What to replace Audi Q3 with?
Discussion
My wife has a 2022 Audi Q3 which needs to go. It has been totally unreliable and the service is shocking. We will never buy another Audi product. A lot of our friends have Audis and they all say the same. It’s no wonder their sales dropped over 20% last year.
We are in the US but my wife likes a smaller car. It needs to be capable in the snow as we can get feet over night some times. It also needs a heated steering wheel.
That’s about it for features. She doesn’t use any of the constantly broken traffic aids on her current car. She isn’t interested in US brand cars having grown up with them before they improved to what they are today.
Top contender is the 2025 BMW X3. But, that falls at the first hurdle. It isn’t small. Any other cars we should be looking at? Budget up to $80k.
We would consider used as well. I suggested Porsche Macan last time she bought a car. This time, there is a model change and we prefer going into current model cars.
We are in the US but my wife likes a smaller car. It needs to be capable in the snow as we can get feet over night some times. It also needs a heated steering wheel.
That’s about it for features. She doesn’t use any of the constantly broken traffic aids on her current car. She isn’t interested in US brand cars having grown up with them before they improved to what they are today.
Top contender is the 2025 BMW X3. But, that falls at the first hurdle. It isn’t small. Any other cars we should be looking at? Budget up to $80k.
We would consider used as well. I suggested Porsche Macan last time she bought a car. This time, there is a model change and we prefer going into current model cars.
Rav4 PHEV or Prime as I think they're known as over there?
Over 300 bhp, 60 in 5.5s, comfortable high quality interior, Toyota reliability, rides properly. Will do 45+ miles as an EV and then do 50 mpg all day long once you use the electric range. Great in the snow and feels really robust compared to most modern cars. Feels and looks smaller than it really is.
Best all rounder we've had for years including various Audis, Mercs, Tesla etc and the reliability will be in a different league to any of the German stuff.
Over 300 bhp, 60 in 5.5s, comfortable high quality interior, Toyota reliability, rides properly. Will do 45+ miles as an EV and then do 50 mpg all day long once you use the electric range. Great in the snow and feels really robust compared to most modern cars. Feels and looks smaller than it really is.
Best all rounder we've had for years including various Audis, Mercs, Tesla etc and the reliability will be in a different league to any of the German stuff.
Snow and Rocks said:
Rav4 PHEV or Prime as I think they're known as over there?
Over 300 bhp, 60 in 5.5s, comfortable high quality interior, Toyota reliability, rides properly. Will do 45+ miles as an EV and then do 50 mpg all day long once you use the electric range. Great in the snow and feels really robust compared to most modern cars. Feels and looks smaller than it really is.
Best all rounder we've had for years including various Audis, Mercs, Tesla etc and the reliability will be in a different league to any of the German stuff.
I looked it up and RAV4 is the name over here as well. I had not considered the brand before. I will pass on the suggestion. Over 300 bhp, 60 in 5.5s, comfortable high quality interior, Toyota reliability, rides properly. Will do 45+ miles as an EV and then do 50 mpg all day long once you use the electric range. Great in the snow and feels really robust compared to most modern cars. Feels and looks smaller than it really is.
Best all rounder we've had for years including various Audis, Mercs, Tesla etc and the reliability will be in a different league to any of the German stuff.
Have I got this right:- You've come here to ask for recommendations for a small SUV, but have already dismissed anything American badged, Lexus, Volvo, Audi and the relevant BMW.
I think the simplest solution would be to start your own car company, design a car from scratch and drive that.
Has the Alfa Tonale made it to the States? It's the same as a Jeep underneath, but whether you tell your wife that is up to you.
I think the simplest solution would be to start your own car company, design a car from scratch and drive that.
Has the Alfa Tonale made it to the States? It's the same as a Jeep underneath, but whether you tell your wife that is up to you.
wyson said:
Macan is the same size as the X3
Volvo XC40 is the best small premium SUV, about the same size as a Q3.
The Macan would be my first choice and was when she bought the Q3. But, the petrol version is due to be either dropped or replaced. The interior is looking dated. The electric version is more than we want to spend. It would have been a good contender if it was available second hand.Volvo XC40 is the best small premium SUV, about the same size as a Q3.
Realistically, I think I would go with some flavour of Volvo XC. Wife is not a fan. Along with image, her friend broke a drive shaft on an XC90 so she is concerned about reliability. Maybe we should drop in a dealership and take a look though.
Also, my wife is not a fan of Porsche because I bought my first a long time ago and let her know by text "I bought a Porsche". She was expecting me to buy a VW. No amount of saying "Same parent company" was going to help. It has turned out to be a keeper because we still have that one and it is 12 years old. The way things are going, my kids will learn to drive in it.
I also have a Taycan, which through extremely poor planning on my part, she paid for. Boy, that did not go down well. I paid her back.
If she could buy a brand new 2012 VW Tiguan in the most base spec possible she would be all over it.
h0b0 said:
I looked it up and RAV4 is the name over here as well. I had not considered the brand before. I will pass on the suggestion.
Ah yeah, that was badly worded. They're called Rav4 everywhere but I think the PHEV, the one you want, is branded the Rav4 Prime in the US. The plug in version is much quicker and more effortless to drive even if you never bother charging it and has laminated side windows and various other refinements that really do make a difference over the regular hybrid.
Bit of an update. She liked the Volvos. She wants to try the XC60 now.
We also took a look at BMWs. The X1 interior was not good ergonomically. She liked the X3 but is worried about the size.
This really comes down to two groups of her friends. The Volvo ones and the BMW ones. We will see which wins.
Which option would you go with?
Xc40
XC60
X3 with M sport package. I think that just changes a couple of cosmetic options.
We also took a look at BMWs. The X1 interior was not good ergonomically. She liked the X3 but is worried about the size.
This really comes down to two groups of her friends. The Volvo ones and the BMW ones. We will see which wins.
Which option would you go with?
Xc40
XC60
X3 with M sport package. I think that just changes a couple of cosmetic options.
Reviews say XC40 is more fun to drive, almost as refined as the XC60 and the suspension is better behaved. The XC60 has a composite leaf spring connecting the rear wheels and isn’t fully independent. Apparently it sends thumps through the cabin over expansion joints etc. It does have properly sized rear seats, definitely a factor if you are going to carry large adults in the back frequently. Conversely because of that rear axle, I'd sit someone in the back on a test drive to see if the ride comfort is acceptable.
FWIW, I preferred the XC40 in it's heavier steering setting. No feel through the wheel, but the control weights between pedals and steering felt more balanced. Driving spiritedly, you could feel the corners loading up through the seat, the suspension working away in a very competent manner. The Mrs and the kid said the ride and seat comfort were good in the back as well. Kid was in a rear facing car seat and the Mrs is 5'3. The less than full size rear bench suited them well.
I’d let your wife try all of them, see what she likes, but opening up D segment SUV’s like the X3 and XC60 turns this debate into another kettle of fish!
The newest Tiguan, the motoring press are reporting the electronic and infotainment issues have largely been sorted, so she could try that as well.
FWIW, I preferred the XC40 in it's heavier steering setting. No feel through the wheel, but the control weights between pedals and steering felt more balanced. Driving spiritedly, you could feel the corners loading up through the seat, the suspension working away in a very competent manner. The Mrs and the kid said the ride and seat comfort were good in the back as well. Kid was in a rear facing car seat and the Mrs is 5'3. The less than full size rear bench suited them well.
I’d let your wife try all of them, see what she likes, but opening up D segment SUV’s like the X3 and XC60 turns this debate into another kettle of fish!
The newest Tiguan, the motoring press are reporting the electronic and infotainment issues have largely been sorted, so she could try that as well.
Edited by wyson on Wednesday 22 January 12:59
h0b0 said:
Bit of an update. She liked the Volvos. She wants to try the XC60 now.
We also took a look at BMWs. The X1 interior was not good ergonomically. She liked the X3 but is worried about the size.
This really comes down to two groups of her friends. The Volvo ones and the BMW ones. We will see which wins.
Which option would you go with?
Xc40
XC60
X3 with M sport package. I think that just changes a couple of cosmetic options.
If the size of an X3 worries her then an XC60 won't be any better. Nor a Macan.We also took a look at BMWs. The X1 interior was not good ergonomically. She liked the X3 but is worried about the size.
This really comes down to two groups of her friends. The Volvo ones and the BMW ones. We will see which wins.
Which option would you go with?
Xc40
XC60
X3 with M sport package. I think that just changes a couple of cosmetic options.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff