New Audi Q3 quattro: UK weather approved

Weather. It's all people seem to talk about at the moment, what with summer not living up to expectations this year. Instead of expressing shock that a small, damp island in the North Atlantic isn't experiencing Maldivian summers, embrace the rubbish weather and go for a drive in a car that is equipped to deal with the foibles of the British climate.

That's what Audi is hoping for anyway with the launch of the newest diesel version of the Audi Q3 compact SUV. Featuring quattro, Audi's awesome all-wheel-drive system, it'll be as happy as a pig in mud or, er, an Audi in mud, as the case may be. Lame metaphors aside, the new TDI Q3 will be priced from £26,510 OTR up to £29,260 OTR. The 2.0-litre TDI quattro offers 138bhp and 236lb-ft of torque, a six-speed manual gearbox, a 0-62mph stat of 9.9 seconds and a 122mph top speed. This model also offers combined fuel economy of 49.6mpg and CO2 emissions at 149g/km.

The base model SE trim still offers plenty of attractions - 17-inch alloys, rear parking sensors, dual zone climate control, 6.5-inch display screen, light and rain sensors (again, perfect for British weather...) and connectivity for Bluetooth and iPods. Inside, luggage capacity is 1,365 litres with the rear seats folded down. Spend an extra £2,750 for the S line spec and you'll get 18-inch wheels, an enhanced interior and exterior design, xenon headlights, LED running lights and LED taillights. Options include adaptive lights, high-beam assist, hard-drive sat-nav with seven-inch screen and 3D maps, blind spot warning and lane departure warning.

Audi has high hopes for this one - up to 40% of Q3 sales - probably higher than most people's hopes of two sunny days in a row this summer!


By Georgia Lewis

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