2023 Audi Q3

Pros: Very stylish; a nicely equipped value; solid tech all around Cons: Some cheap-feeling interior materials; less cargo space than rivals; boring to drive; below-average fuel economy The 2023 Audi Q3 is the cheapest four-ringed SUV money can buy, but it makes a great first impression as an Audi. Design is a high point, as this little crossover totally looks the part of a luxury vehicle with its flashy LED lighting, sharp lines and modern Audi styling. You could even mistake it for some of Audi’s larger and more expensive SUVs. A big dose of Audi’s fantastic tech is brought down into this little car, too, which means you get to enjoy many of the niceties seen on Audi’s bigger models. However, a lot of this great styling and flashy tech is covering for other substandard attributes. The Q3 is largely dreary to drive and suffers from very disconnected throttle and steering response. Its base model 40 TFSI is downright slow with an 8.7-second 0-60 mph time. Fuel economy versus its competition is notably down. Plus, it offers less cargo space than most competitors (not to mention similarly priced small SUVs from non-luxury makers). Interior tech may be a plus, but there are some odd ergonomics and interior quality is a disappointment with a lot of cheap-feeling plastics that seem more Volkswagen than Audi. Many of these downsides sway us in favor of other small luxury SUVs, including the Volvo XC40 and both the GLA and GLB from Mercedes-Benz. You'd also be smart to check out the luxurious Mazda CX-5 or CX-50. The Q3 has its pluses, but it’s far from leading the way in this segment. Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Trim Levels   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features What's new for 2023? Updates for 2023 are light-touch in nature. Full LED headlights are now standard across the board. A wireless phone charger replaces Audi’s “phone box with signal booster.” New 18-inch wheels grace the 40 TFSI model and new, optional 20-inch wheels come with the summer tires that are part of the Black Optic Sport package on the 45 TFSI. What are the Q3’s interior and in-car technology like? Like other Audis, the Q3 interior is tech-focused and has a rather architectural design with lots of sharp angles. It's a bit reminiscent of the 1980s. The materials are disappointing for the price point. There are more hard plastics than you'll find in other Audis (even the surprisingly disappointing Q5), and the token strip of metal or wood trim on the dash is the epitome of the term "tacked on.” Audi has packed the interior with technology, including a standard 10.25-inch digital instrument display and an 8.8-inch touchscreen presented high and within easy reach. Both can be upgraded, however, to Audi's Virtual Cockpit system that increases the instrument unit to 12.3 inches and the center touchscreen to 10.1. We've only tested this latter …
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