Audi Q3 and Audi Q3 Sportback: is it worth paying the more than 2,000 euros of difference?

Current model ranges can be a real headache for buyers, since brands have become fixated on offering a wide array of options. Audi has decided to expand its lineup with the arrival of the Q3 Sportback, a version of the compact SUV with the four rings that takes its bigger sibling, the Q8, as a reference. There are certain differences between the two versions and, after getting behind the wheel of both, the time has come to analyse whether it is really worth paying the more than 2,000 euros that separate the standard Q3 from the Sportback.

Although Audi has followed a well-known formula to give this newcomer version of its quintessential SUV its look, we must notice a series of changes. We find these mainly in the styling, the quickest and easiest area to analyse. But before making a purchase, we must also take into account driving dynamics, space and comfort.

Similar but different

One of the aspects that may lead us to lean towards one variant or the other is the design. Both the standard Q3 and the Sportback share the same front end, the only difference being the design of the Singleframe grille, which in the case of the latter uses the characteristic honeycomb panel.

But it is in the side profile where the main novelty of the Q3 Sportback lies. Thanks to the pronounced slope of the C-pillar, the German SUV now has a look in the purest coupé style, which could have been complemented by frameless doors, but that is not the case. The rear, besides reflecting this sportier look, keeps the same tail lights as the standard Q3.

The cabin, on the other hand, has undergone no apparent changes, so we will continue to find the same layout and the same quality of finishes. However, due to its new condition as a coupé SUV, the Q3 Sportback loses 5 centimetres of headroom in the rear seats, which could be a drawback for tall people.

To compensate for this, Audi has included a rear bench that adjusts in length, allowing us to gain space for the boot or for legroom depending on our needs. And speaking of the boot, it boasts the same capacity, that is, 530 litres, a figure that rises to a very respectable 1,400 litres if we fold down the second-row seats.

More sporty than ever

Through this new design, Audi has wanted to show the world a spicier and more sporty vehicle, two qualities that are also conveyed through its driving dynamics. To make it even more notable, the four-ringed brand includes as standard on the Q3 Sportback two very tempting elements: the sport suspension and the Audi Drive Select.

If we wanted to include these two elements on the standard Q3, we would have to shell out 960 euros. If we prioritise sportiness and sensations, the presence of these two components as standard on the Sportback may be incentive enough to lean towards it over the standard variant.

As for the engine range, we find no differences. Both models can be paired with the same engines, meaning we can opt either for a small diesel unit or for the more radical 2.5-litre five-cylinder powerplant that powers the RS Q3 with 400 CV.

2,850 euros of difference

That figure is what sets the difference between the Q3 -whose starting price is 36,330 euros for the 35 TFSI variant- and the Q3 Sportback -a variant that starts at 39,180 euros-. Is it really worth paying almost 3,000 euros more for the latter?

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The truth is that it is a difficult answer, since everything will depend on which of the two variants we like better and whether we prefer a vehicle that, at first glance, will be somewhat sportier. These two premises are what we will need to consider more carefully if we are genuinely weighing up the idea of buying a Audi Q3.

Technical specifications of this car

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