While waiting for the arrival of the all new Audi Q3, let's take a look at the existing luxury mini-SUV that is available now. The Q3 has no clear competitor in our market, and the nearest would be its own brother, the VW Tiguan. Both the Q3 and Tiguan is available in the guise of a 1.4-litre or 2.0-litre engine, mated to 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. Good luck and pray for little or no problem with the gearbox. Both 2.0-litre models are only available with either the Audi Quattro or VW 4Motion all-wheel-drive technology. Different naming, but both born with the same parents.
Look wise, the Q3 front grille with the 4-ring could spell luxury when compare to the VW, which has flooded our market with almost the cheapest continental cars, especially the Polo! Of course, the Q3's design is timeless as compare to the more rounded shape of the Tiguan. The Q3's headlight is sexy, especially LED daytime running light. There is not much of others to compare with, as you pay slightly more...get the Q3...and if you want to save a bit...get the Tiguan. Anyhow, both companies are known to lose out in after-sales service quality. Dive deeper to look at the size, and taking Korean-made and Japanese-made into consideration, especially when you just want to get one for the wife to ferry the kid, maybe, and maybe, other options could be a wiser choice. At least kidnappers will not assume the kids are from a rich family.
| Q3 | Tiguan | Sportage | Tucson | CRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length (mm) | 4388 | 4426 | 4400 | 4410 | 4590 |
| Width (mm) | 1831 | 1809 | 1855 | 1820 | 1820 |
| Height (mm) | 1608 | 1703 | 1645 | 1660 | 1685 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2603 | 2604 | 2640 | 2640 | 2620 |
| Price | 253k | 240k | 138k | 117k | 162k |
For the Q3, of course safety and all other technological stuff are part and parcel of the car. The premium price automatically tell you, yes, it has all round 6-airbag, traction control, hill assist, auto light and wipers, etc. The only thing you don't get is the convenience of availability of service center in every corner, and for this, it will never happen as Audi is not the target of mass market. Yes, I know, usually the wife like to drive a car that is so simple, where any neighbourhood workshop could service it...you know...the minimum downtime type, especially during the great Malaysia sales period! But usually the husband wants to make himself proud by buying the Q3...and claimed "You see, I sayang my wife, thus I gave her an Audi Q3". This is especially true when one is at that class of society where each will compare what handbag and designer clothing they have and the Audi is so much stylish than the common BMW and Mercedes.
In the mean time, if the Q3 is your target, there is nothing wrong. Everyone has his/her own choice. The Q3 facelift is making its way to the showroom now. Oh, did I forget the Lexus NX could be another fabulous choice, but that competes in a different league, unless you have RM372k for it.
