[Mustang67]

Hi all, Can’t seem to configure the 45tfsi engine in the online Audi configurator any more for the Q3.....just placed an order for one a few weeks ago....should I be getting worried and be prepared for some bad news coming my way? ......something to do with emissions maybe?

 

[PWS]

Perhaps a temporary ****-up on the configurator would be my guess, unlikely to be resolved until the New Year now. Obviously local dealers should know more. Though another thought is that maybe for 2021 they want to replace 45TFSI with the 45TSFIe PHEV version and add a nominal 15bhp, but that version is not quite ready to launch yet? I can only see details for A3 45TFSIe online and not the equivalent Q3, but it must pretty similar I would have thought. Seems to be the 1.4 turbo engine coupled with an 85kW electric motor to give 245 bhp and 400Nm. Might well be more accelerative in the midrange (though maybe slightly less 0-60) and better fuel economy vs (I'm guessing) a price rise and added complexity. Probably no spare wheel option due to the electric gubbins at the rear?

A bit more searching shows several B-roll videos on Youtube but this one looks more official.

 

[Mustang67]

Thanks for the reply.....hopefully my order still stands and it’s just a temporary glitch on the website or maybe I got my order in just in time before 2021 changes!
I’ve ordered the 45 Vorsprung Sportback in turbo blue (dew silver was my second choice as it looks great in all the promo videos) due March 21st so fingers crossed. Don’t want another drama after my 35 had the dreaded kangaroo and was eventually bought back off me by the dealer. Are you happy with your Vorsprung? I’ve went for the module design wheel option rather than v spoke ones which could be a mistake 😬

 

[PWS]

I think Turbo Blue is a good choice - TBH I'm not that keen on the Dew Silver - I had to order mine about 15 months ago before any samples were at the dealers so the colour was ordered sight unseen. Dew Silver is just a flat very light grey - how anyone could discern any silver in it (ie any metallic sheen) is beyond me. But it's OK and some people seem to like it.

On the car more generally? I'm really not the best person to ask because I'm inclined to be over-critical even of cars I quite like so bear that in mind. For me, the SB wins absolutely hands-down over the regular Q3 for looks. Basically I ordered it as the closest match I could find to my ideal car at the time of ordering - a reasonably powerful 4WD compact (eg 4.4m) crossover with decent tech and reviews. Personally I don't like larger cars (eg Q5 would be too big) but probably anything smaller than Q3 would involve too many compromises. So against that spec then yes I'm pretty happy with it. I think the SB is the best-looking of any similar crossovers out there (though must admit that I'm wondering about the new Cupra Formentor, but haven't seen one in the flesh yet). My 3 main points of critique would be:

1. I really wanted the extra power that would be in an SQ3, which Audi just don't seem to be producing as yet, though there is a new S3 I see, so maybe... RSQ3 as new is probably overpriced and has serious early depreciation so I don't feel tempted by that. But again the Formentor is closer to the mark. The 45TFSI is fine for performance, especially with the gears in S, but obviously doesn't have that extra edge that would come with a 300bhp engine.

2. I'm personally not into wheel porn and would much rather have had the slight extra ride comfort from 19" wheels rather than being forced to have 20".

3. I don't feel that the dash design had enough time/budget spent on it. The controls are scattered around - sometimes apparently at random - in various places and I still occasionally struggle to remember exactly where a particular function might be. What is that boot release doing on its own on the driver's door? And why that curious and unappealing chunk of unused blank space between the volume knob and start button?

TBH I do feel the Formentor calling for a test drive though in the New Year for me personally, but I suspect that you'll be happy with the SB.

 

[Mustang67]

Thanks for your detailed critique 👍🏻 Tbh the Sportback will be our family car.....I’m coming from a 2ltr Q5 and then 2ltr Tiguan and basically the main criteria for us was to go smaller than the Q5 but have the same boot size as the Tiguan. At 530 litres it’s a great size, matching the Tiguan and just about big enough for our needs. I agree think it’s the best looking crossover......I had 3 months with the 35 manual Sportback before it went back and loved the car apart from the way it drove.....besides the kangaroo I felt it was way underpowered for the size of the car so went for the other end of the power spectrum 😀 ( haven’t told the wife yet but she may notice the difference in fuel consumption 😬).....was hoping the adaptive suspension would help with the ride on the large wheels.....Cupra looks good in the pictures

 

[mwcltd]

Hi Mustang67, you have made an excellent choice. I took delivery of my new Q3 in July but I went for the Edition 1 as I personally prefer the sports suspension. However, for the first time, I ordered with a sunroof and its fantastic. All future Audis will have this option if its not standard. I have no comfort or noise problems with the sports suspension, 20" wheels and standard fit 255/40R20 Hankook tyres. I have done just over 3k miles over a mixture of road types with the drive select in "Dynamic" and I have averaged 36.4mpg.

 

[Jalees]

For me over the life time I have been a Honda Toyota Suzuki fan due to the price and reliability then switched to mercedes which was fantastic and then to JLR sorry piece of crap and now my first Audi what a fantastic mix of cars I have reliability performance brand and so far nearing 3k miles and not a single glitch.
I hope it stays like that.
Today I tried mine to redline it and in 3rd gear it reaches 100mph exceeding the national limit so had to behave, conclusion 45tfsi is a powerful piece of kit of course it's not RSQ3 but for now it's my best car I have ever owned.

Regards,
KJ

 

[Mustang67]

All these good reports and reviews I’ve read on the 45 only add to the worry that they may have now dropped the engine on the q3 and that I may be told this news in the new year...I really hope not ☹and even more worrying for me is that the only petrol engine now available on the uk configurator for the q3 is now the 35....which I personally had a lot of grief with 😬

 

[RSQ3John]

I would have thought all the battery tech and electric motor would add a hefty price premium to the std car.

 

[PWS]

I would have thought all the battery tech and electric motor would add a hefty price premium to the std car.

Yes, so would I. But then I was thinking that (assuming that it's not a temporary configurator glitch but a move towards 45TFSIe) there's no Haldex any more and the drivetrain overall is probably simpler and a bit lighter so maybe not so much of a price rise as one might otherwise imagine. Haven't investigated closely so open to correction but i think the TFSIe is front wheel drive only with the electric motor on the rear 'axle'. So still 4WD but with front and rear driven separately and with hopefully good software handling all the trickery of synchronising front and back. Sounds a bit complicated to me, but OTOH seems to work well in other models..

 

[RSQ3John]

All these good reports and reviews I’ve read on the 45 only add to the worry that they may have now dropped the engine on the q3 and that I may be told this news in the new year...I really hope not ☹and even more worrying for me is that the only petrol engine now available on the uk configurator for the q3 is now the 35....which I personally had a lot of grief with 😬

The top end of the regular Q3 models get you tantalisingly close to RSQ3 territory, there are whole bunch available in the UK today heavily discounted - the RS models come loaded with spec even for the standard model - full leather/electric seats/park sensors both ends/Stronic Quattro/proper brakes with 6 pot calipers at the front, much enhanced interior with different VC graphics, special Drive select modes - RS1 and RS2 selected from the steering wheel and of course an absolutely epic engine. Once driven the 230PS option won't hold a candle to the 400PS experience.

The RS isn't just 'transport that gets you from A to B' but an exciting vehicle with an aural sound track to match that'll make you smile every time you press that button.

 

[mwcltd]

From what I have heard the Q3 Hybrid will be available from April 2021. The battery can only be charged from an external source. The weight is higher as removal of the reduction in weight of the Haldex does not compensate for the increase in weight from the electric motor, batteries and wiring. The boot on the hybrid is two thirds the size of the non-hybrid. When the battery runs down you are left with a 1.4 litre engine and even when you add in the battery power you only get about 10% more power than the 45TFSI. The acceleration to 60 takes a second longer than the 45TFSI and the top speed is reduced by 20mph. The maximum charge is 7.4KW which from empty takes about 3 hours to fully charge. This means that you cannot take advantage of the high power chargers to reduce the charging elapsed time. Then, if you don't have off road parking, how are you going to charge it overnight? I can't see this working in practise but then 200 years ago when the combustion engine was hypothesised no one could see that working.

 

[Trentend]

I can’t stop watching the video below with the 20” module alloys. Cheesy review but some great footage, especially the side profile about 1minute 30 seconds in (red not my thing but Daytona grey would be)

When you had the 35 how did you find the headroom in the rear seats? I’m 5’10”, had a sit in one at the local Audi dealership last week but was put off as could barely a get a hand inbetween my head and the roofline (suspect would be uncomfortable going over speed bumps). It is though such a good looking car and the devil on my shoulder keeps saying go for it as I’d never be the one sitting there and 99% of the journeys would be fine with my other half in the front and young one on the backseat. Family though (including grandparents) want me to get the (latest) more practical Tiguan for the other 1% of journeys but I’ve just spent 4 years with a very sensible Ateca and having a mini-midlife crisis wanting something more exciting to look at.

One other observation, the boot, appeared much larger than expected. Seemed pretty wide. Trying to find some accurate dimensions (height, width, depth etc) - not sure if anyone out there with a Sportback and a tape measure could oblige?

 

[Mustang67]

Hi Trentend, I was the same, spent 3 years with a Tiguan (it was the R line) but even so for me it seemed very sensible. When I first saw the Sportback Q3 in Turbo blue as an edition 1, I was pretty excited by the way it looked...like a big kid I had it as my desktop picture at work for about 4 months waiting for the pcp on the Tiguan to run out.....I was sooooo hoping i could make it work as a family car. With the raking rear roofline I still wasn’t sure even after purchase, if we could get all the family camping gear in for our COVID forced staycation! Neighbours were out watching and chuckling in disbelief as slowly but surely the boot swallowed our 6 man tent, camping chairs, table and everything else! Every cubby was stuffed but I was amazed (and relieved as I’d talked the wife into going back to an Audi) it all went in. The boot is brilliant for the cars size and bigger than all its rivals I think. The tent and chairs even matched the car! (not intentional! 🤦🏻‍♂️)

The rear headroom is not an issue for me. I have 11 & 14 yr old daughters so they have enough room head wise....
I had seen that video, awful reviewer haha but I think it was that vid that convinced me to go with the module option!
I loved my Edition1’s wheels also....I was just unlucky to have the kangarooey engine so after much arguing the dealer bought it back off me. I would say for me the 35 engine is underpowered for the weight of the car, slowing down with foot down on uphills and overtaking on motorways was a bit dicy at times.... I’ve now gone for a lease deal on a 45 and got a good deal.
RSQ3 John, I know the Vorsprung price is very close to the RSQ3 base price but unfortunately the lease deals were completely disproportionate. I also think/know I would have gotten a raised eyebrow or two from my wife if one of those turned up on the drive....😂

 

[RSQ3John]

Look at the regular Q3 - same view looking over the bonnet , order a car with a pano roof and it's twice the size of the SB one.

Dimensions - will this do you?

 

[RSQ3John]

Yes, so would I. But then I was thinking that (assuming that it's not a temporary configurator glitch but a move towards 45TFSIe) there's no Haldex any more and the drivetrain overall is probably simpler and a bit lighter so maybe not so much of a price rise as one might otherwise imagine. Haven't investigated closely so open to correction but i think the TFSIe is front wheel drive only with the electric motor on the rear 'axle'. So still 4WD but with front and rear driven separately and with hopefully good software handling all the trickery of synchronising front and back. Sounds a bit complicated to me, but OTOH seems to work well in other models..

Looking at the drive train graphic below the 45 TFSIe is front wheel drive only with the electric motor attached to the engine flywheel, there is no rear motor.

 

[Perusal]

Hi all, Can’t seem to configure the 45tfsi engine in the online Audi configurator any more for the Q3.....just placed an order for one a few weeks ago....should I be getting worried and be prepared for some bad news coming my way? ......something to do with emissions maybe?

Being somewhat bemused by your comment about engine choices on the configurator I just went in and “had a play”. All the engines are still there but it seems they vary by model eg if you spec a Tecknik model you will only be offered the “35” engines, however if you specify a Black model the 40 TFSi engine appears and then at S Line level the 45TFSi is also added to the engine range.

I believe that under the latest WLTP fuel consumption rules each and every model has to be tested, at some expense, with each and every engine available as result of which most manufacturers have dropped various low volume engine/model configurations. Stated another way, for Edition 1 cars they have to do 3 different tests for the 35,40 and 45 petrol engines. Same with the diesels.

Having had a surprisingly pokey “35 TFSi” A4 as a courtesy car a short while ago I started out looking for a 35 Edition 1 when I decided on a Q3. My local dealer didn’t have one in stock but did have a 40TFSi on which he was prepared to cut me a deal. The extra power wasn’t such a draw, attractive as it is, but the real selling point for me was the addition of the Quattro element. The car grips like nothing else I have driven for some time.

From the power perspective I always prefer a more highly powered car but to some extent the desire for this is tempered by the fact that 90% of these speed aware times you can only go as fast as the car in front. I certainly like the extra power the 40 provides even if I have to swallow my pride when filling up with fuel each time. 1500 miles on the clock and to date I’m averaging high 20s with a best of 33 on a longer run. Hopefully that will improve with mileage and the warmer seasons ahead but coming after the typical 48mpg from my previous diesel E Class Estate I do find myself paying many more visits to the filling stations than I am used to m

 

[mwcltd]

What is going on with the Audi configurator. You can now only have quattro with diesel and the only petrol available is the 35TFSI. The top of the range is now the 40 TDI. Has someone at Audi UK marketing had brain fade?

 

[Perusal]

What is going on with the Audi configurator. You can now only have quattro with diesel and the only petrol available is the 35TFSI. The top of the range is now the 40 TDI. Has someone at Audi UK marketing had brain fade?

It’s working perfectly well for me.

Have you changed the model selector from the default of “Tecknik” at the top of the page?

I’ve just configured a 45TFSi Quattro S Line

 

[mwcltd]

Now I am really confused. If you go into www.audi.co.uk/q3 and select configure you will see what I mean.