Entry-level, subcompact, luxury suvs like the 2020 Audi Q3 are caught between a rock and a hard place. For the same amount of money as their base prices, you can get a larger, better-equipped, and equally luxurious compact SUV from a mainstream brand, like a 2020 Mazda CX-5 Signature. Alternatively, a larger certified pre-owned luxury SUV is typically available for the same cash, letting budget-restricted yet aspirational buyers move one rung up the ladder in terms of size and quality. This situation leaves the Q3 and its subcompact competitors to serve a narrowly defined customer seeking luxury and the latest technology in a tiny, urban-friendly package. Audi addresses this conundrum by making lots of desirable equipment standard for the 2020 Q3, while competitors demand upgrades to attain the same features. Is this approach, along with a complete redesign just last year, enough to fend off the diminutive Audi’s newest competition from Jaguar, Lexus, and Volvo? It should be.
- Impressive List of Standard Equipment
- Out With the Old, In With the Old (Styling)
- Four people fit just fine.
- High-Tech Infotainment and Instrumentation
- Top Safety Ratings
- Hefty weight contributes to disappointing mileage.
- A Rollicking Time, Occasionally Good
- No Shortage of Competition
- One of the Better Choices in the Class