissions.
2.0 TDI quattro with was introduced in 2012 for Germany market as part of 2012 Paris Motor Show premiere.
2.0 TDI quattro (140PS) was introduced in 2012 for the UK market.
Audi Q3 Vail (2012)
It is a concept vehicle based on Audi Q3 with 2.5 TFSI ( I5 turbo) engine rated at and , 7-speed S tronic transmission, Energy Red body colour, add-on body parts are in matt gray quartz-based paint, flared wheel arches and running boards, five-arm 8.5Jx20 wheels in matt quartz, 255/45 off-road tires, 40 mm wider front and rear track widths and 30 mm higher body ride height over production model.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2012 at the North American International Auto Show. The name Vail comes from the well-known town in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, United States of the same name. Vail, Colorado has a sponsorship coordination with Audi.
Audi RS Q3 concept (2012) It is a version of Audi Q3 with blue body colour, 2.5 TFSI ( I5 turbo) engine rated at , lowered body, brushed and polished aluminum trim frames, single-frame radiator grille, Dark blue Alcantara on contrasting element on the seat covers, black CFRP door mirror housings, while matt aluminum trim at side windows, Ordos Blue body color, blue clearcoat and black CFRP at diffuser insert, clear glass rear lights and auxiliary lights in the bumper tinted in anthracite, black Fine Nappa leather interior upholstery on roofliner, floor carpet, floor mats, leather-upholstered instrument panel and on large areas of the seat upholstery; steering wheel upholstered in black Velvet leather, door trim panels in blue Alcantara, Chinese characters numerals in tachometer, 7-speed S tronic transmission, quattro permanent all-wheel drive, 8.5 J x 20 wheels with 255/30 tires.
The vehicle was unveiled in Auto China 2012 in Beijing, and later in 2012 Wörthersee Tour.
Audi Q3 Jinlong Yufeng (2012) Q3 Jinlong Yufeng (金龍馭風) is a version of Audi Q3 with 2.5 TFSI ( I5 turbo) engine rated at , 7-speed S tronic transmission, two kiteboards made of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer, Liuli Yellow body colour, body add-on parts in matt quartz, Vertical aluminum struts in the single-frame radiator grille, xenon plus headlights in anthracite, aluminum panels cover the upper sections of the air intakes, aluminum underbody guard, flared wheel arches, brushed stainless steel running boards, roofliner in titanium gray Alcantara, black interior surfaces, instrument panel upholstered in black Fine Nappa leather and decorated with yellow contrasting seams, fine aluminum accents at instrument cluster, leather-trimmed steering wheel with contrasting yellow seams and two large shift paddles, foot rests and pedal made of stainless steel with rubber caps, seats upholstered in woven leather (narrow strips of leather interwoven with yarn, yellow piping and contrasting seams), side panels of the seat cushions and seatbacks in yellow Velvet leather, Velvet leather in parts of the door trim panels, stainless steel mesh decorative inlays, five-arm 8.5Jx20 wheels in matt quartz, 255/45 off-road tires, 40 mm wider front and rear track widths and 30 mm higher body ride height over production model.
The vehicle was unveiled in Auto China 2012 in Beijing, and later in 2012 Wörthersee Tour.
Audi Q3 red track (2012) It is a version of Audi Q3 with 2.5 TFSI ( I5 turbo) engine rated and , 7-speed S tronic transmission, Energy Red body colour, five-arm 8.5Jx20 wheels in matt quartz, 255/45 off-road tires, 40mm wider front and rear track widths and 30mm higher body ride height over production model, headlining in titanium gray Alcantara, black interior, floor mats in black with narrow strips of red Velvet leather.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2012 Wörthersee Tour.
Audi RS Q3 (2013-2016)
It is the first production turbo model in a Q-series vehicle; based on the Audi RS Q3 concept. It features a 2.5 TFSI (2.5 L; 151 cu in) I5 turbo engine rated at at 5200-6700 rpm and at 1500-5200 rpm, 7-speed S-tronic transmission with D and S modes, battery located in the luggage compartment, 4-link independent rear wheel suspensions, electro-mechanical rack and pinion steering, electro-mechanical parking brake and hill hold assist, ventilated and perforated front brake discs with wave-shaped outer contours, black eight-piston calipers with RS logos, electronic stabilization control (ESC) with sport mode, 19-inch alloy wheels in German market (optional 20-inch wheels, with exclusive 5 dual-spoke V design from Audi RS Q3 concept), body accents and roof rails in matt aluminum, special door sill plates and door trim strips, a high-gloss black honeycomb front grille, RS front bumper and quattro emblem in the front air intake, roof spoiler, rear bumper with diffuser insert, elliptical tailpipe, a rear RS Q3 logo, choice of 8 body colors (including the exclusive Sepang Blue pearl effect), instrument cluster with gray gauges and white scales and red pointers, contrasting stitching in rock gray trim at flat bottom three-spoke multifunction steering wheel and gear selector lever, Multi Media Interface and driver information system with RS logo, RS menu with boost pressure, oil temperature and a lap timer; pedals and foot support in aluminum look, inlays in piano finish black (optional aluminum race or carbon), black (optional lunar silver) headlining, sport seats with embossed RS Q3 logos upholstered in black Alcantara/leather (optional Fine Nappa leather in black or lunar silver with contrasting stitching in rock gray or the design package with diamond stitching), reversible loadliner, optional towing bracket, RS-specific driver information system (park assist plus), Audi sound system with ten loudspeakers, xenon plus headlights, LED tail lights. The car accelerates from 0 to in 5.5 seconds and onto a limited top speed of .
Infotainment options include MMI Navigation plus, Bose surround sound system with 14 loudspeakers with up to 465 watts of output power, Bluetooth car phone online advanced driver-assistance systems.
Optional styling packages (in matt aluminum or black) include flaps in the side air intakes, the trim on the diffuser, and the fins on the roof spoiler.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, followed by Wörthersee Tour 2013.
Deliveries of the German model began in the late 2013.
Deliveries in the UK started in early 2014.
It will not be available in Canada.
In late September 2015, it was found out that the Volkswagen Group had implanted a defeat device to cheat emission tests. The Audi Q3 was also listed to be fitted with one such device.
Engines Petrol enginesModelYearEngine typePower, torque@rpmQ3 1.4 TFSI 2013-2014 I4 turbo (CHPB)@5000–6000, @1750-3000Q3 1.4 TFSI COD 2014-2018 I4 turbo (CZDA/CZEA)@5000–6000, @1500-3500Q3 2.0 TFSI (quattro option)2011-2014 I4 turbo (CCZC)@4300–6200, @1700-4200Q3 2.0 TFSI (quattro option)2014-2018 I4 turbo (CULB)@4000–6200, @1400-3900Q3 2.0 TFSI (quattro option) (North America)2014-2018 I4 turbo (CCTA)@5100–6000, @1700-5000Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro2011-2014 I4 turbo (CPSA)@5000–6200, @1800-4900Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro2014-2018 I4 turbo (CULC)@4500–6200, @1500-4400RS Q3 2013-2014 I5 turbo (CTSA)@5200–6700, @1500-5200RS Q3 2015-2016 I5 turbo (CZGA)@5300–6700, @1600-5300RS Q3 performance2016 I5 turbo (CZGB)@5550–6800, @1625-5500Diesel enginesModelYearEngine typePower, torque@rpmQ3 2.0 TDI2015-2018 I4 turbo common rail (?)@3250-4500, @1500-2750Q3 2.0 TDI (quattro option)2011-2014 I4 turbo common rail (CFFB)@4200-4200, @1750-2500Q3 2.0 TDI (quattro option)2014-2018 I4 turbo common rail (CFFB)@3500-4000, @1750-2800Q3 2.0 TDI (quattro option)2011-2014 I4 turbo common rail (CLLB)@4200-4200, @1750-2500Q3 2.0 TDI (quattro option)2014-2018 I4 turbo common rail (CUWA)@3500-4000, @1800-3250
Transmissions Petrol enginesModelYearTypesQ3 1.4 TFSI 2014-2018 6-speed manual, 6-speed S tronic (DQ250)Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro (170PS)2011-20186-speed manual, 7-speed S tronic (DQ500)Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro (180PS)2011-20186-speed manual, 7-speed S tronic (DQ500)Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro (200PS) North America2014-20186-speed automatic (Aisin TF-60SN (09M))Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro (211PS)2011-20187-speed S tronic (DQ500)Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro (220PS)2011-20187-speed S tronic (DQ500)RS Q32012-20187-speed S tronic (DQ500)Diesel enginesModelYearTypesQ3 2.0 TDI (120PS)2011-20186-speed manualQ3 2.0 TDI (140PS)2011-20186-speed manual, 7-speed S tronic (DQ500)Q3 2.0 TDI quattro (150PS)2014-20186-speed manual, 7-speed S tronic (DQ500)Q3 2.0 TDI quattro (177PS)2011-20186-speed manual, 7-speed S tronic (DQ500)Q3 2.0 TDI quattro (184PS)2014-20186-speed manual, 7-speed S tronic (DQ500)
Safety
Euro NCAP tested the Audi Q3, 5-door Compact SUV with front airbags, side airbags, seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters as standard and scored it accordingly:
Production On 2011-06-07, Audi announced the production of Audi Q3 began at SEAT factory in Martorell, located in Spain's Catalonia region, with annual production of approximately 100,000 Q3 units. In 1998, the production facility was chosen as the "Best Factory of the VW Group in the first quarter".SEAT, S.A. Key Figures http://media.seat.com/en/company/seat-sa-key-figures.html Production at Martorell began on 2011-07-13 with Spanish Prince Felipe's inauguration at Martorell plant.
The Audi Q3 is built in a FAW-Volkswagen plant in Changchun, China in a joint venture with its partner FAW; production began in 2013. The Changchun-made Audi Q3 first entered the market in April 2013.
Marketing