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By Jason Woosey 
10h ago
JOHANNESBURG – Audi seems to be intent on filling almost every gap in the crossover market, with the latter being essentially a Q3 with a touch of coupe-inspired design. Which means you could probably call it some kind of baby Q8.
With a sloped rear section, the Q3 Sportback is in fact 16mm longer and 29mm lower than the regular Q3 and also receives a unique grille as well as an S Line exterior trim package as standard. It rolls on 18-inch wheels as standard, and buyers can improve it even further with a black styling package that includes blackout trim on the bumpers and side window strips.
How much more expensive?
With prices starting at R693,000, the Sportback has a premium of R63,000 over the regular Q3 base model, but only costs $ 30,000 more than the more comparable Q3 S Line.
The Sportback also introduces a more powerful engine and quattro four-wheel drive.
A more powerful engine option
Until now, all the latest-generation Q3 models have offered only one engine option in the form of a 1.4-liter turbo petrol that sends 110kW and 250Nm to the front wheels.
While the Sportback comes with this 1.4 engine (with 35 TFSI insignia) in basic form, the Sportback is also offered as a 40 TFSI quattro model, powered by a 2-liter turbo engine that delivers 132 kW and 320 Nm to all four wheels. .
Both engines are paired with S tronic dual-clutch transmissions, with the difference that the 30 TFSI has six forward gears and the 40 TFSI quattro has seven.
In terms of performance, the 40 TFSI will launch you from 0-100 km / h in 7.8 seconds, according to Audi, while the 30 TFSI will do it in a respectable 9.3 seconds.
Q3 Sportback models also come with sports suspension as standard, and drivers can vary their characteristics through the Audi drive select system, which has six modes.
Digital cockpit, unchanged trunk space
The Sportback’s cabin is largely like that of the regular Q3, and it doesn’t seem to have lost luggage capacity, and Audi claims a minimum volume of 530 liters for both, although this can be expanded in a number of ways thanks to the rear seats. which can slide forward and bend.
The cockpit area is highly digitized and a basic digital instrument cluster (22.3 cm) is standard, although buyers can opt for the sleeker 31.2 cm ‘virtual cockpit’ which has multiple display modes . As for infotainment, the Audi MMI Touch Radio Plus ships as standard, but customers can opt for MMI Navigation Plus.
What do you get for your money?
Standard features include dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting package, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, rear parking aid, and hill descent control.
Of course, there are numerous options available, but Audi has quite sensibly decided to keep things simple with a selection of equipment packages:
Comfort Package (R22 580)
Equipment includes: electrically operated tailgate and front seats (now heated and four-way lumbar support), front and rear park distance control, and the Audi trunk and storage package.
Tech Package: R35 180
MMI Navigation plus (with 3D map display), Audi virtual cockpit plus, Contour ambient lighting (with 30 available colors) and aluminum-look interior trim.
Sport package: R30 030
19-inch light-alloy wheels in contrasting gray, combined Alcantara / synthetic leather upholstery, black roof and “Sports Contour” flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles and multifunction plus.
S line interior package: R16 700
Front sports seats with S line relief, 3-spoke steering wheel with multifunction plus and chrome trim, dashboard inserts in matt brushed aluminum, black headlining, aluminum door sill inserts with S lettering, foot pedals. stainless steel.
The Audi Q3 Sportback is now available at dealerships and is sold with a five-year / 100,000 km Audi Freeway Plan as standard.
PRICES
Audi Q3 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic – R693 000
Audi Q3 Sportback 40 TFSI quattro S tronic – R 737 000
IOL Engine
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