Skip to main content

Meet Audi’s quaint yet sporty 2015 Q3 compact crossover

2015 Audi Q3
Image used with permission by copyright holder
American cars have historically been quite large. I don’t need to list any off; you should know them by now.

The classic American fascination with jumbo-sized cars seems to be waning, though. Buyers these days seem to value attention to detail, premium materials, and driving refinement over pure honking size.

Enter the Germans, who have long built reasonably sized luxury sedans and crossovers for the global markets. The latest compact luxury vehicle to make its way Stateside is the 2015 Audi Q3, which will make its debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week. And I think it’s a special thing indeed.

Under the hood, Audi offers a 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The plucky little four-banger is bolted to a six-speed Tiptronic transmission, which sends power to the front wheels or to all four, if the buyer options for quattro all-wheel drive.

This drivetrain is nice but nothing to write home about, as it’s been yanked from the A3 sedan. And the exterior is nice but it just looks like a mini version of the Q5. What really has me intrigued, though, is the interior.

Just look at that thing. It’s a perfect blend of refinement and sportiness. While BMW interiors feel cheap and cartoonish, especially that of the BMW X1, and the Mercedes GLA is still a bit too grandpa-y for me, the Q3 does it just right.

If interior styling and volume weren’t enough, the Q3 will of course include Audi connect and Audi MMI that offers Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity and Google Earth mapping.

Although it’s being unveiled in Detroit next week, the Q3 won’t go on sale until late 2014. And pricing won’t be announced until closer to sale date.

Topics
Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the automotive editor of The Manual. When Nick isn't behind the wheel on the open road, he can be found…
Is ‘Family Guy’ on Disney Plus in 2023?
Get the scoop on streaming 'Family Guy'
The Disney Plus sign-up menu is displayed

Whether you can watch Family Guy online via Disney Plus depends on what part of the world you call home. Simply put, Family Guy is available on Disney Plus in some areas, but not all. Why? Well, not all streaming services possess the rights to the popular animated comedy, but that's all changing as we speak.

In short, Family Guy is only available on Disney Plus if you live in one of the countries where Star is included in your Disney Plus subscription. That means countries like the U.K., Australia, and Canada have Family Guy on Disney Plus, but the U.S. misses out.

Read more
The 10 best Timothee Chalamet movies ever, ranked
He's definitely been in some incredible films
Timothee Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name.

 

During a time when Hollywood has tried to grasp onto older stars like Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise, other young men from a new generation have attempted to carve out their path to stardom and take the movie world by storm. In this regard, not many male actors working today have experienced the success of Timothée Chalamet. With a boyish grin and a sculpted jawline, Chalamet's raw charisma allows him to play characters in a variety of genres, from wounded teenagers in LGBTQ+ dramas to heroic protagonists in sci-fi flicks. Still under 30 years old, Chalamet's career is just getting started, but he already has a grand portfolio of award-winning performances. These are the 10 best Timothée Chalamet movies ever, ranked.

Read more
Your weekend watch list for September 23-24: The Supermodels, The Continental & more
Looking for new movies to stream and new shows to watch? We've got you covered
The cast of The Continental: From the World of John Wick.

With every new weekend comes new opportunities to catch up on the latest streaming options across movies, TV, and sports. There's always plenty on at home, and in the midst of the end-of-summer heat, home might be the best place to be. Here are our picks for the best new shows, movies, and sports to check out over the coming weekend:

Best new shows to watch
What to watch on Netflix

Read more