Sports Utility Vehicles and diesel power go hand-in-hand as far the Indian market is concerned. Most of the blockbuster SUVs in India are driven by diesel and the market has witnessed a sharp dip in sales of most of the petrol-powered SUVs. So then, the latest move by Audi has come as a welcome surprise and those in the hunt for a compact, fun-to-drive runabout would be delighted with this update.

Audi’s dual-clutch 7-speed S tronic gearbox is the icing on the cake

Back in 2012, the Q3 was available only with a 174bhp 2.0 TDI diesel engine. But now, buyers will have an option of a 2.0 TFSI petrol motor as well. This pocket-rocket is touted as one of the most powerful entry-level luxury SUV with a claimed 0-100kph figure of 6.9 seconds.

The 1984cc, in-line-four, direct injection and turbo-charged petrol engine is good for 208bhp and 300Nm of max torque. The numbers translate into an exciting package and Audi’s dual-clutch 7-speed S tronic gearbox is the icing on the cake. Equipped with a start-stop system, Audi claims the petrol Q3 returns an impressive 11.72kpl to a litre, under combined cycle. And for the records, Audi claims the petrol Q3 will top at 230kph. Impressive.

The prices for the Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI start from Rs 27.37 lakh for the Base variant, and rises up to Rs 32.66 lakh for the top-end High variant. Prices are ex-showroom, Maharashtra.

Tags: q3, audi