Audi Q3 – Namibia’s Favourite Audi

Among the cars doing very well on the Namibian market is the German premium brand Audi. In this land, you will see Audis of all shapes and sizes.

Among them is this week’s feature, the Audi Q3, which, according to the Audi Centre in Windhoek, is Namibia’s most successful or highest selling Audi.

Very true to claim it’s also Audis all round bestseller in the US, Q3 is only beaten by the A4 in some sects. Looking outside its family, it takes more than a 40 percent share. The Q3s most notable competitors are the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA.

For this reason we took time to understand the Q3 when on a test drive. We found it to have unique characteristics and clearly understood why it is so endeared by Namibian motorists.

It all began in 1909 when automotive pioneer August Horch founded August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH in Germany. A short time later he renamed the company after the Latin translation of his last name Horch which means ‘listen’ in German – making it Audi Automobilwerke. From the same Latin word Audi, we derive the English word ‘audio’ which relates to sound or listening.

In 1932, Audi merged with Horch, DKW and Wanderer, to form Auto Union AG. The four rings of the Audi badge symbolise the brands; Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. After WW2, changes led up to Auto Union adopting the name Audi NSU Auto Union AG, and the rest is history.

The Audi Q3 first saw the gates of production in 2011 as Audi saw a gap in the compact crossover segment, a period when the world has been swept by the SUV/crossover frenzy. The Q3 was first introduced at the 2007 Shanghai Motor Show as a mercury/silver bodied drop top concept car sitting in 20-inch wheels.

Designed in 2006 by Julian Hoeing, the Q3 is a typical Audi that looks more like a shrunken Q7, a beauty to behold and a graceful runner. I can also comfortably call it the most feminine Audi as it has a Rav 4 like feminine appeal, this probably has more to do with its market position than looks.

It’s in tune with the current trend of a family coherent design which carries through in the gaping mouth grille, TT-like dome shaped bonnet and roof and LED wraparound lights.

The Q3 is an SUV that has a bias towards a crossover vibe. Thanks to its dropping D pillars, it certainly has an appeal to a market that is looking for something a little away from a conventional SUV.

I believe this car’s success and departure from the norm is what inspired the introduction of the bolder Audi Q2.

The interior of the Q3 is up to Audi standard – firm, tight with innovative materials which you can hardly tell whether rubber, leather or plastic. It also echoes Audi’s lightweight material custom. The front is complete, refined and faultless whereas the back is not the best space for a tall person.

Something tells me it’s not built to carry a host of adults but rather one or two and some toddlers.

Notable onboard features include; dual zone AC, remote keyless entry, power hatch, electric seats; heated- and jumbar-adjustable.

Infotainment includes a multi-media interface (MMI) that incorporates a 8,3 inch monitor, eight speakers, SDXC card reader, auxiliary, USB, Bluetooth, voice control, DVD and Audi connect.

I found the Q3 to be much fun, nippy and go-kart like. It has a way of accelerating and running that seems to want to keep you on the move, not necessarily a long cruising drive but a string of starts and stops.

The Q3 is offered with four engines. The 1.4-litre TFSI produces 148bhp and is only available in front-wheel drive, while the 2.0-litre TFSI creates 178bhp and only comes with Audi’s quattro system.

The 2.0-litre TDI comes in two states of tune – 148bhp and 181bhp, while the RS Q3’s 2.5-litre TFSI unit produces 335bhp and 362bhp depending on which model you choose.

Our test car was the 2.0-litre TFSI turbo-petrol engine producing 132kW of power and 320Nm of torque.

It can run from rest to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds.

It’s very responsive and leaves nothing wanting at its level. All Audi Q3 models have a seven-speed S tronic and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system apart from the 1.4 TFSI which has a six-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission and drives the front wheels.

The Q3 has a drive Select which allows the driver to choose between auto, comfort, dynamic and efficiency modes, which adjust the throttle response, transmission, steering and suspension settings.

Talking safety, the Audi Q3 is a five-star ANCAP safety rating holder. Its safety features include; blind spot monitoring, side assist, active lane assist, high-beam assist, parking proximity assist and hill descent control, along with electric folding and dimming exterior mirrors.

The Q3 is a beauty to behold and offers a refined and enjoyable drive, its responsive, high quality interior packs a host of wizardry and is the perfect accessory for the young and young at heart.

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