Audi Q3 Sportback is the link between a luxury SUV and a coupe that makes passers-by turn their heads. And it's not just a matter of lines: it's the DNA of this car with a strong and intriguing profile that attracts attention. First compact SUV of the brand of the four rings, it is mature especially in terms of design: it combines the practicality of a multifaceted vehicle with sports car shapes: the muscular sides, the gritty front, the descending line of the roof that focuses on a aggressive rear. It is not easy to balance all these characteristics in a single car, which knows how to be comfortable for the family but also generous in the excursion off the paved tracks and strong-willed in sporty driving.
We had the opportunity to test the car - an Audi Q3 Sportback 35 TDI S tronic S line edition - in a long journey that led us, in the days, from the traffic of Rome to the funny hairpin bends that unwind in the surroundings of the Turano lake , in the Rieti.
On city routes Q3 Sportback moves slyly, enduring frequent stop & go due to traffic. Electronic aids are fundamental, especially during the maneuvering phase: rear visibility is guaranteed almost exclusively by cameras, but in the event of a possible impact, the car stops by itself well before contact.
From galloping to trotting to running, it is a matter of a few moments: a nature that changes completely when there is a need for determination on fast roads or, better yet, when facing more demanding tracks. This is thanks to the 7-speed sequential gearbox with dual-clutch S tronic transmission and the numerous possible configurations. There are six of them, from the quieter Eco to the unleashed Dynamic, recognizable for its immediately rigid set-up and aggressive sound. Available for the most demanding, a guide profile customizable according to personal needs. Off-road we rely on Off-road. For the laziest, there is also the Auto mode which senses and follows with great sensitivity the changes in needs and driving styles, even sudden.
The dosage of the 150 HP of the star version of our test is definitely impressive: they really seem a lot more. Always ready, they almost disappear volumes, 4.5 meters long by 1.84 wide, and the weight of 1.6 tons, giving agility and fluency in all situations.
The progressive steering - standard - gradually molds: soft in city maneuvers, stiffens when necessary, with ever-increasing precision. And with the assistance systems on the car featured in our test - from adaptive cuise control to lane assist - longer journeys become totally relaxing.
The driving position is a masterpiece of tailoring, sewn on the pilot: the seats adjust - in addition to height, depth and inclination - also in the lumbar position and in the support for the legs, while the steering wheel is adjustable both in height and in depth Pay pawn to the distinctive inclined rear window of the coupé who sits on the rear sofa: even with the bench fully set back, the legroom can be reduced if the person sitting in front is particularly tall.