2012 Audi Q3

Audi Q3

Audi’s Q3 carves out its own lane in the premium compact SUV crowd, sitting just above the Volkswagen T-Roc and staring straight at the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. If you’re after that German prestige badge but don’t want to battle Sandton City’s tight parking bays in an overgrown Q7 – or torch your budget – this is where you’ll land. You’re choosing between petrol and diesel, with the 35 TFSI and 40 TFSI quattro on pump duty and the 35 TDI for those who still care about torque and range. Most models use Audi’s S tronic dual-clutch auto, but you’ll spot the occasional manual if you dip into older listings. Forty-three active cars run the gamut from R79,500 up to R970,090, and that’s telling: you’ve got everything from tired high-milers to showroom-fresh metal here. A median of R733,000 shows where most buyers are actually putting down their money. Sportback Black Edition 35 TDI S tronic models flood the listings, with nine of them priced between R749,996 and R970,090. That coupe-style Sportback roofline? It’s not just for looks – it costs more, and buyers know it. Go back a few years and you’ll find 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic units listed between R169,500 and R239,995, most with around 55,000 km – if you pack smart, that’s proper value, especially compared to overpriced rivals. The 35 TFSI S tronic stretches from R399,900 to R796,900, showing just how varied the Q3 offering is in South Africa. Buyers keep picking the Q3 over the GLA, often because the cabin layout is easier to live with, and the infotainment system doesn’t age like milk after a software update or two. Nineteen new cars, twenty-four used – and that’s the point. If you’re shopping Q3, the best buys are pre-owned, because new isn’t where the smart money goes.