Audi Q3 – Australian pricing & specs

Are you an ‘Urban Navigator’? If so it’s your lucky day because not only has Audi created your very own label, they’ve created a car just for you. Of course that is the Q3 you see here. First announced around this time last year, the Q3 is now available in Australian dealerships.

So just what is an Urban Navigator? According to Audi you fall into the following categories: successful young professionals (30-39), a recreational middle-aged couple or family, or active empty-nesters and wanting to show-off to your neighbours. Okay, maybe we altered that last descriptor a little bit.

Anyway, the Q3 is a smart looking crossover that’s sure to find a willing clientele. In Australia you can choose from either petrol or diesel power, both turbocharged four-cylinders and both available in two different states of tune.

Starting the range at $44,800 is the 103kW 2.0 TDI with a 6-speed manual transmission. It’s the only model in the local range not to feature a quattro all-wheel drive system. You can opt for a 130kW 2.0 TDI with quattro and a 7-speed S tronic transmission. That’ll cost you $54,500.

Petrol power comes in the familiar form of a 2.0 TFSI engine with your choice of 125kW or 155kW. If you go for the lower engine output you can choose between a 6-speed manual box or the 7-speed S tronic. Pricing starts at $47,000, with a $1950 premium for the double-clutch gearbox. While the top-of-the range model is priced from $56,000 can only be had with the S tronic.

Rear cargo space is 460 litres, or 1365 litres with the rear seats folded down. Or more use, perhaps, is the 64 litre fuel tank. With consumption figures ranging from 5.2l/100km (103kW TDI) to 7.7l/100km (155kW TFSI) that will offer a noticeable difference in range compared to a similarly specced hatchback.

As you’d expect the Q3 is reasonably well appointed with a tailored ESP system, Bluetooth for your phone and streaming audio as well as all the drive assistance features you could hope for. The Q3 can also be optioned with Audi drive select, which allows you to choose from dour different driving modes on the fly (Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Efficiency). To finish things off there are 12 exterior body colours to choose from as well.

There’s more from Audi Australia after the break, including a short press release. If the Q3 has raised your interest we suggest you download the detailed PDFs we have for you at the end of the article.

Audi Launches the New Q3 Compact Premium SUV in Australia

• The newest member of the Audi ‘Q family’ has arrived in Australia
  
• Efficiency comes as standard: excellent fuel economy of 5.2 l/100km
  
• Sporty and versatile, the Q3 is the ideal vehicle for Urban Navigators

The Audi Q3 has just been launched in Australia. It is a premium SUV for the compact class. The Q3 is sporty, efficient and versatile – a vehicle that is equally comfortable on or off the road. Every aspect of the Q3 showcases Audi technology: the body, the drivetrain, the chassis and the assistance and multimedia systems.

The Audi Q3 is immediately recognisable as the newest member of the successful Audi ‘Q family’. Like its bigger brothers, the Q3’s coupe-like lines are a visual expression of its sporty character. Sharp edges frame elegantly arched sheet metal surfaces, and the optional bi-xenon headlights give the Q3 a distinctive and formidable presence on the road.

The Q3 is being launched in Australia with a choice of four highly efficient engines (two TDI and two TFSI engines) that also deliver the kind of sporty performance expected from Audi. All engines are 2.0-litres in capacity, and are turbocharged with direct fuel-injection. Start/stop technology saves fuel while the car is sitting still, and the electromechanical steering yields fuel economy savings of up to 0.3 l/100km. The handsome Q3 also leads its class in aerodynamics, with a drag coefficient of just 0.32Cd – a remarkable figure for an SUV.

The 103kW 2.0 TDI manual Q3 delivers outstanding fuel economy figures of just 5.2 l/100km, and with a full 64-litre tank of fuel, it has a range of over 1000 kilometres. The vigorous 130kW 2.0 TDI quattro provides an even more impressive driving experience, with a substantial 380Nm of torque arriving between 1750-2500rpm. Paired with the seven-speed S tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive, it will reach 100km/h from rest in 8.2 seconds.

The 125kW and 155kW TFSI petrol drivetrains also deliver impressive fuel efficiency, with figures of 7.3 and 7.7 l/100km respectively. The 155kW model offers drivers the sportiest performance, reaching 100km/h in 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 230km/h.

Australian buyers will find the Audi Q3 is very generously equipped, with features like Bluetooth interface with audio streaming, Audi parking system rear, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, driver information system and multifunction leather steering wheel standard on all models.

The Audi Q3 will naturally attract young professionals (30-39) who are successful in their chosen field, middle-aged couples and families who want an urban SUV that can be used for recreational activities, along with empty-nesters who lead an active lifestyle and want the versatility of a premium SUV. Audi has dubbed this overall group as ‘Urban Navigators’.

The Audi Q3 will officially go on-sale nationally on 31 March 2012.

Audi Q3 range – Australian pricing

*Manufacturer’s List Pricing MLP (excluding on-road costs)

• Q3 2.0 TDI manual 103 kW – $44,800
  
• Q3 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic 130 kW – $54,500
  
• Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro manual 125 kW – $47,000
  
• Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic 125 kW – $48,950
  
• Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro manual 155 kW – $56,000

Downloads

• Audi Q3 – Australian press kit (4.8mb PDF)
• Audi Q3 – Technical specifications (320kb PDF)