Audi Q3 vs Volkswagen T-Cross

Audi Q3

Audi’s compact premium SUV.

Volkswagen T-Cross

Volkswagen’s compact urban SUV.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Audi Q3

Pick the Q3 for quattro, the 530-litre boot and the 1.5 TFSI’s cylinder-on-demand.

Best engine: The mid-range 1.5 TFSI petrol for the best everyday balance — or the 2.0 TDI for high mileage.

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Volkswagen T-Cross

Pick the T-Cross for an agile urban SUV with a high seat, clever interior packaging and low running costs.

Best engine: The 1.0 TSI (115 hp).

Read the full guide

Performance

EA211 35 TFSI · Petrol vs 1.0 TSI 115 · Petrol

	Audi Q3	Volkswagen T-Cross
Power	150 hp Winner	115 hp
Torque	250 Nm Winner	200 Nm
0–100 km/h	9,2 s Winner	10,0 s
Top speed	205 km/h Winner	193 km/h
Power-to-weight	101,7 hp/t Winner	96,6 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	143 g/km	120 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	5,7 L/100km	5,3 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Audi Q3	Volkswagen T-Cross
Boot	530 L Winner	455 L
Boot (seats folded)	1.525 L Winner	1.281 L
Wheelbase	2,68 m Winner	2,55 m
Length	4,50 m	4,14 m
Width	1,86 m	1,76 m
Height	1,62 m	1,57 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Audi Q3	Volkswagen T-Cross
Platform	MQB A2 (transverse, shared with the VW Tiguan Mk2)	MQB A0 (transverse, shared with the Polo/Taigo)
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	EA211/EA211 evo 1.0/1.5 TSI · EA288 1.6 TDI
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid	Petrol · Diesel
Transmission	S tronic (7-speed DSG) · 6-speed manual	5/6-speed manual · 7-speed DSG
Euro standard	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)	Euro 6d (all engines)
LEZ access	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)	Euro 6d petrol/diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Audi Q3

DQ200 (7-speed dry DSG): mechatronics are the best-known weak point
Direct-injection petrols: carbon buildup with lots of short trips
DPF on diesels with mainly short trips

Volkswagen T-Cross

DQ200 DSG shift quality (dry clutch)
Timing belt + water pump (EA211)
Infotainment glitches on early cars

Pros

Audi Q3

quattro available on the 2.0-litre engines
530-litre boot (1525 litres folded)
1.5 TFSI (35) has cylinder-on-demand

Volkswagen T-Cross

High seating position and good visibility
Flexible sliding rear bench
Thrifty 1.0 TSI engines with low CO2

Cons

Audi Q3

S line suspension rides firmly
quattro is 2.0-litre engines only — entry models are front-wheel drive

Volkswagen T-Cross

Rear bench tight for three adults
Pre-facelift interior plainer

Driving experience

Audi Q3

As a model line, the Q3 steers accurately with light, consistent weighting and stays quiet at speed. Front-drive versions feel light and easy; quattro adds strong traction out of corners on the 2.0-litre engines. The 1.5 TFSI is the one to have, the 2.0 TDI is the high-mileage pick and the 45 TFSI e plug-in hybrid runs on electric for short trips. The S tronic shifts quickly. It is tuned for comfort over sharp handling.