Familiar bits such as a perfect suspension set-up and superb steering lend the Q3 an excellent ride and remarkable handling. Audi have retained the old suspension set-up, which makes the new one feel just as agile and spirited as before. On the fast and smooth autobahn, it felt planted and secure despite the speedometer needle hovering somewhere near the 190 km/h mark. And although the suspension set-up was on the firmer side, because it was a Euro-spec model, it still felt absolutely sure-footed.
The Q3 inherits its superb stability and calm composure from its elder siblings, the Q5 and Q7. I wanted to see if it could still be able to put an ear-to-ear smile on my face when it saw some corners. So I got off the pre-selected autobahn route and on to smooth twisty German B-roads for some fun. The 100 km/h B-roads were like a breeze for this cute little wonder. It hugged the fast, sweeping bends and on tighter sections it never felt nervous. The steering was weighted perfectly and the communication was excellent. Understeer was absent, a good sign, and body-roll was minimum. This combination simply boosted my confidence and soon I was pushing the new Q3 hard. It is just as fun as I remembered it. It goes like a pocket-rocket, it’s calm, composed and never loses its foothold. It’s simply sublime.
The new Q3 goes on sale in Europe in the next couple of months and it will be available with an array of engines, including the big 2.5-litre, five-cylinder RS model. However, India will get the 2.0-litre TDI with 185 PS and there is a possibility of a less powerful version of the 2.0 TDI as well. We expect the price to be similar to the current Q3’s. However, if Audi decide to bring in additional features like the Dynamic Drive Select and adaptive dampers, it might go up marginally. Although Audi India were tight-lipped about the launch date, we expect the new Q3 to arrive in India in the first half of 2015.
To sum it all up, the new Q3 has just the right amount of zing added to it to retain its youthful appeal and also keep the crowds interested. Overall, the updates in the new Q3 are a brilliant way to keep things lively and young without compromising on the best bits of the car. We hope to see it in India very soon.
