Soldiering On

The Audi Q3 gets another update before the launch of its next-gen model in 2018. And this time around it gets a gasoline motor too.

- Ravi Ved

Audi first introduced the smallest offering in its Q line-up, the Q3, in 2012. And this baby Q has been one of the best-selling models for Audi right from the get-go. It’s quite remarkable in fact that it continues to lead the sales charts at Audi even five years on. Full credit to Audi for the way they’ve managed to keep the scoreboard ticking by giving the Q3 timely updates. This time around they’ve plonked a new petrol motor under the hood.

The 2017 Audi Q3 petrol gets the same 1.4-litre TFSI motor that also does duty in the A3 and the A4 sedans. While, on paper, 148bhp may sound inadequate – especially considering its 1,660kg weight – on the road it performs quite well. The 250Nm of torque kicks in as low as 1,500rpm. Flex your right foot and you do feel a bit of turbo lag. But, once you get past it, there’s plenty of punch. The car feels best when kept in its midrange. Push beyond that and it starts to get a bit noisy inside the cabin – and it also starts running out of breath close to its 6,000rpm redline.