The Audi Q3 has hit the shores and of course it is here to whip the BMW and take the top spot and the cost that Audi is offering the Q3 at, it is not a rip off, for sure. German engineering doesn’t really disappoint you ever but this time what we are looking at is a downsized Q5, if it’s not good enough, you annoy the Q3 guy when he compares it to the Q5 and if it is really good, you annoy the Q5 guy and he doesn’t know why you made him shell out the extra money – just for that other odd number on the boot?

The Audi has been quite a name with the celebs, so much so that even Merc had to think of bringing in the youth icon, Chetan Bhagat into picture lest things got really difficult for it and Audi ate the pudding. I am a fan of compact SUVs and if it is the Audi in picture the aspiration increases manifold, such is the aura. With the Q3 things are particularly charming, there is nothing as sweet and as confidence inspiring as starting young in life and Q3 is a tribute to those who start the journey early on in life only to get to the CEO level at an age of 39! You can’t go wrong if you start early, I mean, you can, but then you get loads of opportunities to correct yourself and then mod your current business plan and then reinvent things to suit the prevailing conditions better.

I thought I should use the interweb and put together the reviews of various auto journos, so that you can form your opinion. In fact this is kind of interesting, different flavors in one ice cream! Ah ha!

So lets start with Autocar, they found the performance decent, not lacking, as they say but the midrange is the strongest for the car but the steering is light and does not offer a very engaging experience. Thus Autocar really doesn’t think it is a nice self driven car, for the involvement with the drive is low.

Audi Q3 interiors

Autocar was particularly impressed with the ground clearance and felt that it even offsets the not so soft ride quality of the SUV (just to put things in perspective, the Q3 has a ground clearance of 170 mm) and where the ride goes for a toss, the handling has to be good, and that it is! They found the handling really commendable and body roll was well contained. Quite contrary this, Team-BHP felt the Q3 did not have adequate ground clearance and did scrap off the underbelly at some parts of the dirt track, they drove on.

Audi Q3 in comparison to the X1 feels a lot pricier possession, feels Financial Express. The basic trim of Audi Q3 is loaded with park sensors, dual-zone climate control, electric handbrake and Bluetooth. On difficult terrains, ESC takes the charge well and the hill descent control maintains a constant speed without driver’s input. All this juxtaposed with the quattro setup makes off roading really enjoyable. – Financial Express

Audi Q3 is a tempting tart but the footprint is really small, about 4.38 m and a strictly 5 seater, one can easily get oneself the Pajero or the Fortuner at similar if not lesser price but entering the Audi family is a different feel altogether, and Audi has all right reasons to pull you in.

Audi is taking a shot at the BMW X1 with the Q3 and if it gets the fundamentals right, by which I don’t mean half a lac here or there but the right fit and finish, quality interiors and upholstery with a long equipment list, it surely stands a fair chance against it.

What do you think, is Audi Q3 your pick over the BMW X1?

 Oops! BMW X1 painted in the Q3 color! Perhaps its taken the challenge to the heart!