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Audi Q3 2021 review

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Photo: Charles from Port Chester NY, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The second-generation Audi Q3 arrived in the UK in late 2018 on the VW Group's MQB platform, and the 2021 model-year car is an unchanged pre-facelift F3 — Audi never gave this generation a mid-life refresh in Britain, with the all-new third-generation Q3 only reaching UK showrooms in late 2025. For 2021, UK prices spanned roughly £36,400 to £47,425 across five trims: Sport, S line, Black Edition, Edition 1 and range-topping Vorsprung.

The engine menu covered every use case. The volume-selling 35 TFSI paired a 150PS 1.5-litre turbo petrol with front-wheel drive and a 7-speed S tronic automatic, reaching 62mph in 9.2 seconds while returning around 40.4mpg on the WLTP cycle. Diesel loyalists got the 150PS 35 TDI (about 45.6mpg) or the 190PS 40 TDI quattro with 400Nm of torque and a 7.7-second 0-62mph time. Above them sat the 190PS 40 TFSI and 230PS 45 TFSI, both quattro-only.

Practicality is a strong suit: the sliding 40:20:40 rear bench (150mm of travel) turns a 530-litre boot into 675 litres with the seats forward, and 1,525 litres with them folded. Inside, the 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen and 10.25-inch virtual cockpit were standard, while Audi pre-sense front with pedestrian and cyclist detection helped the Q3 keep the five-star Euro NCAP rating it earned in 2018. The 40 TDI can tow up to 2,200kg braked.

On the 2026 used market, the 35 TFSI S line S tronic is the smart buy: group-22 insurance, strong residuals and real cars changing hands for roughly £18,000 to £24,000. High-mileage drivers should hunt the 35 TDI Sport. Note that every 2021 car is now out of its 3-year/60,000-mile factory warranty, so full Audi service history is non-negotiable — and short-trip diesels can develop DPF trouble, while higher-mileage S tronics may show low-speed judder.

UK price from: £36,400

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Best small SUVs UK

Specifications

Engine	1.5L turbocharged petrol (35 TFSI); 2.0L diesel options to 190PS
Power	150 PS (147 bhp)
Torque	250 Nm
0-62 mph	9.2 seconds (35 TFSI S tronic)
Top speed	128 mph (35 TFSI)
Transmission	6-speed manual / 7-speed S tronic
Drive	Front-wheel drive / quattro
Fuel economy	40.4 mpg combined (WLTP, 35 TFSI)
CO2 emissions	158-162 g/km (35 TFSI, trim dependent)
Boot space	530 litres (675 with bench forward; 1,525 folded)
Insurance group	22 (35 TFSI S line)
Warranty	3 years / 60,000 miles
Euro NCAP	5 stars (2018)

Features

35 TFSI 1.5-litre turbo petrol: 150PS, 250Nm, 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds (S tronic)
10.1-inch MMI Navigation Plus touchscreen with 10.25-inch Audi virtual cockpit
Sliding 40:20:40 rear bench (150mm travel): 530 to 675 litres of boot space
Five-star Euro NCAP (2018) with Audi pre-sense front, pedestrian and cyclist detection
Five UK trims for 2021: Sport, S line, Black Edition, Edition 1 and Vorsprung
quattro all-wheel drive on 40 TDI, 40 TFSI and 45 TFSI with 7-speed S tronic
Power tailgate, rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate and cruise control as standard
2,200kg braked towing capacity (40 TDI); 750kg unbraked

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads (set)	£33.99	Pattern part; typical UK retail estimate
Oil filter	£11.49	1.5 TFSI; OE-quality pattern part
Engine air filter	£15.99	Typical UK retail estimate
Cabin pollen filter	£16.49	Carbon type; typical UK retail estimate
Front wiper blades (pair)	£24.99	Flat blade type
12V battery	£99.99	Typical UK retail estimate

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

Cabin build quality a clear cut above the X1 and GLA — soft-touch dash and damped switchgear
Sliding rear bench is unique in class: 530-to-675-litre boot flexibility suits prams and dogs
35 TDI is genuinely frugal on motorway runs without feeling cheap
Strong UK residuals — S line and Black Edition cars hold firm used values
Better standard active safety than several rivals, with cyclist detection included

Cons

Brochure price is fiction: desirable kit hides in expensive packs, so real cars cost far more
35 TFSI feels under-endowed with four adults and luggage on board
S tronic can hesitate and shudder at parking speeds — no torque-converter smoothness
20-inch Black Edition wheels look the part but crash over broken B-roads

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best 2021 Audi Q3 to buy used in the UK?

The 35 TFSI S line S tronic is the sweet spot for most buyers: strong residuals, group-22 insurance, roughly £18,000 to £24,000 used in 2026 and enough pace for family duty. High-mileage drivers should seek out the 35 TDI Sport, while Vorsprung cars suffer the steepest depreciation.

How big is the Audi Q3 boot?

530 litres with the rear seats up — above the class average. Slide the rear bench fully forward and it grows to 675 litres; fold the seats flat and you get 1,525 litres. The Sportback coupe variant offers the same 530-litre seats-up figure.

Is the 2021 Audi Q3 reliable?

The F3 shares its EA211 1.5 TFSI and EA288 2.0 TDI engines with hundreds of thousands of VAG cars, so major mechanical risk is low. Watch for DPF trouble on diesels used only for short trips, and test the S tronic for low-speed judder on higher-mileage cars.

What warranty is left on a 2021 Audi Q3?

None of the standard 3-year/60,000-mile Audi UK warranty — it expired in 2024. Buy only with full Audi service history and consider Audi's approved-used 12-month warranty or a reputable third-party policy. The 12-year anti-corrosion warranty still applies.

Is the 2021 Audi Q3 the facelifted model?

No. The F3 Q3 never received a mid-life facelift in the UK — the 2021 car is an unchanged pre-facelift example. The all-new third-generation Q3, with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, was only unveiled in 2025.