Audi Q3 Sportback

While the design of the Audi Q3 Sportback has its charm over the Q3, the cabin layout is the same as the more conventional Q3. Every component and element in the cabin of the Audi Q3 Sportback is shared with the Q, with the former being available with three leather upholstery options – all-black, Black with Okapi Brown and Black with Pearlescent Beige.

The Audi Q3 Sportback gets a three-spoke multi-functional tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel with paddle shifters and a full-TFT virtual cockpit display screen for the instrument console. The asymmetric centre console has also been shared with the Q3, with the Q3 Sportback also getting a 10.1-inch MMI infotainment screen with MMI navigation plus and MMI touch.

The infotainment screen is housed with a pentagonal panel with silver surrounds, below which there are consoles for the dual-zone automatic climate control and wireless charger. The S Line trim brings in goodies like sports seats with electrical adjustments for the driver’s seat, stainless steel pedals and a transmission lever with perforated leather.

Given that the Audi Q3 Sportback is based on the Audi Q3 compact SUV, the former shares much of its design with the latter. It is only towards the rear profile that the Audi Q3 Sportback begins to have its distinctive personality as an SUV-coupe, with the sloping roofline adding to the whole visual drama.

The front profile of the Audi Q3 Sportback looks exactly like that of the Q3, with the SUV coupe having the traditional large single-frame octagonal grille with lateral air intakes on the corners of the front bumpers, with all these elements having gloss black surrounds as part of the S Line package. The headlamps on offer have angular edges at the bottom and get full LED treatment, though there is an option of equipping it with Matrix LEDs at additional costs.

The rear profile is where the magic for the Audi Q3 Sportback begins to happen. While the Q3 Sportback also has a low rear window and elegant shoulder line as the Q3, it does get a dramatic-looking sloping roofline which gives it the essence of a coupe towards the rear. The Audi Q3 Sportback comes standard with five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, with the option of equipping it with 19-inch alloys for added costs.

The S Line package also brings more elements to the SUV coupe, such as illuminated door sills with aluminium inserts and S lettering. At the back, the Audi Q3 Sportback has a sharply raked windscreen, which flows towards the boot lid that looks much similar to that of the Q, with angular all-LED tail lamps that mimic the design of the headlamps. There are gloss black inserts on the reflector housings on the corners of the rear bumper.

While the presence of the Quattro all-wheel drive system is more than enough to make the Audi Q3 Sportback a surprisingly agile SUV to drive, this stylish SUV-coupe from Audi also comes with an optional sport suspension for additional traction. The progressive steering with direct steering characteristics and Audi Drive Select with multiple drive modes further make the driving experience more magical.

The Audi Q3 Sportback shares its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with the Q3 SUV, and that too in the same state of tune. This engine is paired with a 7-speed S-Tronic automatic transmission and claims 180 PS of maximum power and 320 Nm of maximum torque. With this engine, the Audi Q3 Sportback can do a 0-100 kmph run in 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 206 kmph.

The equipment list on offer in the Audi Q3 Sportback includes six airbags, front and rear automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring with side cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, 360-degree parking camera, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

The Audi Q3 Sportback takes the form-over-function concept by offering an additional dash of style over the standard Q3, while also offering the same engine, chassis and equipment levels of the latter.