Audi Q3 vs Renault Austral

Audi Q3

Audi’s compact premium SUV.

Renault Austral

Renault’s modern compact SUV.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Audi Q3

Pick the Q3 for maximum interior space, a bigger boot and modern technology.

Best engine: The 35 TFSI (petrol) or 35 TDI (diesel).

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Renault Austral

Pick the Austral for a modern compact SUV with an efficient E-Tech hybrid.

Best engine: The 1.3 TCe (petrol) or E-Tech Full Hybrid 200.

Read the full guide

Performance

EA211 35 TFSI · Petrol vs 1.2 E-Tech 200 · Hybrid

	Audi Q3	Renault Austral
Power	150 hp	200 hp Winner
Torque	250 Nm	—
0–100 km/h	9,2 s	8,4 s Winner
Top speed	205 km/h Winner	175 km/h
Power-to-weight	101,7 hp/t	128,2 hp/t Winner
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	143 g/km	108 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	5,7 L/100km	4,7 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Audi Q3	Renault Austral
Boot	530 L Winner	430 L
Boot (seats folded)	1.525 L	1.525 L
Wheelbase	2,68 m Winner	2,67 m
Length	4,50 m	4,51 m
Width	1,86 m	1,83 m
Height	1,62 m	1,62 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Audi Q3	Renault Austral
Platform	MQB A2 (transverse, shared with the VW Tiguan Mk2)	CMF-CD3
Drive	Front-wheel drive · All-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Engine family	EA211 evo 1.5 TFSI · EA888 2.0 TFSI · EA288 evo 2.0 TDI	1.2 TCe · 1.3 TCe · E-Tech Full Hybrid 200
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid	Petrol · Hybrid
Transmission	S tronic (7-speed DSG) · 6-speed manual	6-speed manual · EDC7 · E-Tech automatic
Euro standard	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)	Euro 6d
LEZ access	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)	Euro 6d allowed in the LEZ

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Audi Q3

Infotainment software (early cars)
S tronic maintenance (DQ200 models)
Cooling system needs checking
DPF on diesels

Renault Austral

Infotainment software needs updates
Electrical gremlins on early cars
E-Tech hybrid: 12V battery drain

Pros

Audi Q3

Roomy interior & big boot
Modern tech (Virtual Cockpit)
Modular EA engines

Renault Austral

Modern interior with a big screen
Efficient E-Tech Full Hybrid 200
Roomy, modular boot (430–527 L)

Cons

Audi Q3

Early infotainment quirks
Pricier than the VW Tiguan on the same platform

Renault Austral

No diesel offered
Infotainment takes getting used to

Driving experience

Audi Q3

Comfortable, quiet and easy to place. The Q3 rides well over poor surfaces, stays settled at motorway speed, and steers accurately with light, consistent weighting. 2.0-litre cars use quattro, which adds strong traction in wet conditions and inspires confidence. The 1.5 TFSI is adequate but nothing more; the 45 TFSI is genuinely quick; the 2.0 TDI is the best all-rounder — torquey, economical and smooth at a cruise. The S tronic is sharp around town. Body control is good for a high-riding SUV, though the Q3 is set up for comfort rather than driver involvement.

Renault Austral

A refined long-distance cruiser rather than a dynamic driver's car, helped by optional rear-axle steering (4Control) that tightens the turning circle in town. Steering is light but accurate enough for daily use, with Sport mode adding more weight. The ride is firmer than many rivals, especially on larger wheels, and can feel unsettled over sharp bumps, though body control is reasonable. The E-Tech full hybrid feels responsive in mixed driving and can cover short distances on electric power alone, while the 1.3 mild hybrid is adequate once moving. Low-speed transmission behaviour can show hesitation or judder on early hybrid examples.