Compact Design Balances Style and Practicality

The Audi Q3 is a new SUV unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2011. As CEO Rupert Stadler stated, 'This marks Audi's entry into its first new segment,' it's a model that combines style with practicality.

Compared to theQ5, which is also selling well in Japan,the Q3 is 250mm shorter at 4385mm, 69mm more compact in width at 1831mm, and 70mm lower at 1590mm. Mechanically, the Q5 features a longitudinally mounted engine, while the Q3 has a transverse layout.

The model prepared for the "Trans-China Tour 2011" press drive was precisely this "Q3 2.0TFSI quattro."

A Tour Driving Event from Beijing to Guilin

'We have been in China for 20 years, selling one million vehicles. We wanted to showcase this land, where something exciting is happening every day, from its cities to its hinterlands,' said Mr. Stadler.

The tour, also titled "中国穿越之旅" (China Crossing Journey) in Chinese, went south from Beijing, ultimately reaching Guilin. The 5700km route was divided into four groups, attracting 160 participants. Our group covered approximately 800km from Shenzhen, via Guangzhou, to Guilin. The route was diverse, including highways, roads through villages, and paths through natural landscapes.



When one thinks of China, one might imagine the political center Beijing or the economic hub Shanghai. However, cities like Tianjin, a major port; Qingdao, familiar to German companies; Nanjing, an ancient southern capital now seeing a rise in skyscrapers; Fuzhou, experiencing rapid population growth due to domestic and foreign investment; Shenzhen, well-known to Japanese companies; and Guangzhou, a megacity, are all expanding.

For example, Changchun, where Audi has a factory, is a city we don't usually associate with, but it's large-scale. The hotel we stayed at was the 'Shangri-La,' considered a 'super' luxury hotel even in Tokyo, and in front of the hotel was a bustling shopping mall featuring brands like Louis Vuitton, Brioni, and Armani.

For Audi, which is building a foundation for the next era with new designs and technologies, China, with its rapid transformation, may be surprisingly close in terms of both market and conceptual overlap. The Q3's keywords – 'powerful, highly efficient, coupe-like design, urban' – seem to align with contemporary China.

Equipped with a 2-liter Turbo Unit Producing 211ps

I felt that China's roads were suitable for the Q3 with its full-time four-wheel-drive system. This was based on what friends who had driven in China told me about the poor road conditions. Three years ago, the CEO of a British sports car manufacturer told me, 'Our cars are not yet suited for Chinese roads.'

However, driving on highways, general roads, and winding paths through rural areas, I discovered that even in the countryside, the roads were wide and well-maintained with clean pavement.




The quietness is also remarkable. At the highway speed limit of 120 km/h on the three-lane highway, both the sound transmitted from the engine bay and the wind noise around the windshield were well suppressed. Even sitting in the rear seats, there were no bothersome noises from the tailgate area or the rear wheel wells. I was impressed by how well the sound insulation was executed.

Abundant Features to Aid Fuel Efficiency

Like many recent Audi models, the Q3 incorporates several technologies focused on economy. These include the 'Start & Stop System,' which shuts off the engine during stops like at traffic lights; the 'Coasting Mode,' which disengages the clutch when you lift off the accelerator during driving, separating the engine from the transmission; and the 'Energy Recuperation System,' which generates electricity when you press the brake pedal and stores it.

Given the scarcity of gas stations in China's rural areas, I had a moment of concern, but the fuel gauge needle moved quite slowly. This suggests the fuel efficiency is better than expected. The pursuit of power and fuel efficiency, seemingly contradictory goals, is diligently carried out even in an SUV. That is Audi.

The Q3: An Ideal Partner for Daily Life

The interior quality is also high. 'Pay attention to the horizontal lines of the dashboard design. We aimed to create a sense of lightness by wrapping a character line around the occupants,' explained an Audi designer responsible for the interior. Indeed, the cabin feels comfortable visually as well. While the test car was uniformly black, other color schemes, such as dark green or a combination of black and white, are reportedly available.

Another aspect that impressed me in the rear seat was the raised front edge of the seat cushion, indicating consideration for weight distribution. Many SUVs and hatchbacks have flat seat surfaces, making it difficult to support the body with the legs, leading to instability with the car's movements and potential discomfort in the buttocks. However, with the Q3, I felt comfortable throughout the journey.

Audi arranged this tour with meticulous care, even including a German doctor on standby. Fortunately, no one required medical attention, but the tour in China highlighted the Q3's high quality. 'An ideal partner for daily life,' as Mr. Stadler put it – I wholeheartedly agree. It would likely be the same in Tokyo.

Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI quattro
Body Dimensions: Length 4,385 x Width 1,831 x Height 1,590mm
Wheelbase: 2,603mm
Engine: 2-liter inline-4 DOHC 16-valve + Turbocharger
Max Output: 155kW (211ps) / 5,000-6,200rpm
Max Torque: 300Nm / 1,800-4,900rpm
Transmission: 7-speed S tronic
Fuel Economy: 36.7mpg
CO2 Emissions: 179g/km
Price: 28,610 Euros (approx. 3.1 million yen)

Tatsuya Otani's domestic test drive review of the Audi Q3