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COMPARO STORIES ARE JUST like football matches wherein two teams come together to decide who is better at the sport. This time we bring you the in-depth coverage of a match of a different kind. Now, everyone is quite familiar with the compact SUV segment that has become quite a trend in the west and is catching up pretty quickly in India too. So when Audi launched the Q3 here in India, we decided to stage a match to decide how good this newcomer is vis-a-vis its direct rival, the BMW X1.

Internationally, both the companies compete in almost every segment and the case in India is no different. Thus when BMW brought in their compact SUV, the X1, last year, Audi decided to counter with the Q3. But it took the Ingolstadt-based company more than a year to do so. Anyway, now that both the mini-SUVs are here, let’s see how they stack up against each other.

BOTH THESE COMPACT SUVS
Were made to look like their elder siblings, but, only the Q3 is able to represent the Q family here unlike the X1, which does not bear any resemblance with its elder siblings, the X3 and X5. It has an appearance of an estate rather than a scaled down ‘X’ SUV. It lacks the quintessential feel-good factor that makes you drool at a vehicle. Its recognizable double barrel headlamps, kidney grille and solid build quality do remind you that this is a BMW, but in a very simple way.

Audi, on the other hand, have done a fabulous job with the Q3, which has a modern front end with distinctive looking headlamps studded with piped LED lights, a huge single-piece grille and exquisite looking bumper, which in a combination looks cool enough to make heads turn. The rear end also complements the front with its LED tail lamp cluster and clean tailgate unlike the X1, which remains simple even at the back. The exterior design of the Audi is beautifully carved with a perfect mix of curves and sharp edges, whereas the X1 exteriors look sober and fails to please the eye. The reason for this might be the X1’s age. It was launched internationally almost three years ago and today, when you compare it with the Audi, it looks a little dated. BMW have unveiled a facelift version of the X1, which will appear in the market next year. However, even that one looks very much like the current model. The Q3 is just a year old and, therefore, looks more contemporary compared to the X1.

Even inside the situation remains the same. Both these mini-SUVs feature good quality leather interior with immaculate fi t and fi nish, though the cabin of the BMW stays as simple as its exterior. The moment you step inside the Audi you are greeted by a very welcoming cabin. It features a two-tone beige-black interior that has a healthy dose of brushed aluminium trimmings to give it a modern look, whereas the BMW comes with a black interior and plastics that appear monotonous. You do get a two-tone interior in the BMW, but that is available only in the basic diesel variant. The dashboard steering and instrument cluster combo on the Audi looks modern whereas in the X1 it fails to excite you.