PM Garage:

Our opinions on two cars we’ve cruised in, swerved, braked and parked.

ALL OF the usual suspects you’d expect to find in the featuresand driver-aid department are present and accounted for in the new Audi Q3. All told, it’s a superb car, and the German marque has once again outdone itself, delivering a family-sized SUV that’s spacious yet not unwieldy, fleet-footed yet smooth, sporty yet elegant.

Visually, it’s a treat, with its handsome good looks kicking off right at the grille. Angular and assertive, and melding fluidly with the slanted headlights and raked lower fender and large air intakes, the nose really affords this vehicle a commanding presence, in spite of it being far from the largest SUV contender on the street.

Overall, the Q3 boasts bigger dimensions than its predecessor and, along with this, elevated levels of comfort. Lengthwise, it’s been expanded by 96 mm; side-to-side, it’s now 18 mm wider; and the wheelbase has been stretched by 77 mm. The consequence of this makeover is more knee-, head- and elbow room for occupants, stats no passenger will be complaining about. The rear cargo bay can swallow up 530- to 675 litres (depending on the position of the rear seats) and, if you lower the 40:20:40-split backrests, you can stow up to 1 525 litres. Plus, if you’re packing heavy items, using a button, you can select one of three loading-floor levels to get the most useful position.

Inside and up front, the driver is the priority, a detail emphasised by the driving position, crisp digital displays, and intuitive- and ergonomic controls. Depending on the options chosen, the navigation system will recognise the driver’s preferences based on previous journeys, and will subtly suggest route alternatives.

Locally, there’s only one engine option, a 1.4-litre petrol frontwheel-drive four-pot. But don’t be fooled by the smaller cubic capacity – it’s swift off the mark and cruises effortlessly on the highway, making full use of its 110 kW and 250 Nm, while delivering reasonable fuel-consumption results.

The Q3 is up against some stern competition in this class, but it feels as if Audi should be unfazed. The brand’s newest addition to the Q line-up is destined to stand head and shoulders above the rest.