Outgoing Audi Q3 a sensational drive; the new generation will bring better features
The German manufacturer also revealed the new generation Q3 in June, which will go on sale in Europe later this year and in South Africa in 2026.
The
Mail & Guardian
had the outgoing Audi Q3 35TDI Sportback Black Edition on test for a week and it was the perfect appetiser to get us ready for the new Q3.
The Q3 Black Edition is an attractive car from the outside. We had it in pulse orange, which might not work on other vehicles but really allows the external features of the Q3 to burst into life.
The black exterior mirror housing and blacked out badges also make the vehicle pop a little bit more than the regular TDI and TFSI variants.
The drive
It's difficult to fight German engineering when it comes to drivetrains.
The Audi Q3 35TDI variants are no different. The two litre turbocharged engine is tied to Audi's seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission and pushes out 110kW of power and 340Nm of torque.
The Q3 features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a four-link rear axle with separate spring and damper arrangement. Audi drive select also allows the driver to adjust the suspension for different driving modes.
The engine, gearbox and the suspension make the drive capable and comfortable. It also feels extremely smooth and the high torque figure makes overtaking very easy.
Travelling along various highways in Gauteng, and as comfortable as I was driving this vehicle, it was also a lot of fun to drive.
Because of the compact nature of the Q3, the bendy highways were a breeze and allowed me to express myself.
Audi claims a fuel figure of 4.9 litres/100km. I managed 5.5 litres/100km, but also had to endure some terrible traffic on the N1 which didn't help that figure at all.
I was really impressed.
I was even more impressed when I saw that the new Q3 will feature an improved suspension and a diesel plug-in hybrid that will provide 119km full electric driving range.
The new Q3 will also be available in an all-wheel-drive variant.
Interior and safety
The interior had the sporty feel that you would expect from the Audi Q3 Black Edition, but there were certain aspects that I felt needed work.
For starters, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were only available on a wired connection, so I had to make sure that I dragged my USB into the vehicle at all times.
The only other complaint I had is the vehicle lacked atmosphere on the inside. For such a sporty and compact looking vehicle, the interior felt plain.
But I will give Audi props for keeping buttons below the infotainment system and making it simple for the driver.
The sport steering wheel and sport seats make the interior extremely comfortable as well.
After seeing the interior of the new Q3 that is coming next year, I have no worries that Audi has intentions to make that interior more exciting and with nicer dash and door materials, even more drivercentric and more technologically advanced.
The old gear shift will also be updated to make the cabin more pleasing to the eye.
In terms of safety, the Audi Q3 has an array of features such as a rear-view camera, parking aid plus and six airbags.
Verdict and looking forward
The outgoing Q3 was really about a seamless driving experience that also included fun dynamics, but I felt the interior of the vehicle did not keep up with the vibrant exterior.
The incoming Q3 looks like it does a much better job at matching the interior and exterior and is likely to be an exciting prospect for South Africans.
The current Audi Q3 is priced from R740 100 and the 35TDI Sportback Black Edition that was tested comes in at R934 050.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Mail & Guardian
Jaecoo J7 SHS: Value for money and range for weeks
Stylish and practical: The Jaecoo J7 SHS The It had everything we've come to expect from Chinese vehicles and the inclusion of a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine placed it above its competitors. The interior was also very comfortable. Jaecoo launched the J7 SHS — the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the J7 — in June and when I received it on test, I was excited to test just how far this car could take me on a single charge and one tank of fuel. It's always good to know that, so I can understand if it is worth paying the extra money for the PHEV over the internal-combustion engine (ICE) version. Usually, it's difficult to judge because the PHEVs come in far above the ICE variants. But with the Jaecoo J7, it's slightly different. It has three ICE variants: the J7 Inferno (R519 900), the J7 Glacier (R579 900) and the J7 Vortex which is an all-wheel-drive (R679 900). The J7 SHS comes in at R689 900, which is just R10 000 more than the top-of-the-range petrol variant, but it must be noted that the SHS is a front-wheel-drive vehicle. Jaecoo claims that the 18.3kWh battery pack will provide 90km of all-electric range and a combined range of over 1 200km. The interior of the Jaecoo J7 SHS To test it, I took the car on a few long journeys during the week that I had it. On the first day, I did my usual stroll around Bakerton in Springs just to get a feel for the car and, in the evening, I did my trip to Boksburg and back for padel. Nothing extraordinary, but I could feel that difference in power and a smoother driving experience in the short time I spent on the road. The Jaecoo J7 SHS has an electric motor that works with a four-cylinder 1.5 litre engine to produce 255kW of power and 525Nm of torque. Due to the electric motor, you do feel that slight rush of power when accelerating, but it otherwise picks up speed in a linear fashion, which keeps the car comfortable. On day two, I took a trip to Sandton, then to Rosebank and came back to Springs in the evening. The drive still felt well over a million bucks but there was one slightly annoying feature. The camera facing the driver, meant to detect fatigue and when you are distracted, allowing the digital cluster to remind you to stay focused on the road, was way too sensitive. Every time I glanced at the infotainment system, whether it was to check the navigation or even just change the music, the vehicle would start freaking out like my high school teacher when I hadn't done my homework. There were even times when I had my eyes fixed on the road but it was still on my case. I guess I just look tired all the time. I had to contend with this annoying feature on every trip I took. On day three, I took a trip from Springs to Azaadville and back. By now, I had done more than 500km in the car, and while the battery sat around 30%, thanks to the help of regenerative charging, the combined fuel range was still well over 700km. On day four, I took another trip to Sandton and back in the day and then, in the evening, I took another trip to Boksburg and back. So it was yet another 200km day for me, but the vehicle was still sitting with a combined range of over 500km. The next few days of testing involved me taking the car to Boksburg and back twice, which amounts to 150km, and I drove it in and around town. No charging, no stops at the petrol station. When I returned the car, the battery was still at 30% and there was 380km of fuel, meaning that there was still about 400km of range left, combined. I could not believe it. I feel that, if you are not driving with a heavy foot, you can take this car from Johannesburg to Cape Town on a single tank and a full charge. However, it would be an anxious trip and I do not recommend taking on that challenge. But that's the beauty of a PHEV. You don't need to worry too much because, if you are running low on range, you can always fill up with fuel. Verdict I like that Jaecoo has kept the SHS in line with the other versions of the J7 and not changed too much. The rims have been altered on the outside to make it look like an electric vehicle, and there are a few other minor changes, such as replacing the buttons in some places on the inside. I maintain that this is one of the best compact SUVs in terms of comfort and drive quality. At R689 900, this PHEV is one of the most affordable in South Africa and screams value for money. It also will definitely save the buyer a lot of money on running costs.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Blacked-out Audi A3 sedan stands out from the usual suspects
With SUVs all starting to look the same, this pedigreed product is a sure-fire head-turner. Not that long ago the fancier derivatives in a car's model line-up featured body colour and chrome touches everywhere. The cheaper the model got, the more black trim it got. These days, the opposite applies as the trimmings get darker the higher you move up in a range. Case in point being the facelifted Audi A3. While the entry level models come standard in Ingolstadt's familiar S line trim that was previously an option, the Black Edition is now the one you need to fork out extra to get more street credit. The Citizen Motoring recently sampled the sedan version of the Audi A3 1.4 TFSI Black Edition. Priced at R849 500, it comes at a R26 300 premium over the S line sedan and R15 000 over the Sportback Black Edition. Audi A3 gets dark touches The exterior darkened elements are small, but they do make a huge difference to the overall picture. At the front, it starts with the Audi logo, grille motif garnish and foglight bezel housing all being blacked out. Around the sides, the 18-inch alloy wheels changes from aluminium to Black Metallic, the rubbering around the window frames goes from matte to gloss black and the side skirts swop brushed chrome for black. The Black Edition rides on gloss black 18-inch alloys. Picture: Jaco van der Merwe At the rear, the dark grey motif on the diffuser and tailpipe housing is blacked out. Like at the front, the Audi logo also turns black. ALSO READ: Refreshed Audi A3 priced along with red-hot RS3 All the windows get dark privacy glass, while the black side mirrors caps are quite strangely offered as an optional extra at R2 100. That is the premium you pay nowadays when you don't want people to see you in a car with body colour trim. Although the Mythos Black Metallic our tester was clad in is a stunning colour, we felt that it doesn't quite do the Black Edition trim the kind of justice the bright yellow, red or white on offer will. S line interior The Black Edition hardly brings any changes to the cabin, which already features all the S line trim which includes sport seats and sports steering wheel. The seats were clad in a combination of Pulse cloth and artificial leather in red and black with red contrast stitching. The latter being a R8 100 option. The biggest change inside the update Audi A3 sees the inclusion of a new centre console, which swop out the gear lever with a toggle switch. Standard features include a 10.1-inch MMI Plus infotainment system, 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control and Sonos sound system. The Audi 3 Sedan Black Edition features a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol TSI engine, a familiar stalwart in the Volkswagen family. It sends 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque to the front wheel via eight-speed Tiptronic transmission. Notice the gear selector toggle switch. Picture: Jaco van der Merwe Pleasure to drive While we learned nothing new from this mill that we haven't already knew, it was just another timely reminder of what a pedigreed powertrain feels like. Proper throttle calibration, power delivery and gear changes make any trip in the A3 smooth sailing. ALSO READ: More striking and aggressive new Audi Q3 officially revealed Handling is as good as you'd expect from a brand with serious racing studs in its stable. And a sedan's lower centre of gravity compared to an SUV just makes the weigh distribution so much better. Fuel consumption can come it anything from the mid six litres per 100km to the low nines if you misbehave. Our roads have become so saturated with similarly styled SUVs these days that a compact premium sedan with dashing good looks like the Audi A3 Black Edition manages to stand out from the crowd. Add to this Ingolstadt's pedigree and a rock-solid powertrain and we have an odd-on winner.
Mail & Guardian
4 days ago
- Mail & Guardian
Volvo EX 30 Cross Country first impressions: Like an effortless conversation around a bonfire
Volvo EX30 Cross Country When manufacturers take the media on car launches, they often pick a theme which they feel best represents the vehicle. From the venue to the entertainment — and sometimes even the food — they send a message about how they want their latest car to be interpreted in South Africa. We often ignore what the manufacturer is trying to tell us and who it is targeting. Normally, we are too fixated on the practical aspects of the new product: the looks, the technology, the power outputs and the drivetrains. This particular launch felt the same at first, when Volvo invited the media out to Rosemary Hill, east of Pretoria. Rosemary Hill has rooms and hosts events, but ultimately, it is a farm that offers an extraordinary journey where nature's embrace, wholesome delights and the spirit of community come together. Volvo South Africa was revealing the EX30 Cross Country's spirit — and we were only there for the nuts and bolts of the product. We were moved by the exceptionally attractive mix of the original EX30 with a touch of ruggedness in all the right areas. We all wanted to know the details of the vehicle. That's what we were here for, right? We were told that it has a specially-tuned chassis and a 13mm increase in ground clearance from the original EX30. We were also told that it does 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds and that this electric vehicle has the same powertrain as the EX30 Ultra Twin Performance Motor. That means that it pushes out 315kW of power and 543Nm of torque. It also has a range of 427km on a single charge. Finally, we were told that it is going to cost R1 165 000. But we still didn't understand what the car represented. We jumped inside for an almost 70km drive around the countryside and had the most comfortable ride on gravel and road in what is a small SUV. It actually felt better suited to gravel than some vehicles that have special driving modes for the surface. Usually, this is where the article would end, because the dinner at the launch would be a formality and I would have satisfied my need to understand the product and where it fits into the South African market. This time it was the dinner at the launch that actually made me realise what this vehicle is all about. The meal was served as we made ourselves comfortable around a bonfire while Dodo Nyoka graciously provided country music. Around this bonfire were me, Siyanda Mthethwa from Reuters, Gugu Lourie the founder of TechFinancials, Nhlanha the free-spirited freelance photographer and Astrid de la Rey from HaveYourSay. At first, Lourie, who is far senior to all of us, was telling us about his experiences in other countries. Eventually, this effortless, light-hearted conversation moved to more pressing issues like, 'How do we turn Joburg around?' and 'What is the one thing you would have changed after 1994?' With a joke thrown in every now and then, real topics were being discussed and I began to understand that this car represents the conversation around the bonfire with country music in the background. It was effortless, it was serious, it was fun and not everybody agreed with each other, but it was professional enough to be engaging without ever being disrespectful. The five of us were not experts on politics but our experiences helped make the conversation interesting. That is the EX30 Cross Country. It's a futuristic and modern vehicle that considers sustainability in all aspects. The drive is effortless and the experiences it will give its owners will be eye-opening.
