Audi Q3 2.0 TDI S line 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The four cylinder engine delivers 138 bhp at 4200 rpm with 236 lb-ft of torque at 1750-2500 rpm. With a top speed of 126 mph and acceleration from 0-62 mph taking 9.9 seconds, the performance credentials of this model are very reasonable for a diesel car of this size.

The steering is firm, if a little vague, and there is a good level of grip on the road. This helps to control body roll and movement during corners and bends and gives this model the stability and firmness on the road which is expected. Noise from the wind and road is barely audible and the engine is relatively quiet even at motorway speeds. The tyres can kick up a small amount of noise but this is far from disruptive.

The Q3 2.0 TDI S Line offers a decent amount of standard equipment including power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity and an advanced stereo system with a CD player and MP3 connectivity. A part leather interior is also fitted as standard.

A few additional extras are also available at cost with a built in sat nav priced at £495 and cruise control costing £225. A metallic paint finish will also set you back £525.

In terms of safety, this model comes fitted with driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard. An alarm and immobiliser is also fitted to protect the vehicle from theft and the car comes with a three year warranty for 60,000 miles. A service interval of 9,000-19,000 miles is recommended and that means maintenance costs can vary. Deadlocks and locking wheelnuts are also standard fixtures which help to protect the vehicle.

In terms of practicality the boot offers a decent 460 litres when the seats are in place, expanding this to 1,365 litres when they are folded down. Whilst this is a reasonable size it is not much larger than the capacity offered by a family hatchback and that means some buyers may be disappointed. The upside is that the 4x4 has small dimensions which makes it easier to drive, handle and park.

Noise from the wind and road is audible but not excessive and the engine is relatively quiet when driven at constant speed. The vehicle is relatively light weight for its class but this does not mean it is inferior when it comes to quality. All of the materials used are of a high quality and this gives the car a reliable and robust feel.

Priced at £27,310 this is relatively expensive for a Q3. That being said, the range of in-car features is fairly extensive and, when combined with the strong power credentials, make this model a strong contender. However, with the standard SE model priced £2,750 cheaper there are plenty of reasons for buyers to choose the SE over the S-line.

For a 4x4 the fuel economy is good and the diesel models outperform their petrol counterparts with ease. The car achieves 54.3 mpg which is a vast improvement over the 38.7 mpg offered by the petrol engines.