We all have memories that we don’t really remember. Like the third word that our children spoke. Or that song from that band on the radio.
I’m willing to bet that all these events had a certain significance – at the time.
Here’s what I’m willing to bet my year’s wages on – after all those burnt dinners you remember your wife’s birthday. You remember your wedding anniversary and you will remember your first dog’s name. And happily, this time, I haven’t taken too long to get to my point – driving an Audi Q3 is an event, not an occasion.
Now don’t get me wrong. As far as sheer competence goes, it’s right up there with Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III. And on the face of it, it has no flaws. It’s attractive to the beholder — four rings and those daytime running lamps. They make a pretty strong case for themselves.
And there’s plenty of oomph from the 2.0 TDI and the 7-speed S-tronic (and damn!...that’s a good double clutch gearbox). Shall we continue to call it the S-tronic and not DSG? Just to be safe, let’s ask Audi. The engine puts out 177 horsepower and a healthy 380Nm of torque. It never feels underpowered, because this, the lightest Q, weighs in at just under 1.6 tonnes.
With that light steering, great drivetrain and an overall length of just over 4.3 metres, it’s a nippy little car in the city. I found myself aiming for and nailing those gaps normally used by taxis and rickshaws. And people do get out of your way when you drive this around town. Because the most terrifying thing for a city motorist is not a bus or a rickshaw – it is an aggressively-driven SUV.
The ride is really good as well. It glides with great dignity on smooth roads and I really don’t think there is a big enough bump in the civilised world that will stop this thing. And the high ground clearance and Quattro mean that it can still handle a bit of off-roading.
Inside, you get power-adjustable and heated front seats, a huge sunroof, a brilliant music system that takes a USB, CD, SD card and even plays music off your phone. It’s also has a Bluetooth phone. And you can control most of these with the buttons on the steering wheel.
That, I’m afraid, is the end of good news. Because everything about this car, from the way it drives to equipment feels like a compromise.
It has rear parking sensors but no reversing camera. That means, while it beeps when you’re about to hit something, you can’t see what you’re about to hit. There is a button on the dash for satellite navigation, which it doesn’t have. You can see ‘drive select’ on the MMI (Multi-media interface) but you can’t access it.
And that last problem means that the steering is permanently set in comfort mode. That means it’s always light, which is great in the city but scary as hell on open road and on the twisties. I drove aggressively for about half a kilometre on a twisting road and decided immediately to back off.
I’m sure it would be a lot better as a car if Audi gave
it all the bells and whistles, and a full length glass roof like the Q5. I’m sure that would justify the resultant rise in price. And even though it has a lot going for it, I would never have one. For the simple reason that I like cars that are made to be as good as they can be. I’m sure that many of the yummy mummies who’ve bought one would disagree, but I’m sticking to my verdict. As competent as it may be, I don’t like it because I don’t like the idea of it.