The new Q3 S: Audinary?
Gone are the signature LEDs. Also the automatic transmission, and the 4-wheel drive. Coming in: mileage, lower price
This year, the battle for the pole position in the luxury car space has intensified with the introduction of small cars by Mercedes Benz and BMW. This has left Audi, which played the hunter in the past, in the position of the prey. Unlike its country cousins, it believes luxury small cars are ahead of their time in India for now. But it is not sitting idle either. Looking to lure away prospective Mercedes A and B class or BMW 1 series customers, it has launched a cheaper, low-on-frills version of its compact SUV Q3. Will it do enough to keep Audi ahead of the pack?A new colour, but no LEDs
The first thing you notice about the Q3 S is the blazing red colour. Then your eyes wander over to the all-black shining alloy wheels. Red and black make a good combination, and though the alloys are not as premium in isolation, it makes the car look different. And despite its smaller footprint, the red colour does add a freshness to the brand. Remember, the conventional Q3 comes only in orange, not red.
Then you also notice it does not have Audi’s signature mark — the daytime running LED lights up front. Given that it was those LEDs that helped Audi make a mark in India, this could be a costly miss: their absence makes the Q3 S look a plain Jane.
There are no other obvious changes in the car as far as looks are concerned. The Q3 resembles Audi’s other SUVs, but is more compact. The familiar broad hexagonal grille and wraparound headlamps give it an aggressive look. Design is clean, well-proportioned right down to the tail-lamps.
But the resemblance to other Qs is a double-edged sword: it is functional, but the car does not have the freshness that other small hatchbacks are bringing.
All-black insides, and nothing automatic about this
Inside the cabin, the dual-tone colour theme has given way to an
all-black finish. It may raise the cabin temperature a couple of notches
during the infamous Indian summer, but black interiors are in vogue
right now. From small cars and sedans to SUVs, they are perceived as
lending sportiness to the vehicle.
There are a few features missing, as well. For example the panoramic sun roof is gone. There is no automatic transmission either. But the important bits are all there: six airbags, a standard multi-media system, leather seats, ABS and EBD et al. As a small SUV it is cramped at the back, but compared to a hatch, it is still more practical.
Engine: tuned down, but no slouch
Normally, an S in a car’s name would indicate Sports. But in the Q3, this is misleading. Why? Because it gets a de-tuned version of Q3’s 2-litre diesel engine. As such, the power is diminished by a good 21% and torque by 13%. Audi’s famed four-wheel drive quattro technology has also been taken away. Hence, the car is slower than the conventional Q3 but not as much as the figures would make us believe. Why? Because the lack of four-wheel drive also makes it lighter and the manual 6-speed gearbox is superlative. The torque kicks in at a very low RPM and despite the lower power one
does not feel out-of-breath. Very few of the Q3/X1 customers are hardcore off road junkies, and none of these cars can handle the jungles or the desert anyway. So the lack of 4WD is not really a handicap. In return, you get higher fuel economy that would endear it to a lot more people.
Verdict
Audi Q3 S is not quite a compromised car. It looks almost as good,
has a decent engine and is terrific to drive in urban conditions. The
lack of a sunroof won’t even be missed; the quattro and automatic
transmissions would be, but not by much. The strength of the vehicle is
its price, which at ` 25 lakh makes it the cheapest diesel luxury SUV in
India. We are still not convinced peeling away the LEDs was such a
great idea given that the hatchbacks are stunning vehicles to look at.
Perhaps the value for money aspect over-rides that as well.
There are a few features missing, as well. For example the panoramic sun roof is gone. There is no automatic transmission either. But the important bits are all there: six airbags, a standard multi-media system, leather seats, ABS and EBD et al. As a small SUV it is cramped at the back, but compared to a hatch, it is still more practical.
Engine: tuned down, but no slouch
Normally, an S in a car’s name would indicate Sports. But in the Q3, this is misleading. Why? Because it gets a de-tuned version of Q3’s 2-litre diesel engine. As such, the power is diminished by a good 21% and torque by 13%. Audi’s famed four-wheel drive quattro technology has also been taken away. Hence, the car is slower than the conventional Q3 but not as much as the figures would make us believe. Why? Because the lack of four-wheel drive also makes it lighter and the manual 6-speed gearbox is superlative. The torque kicks in at a very low RPM and despite the lower power one
does not feel out-of-breath. Very few of the Q3/X1 customers are hardcore off road junkies, and none of these cars can handle the jungles or the desert anyway. So the lack of 4WD is not really a handicap. In return, you get higher fuel economy that would endear it to a lot more people.
Verdict
Audi Q3 S is not quite a compromised car. It looks almost as good,
has a decent engine and is terrific to drive in urban conditions. The
lack of a sunroof won’t even be missed; the quattro and automatic
transmissions would be, but not by much. The strength of the vehicle is
its price, which at ` 25 lakh makes it the cheapest diesel luxury SUV in
India. We are still not convinced peeling away the LEDs was such a
great idea given that the hatchbacks are stunning vehicles to look at.
Perhaps the value for money aspect over-rides that as well.
NAME RAHUL SINGH 2
PGDM 1SEM
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