What is it?
This isn't an Audi Q4, as logic might dictate, given the existence of the Audi Q7 and its similarly lower-roofed, sportified Audi Q8 sibling.
Nope, Audi has chosen the Audi Q3 Sportback tag, and not just because it’s an extremely literal term to describe the new car or because they want to retain a family tie. It’s also because the Q4 name will be used on a new electric SUV arriving next year.
Naming oddity aside (Sportback is also used to denote the five-door version of the A3 and the four-door version of the A5), there has been more work undertaken to turn the standard Q3 into a Sportback than you might expect.
Yes, the roof curvature has been dropped by 49mm, but it’s also a touch longer and ever so slightly slimmer than the Q3, while the front and rear end designs are notably different. In fact, no body panels are shared at all.
These SUVs with lowered rooflines never quite work aesthetically (BMW X4, we’re still looking at you), but we reckon Audi has done a decent job with the Sportback. In fact, this may be one of the only SUV-coupés that actually fulfils its brief in being more desirable than the regular SUV upon which it’s based. But then beauty (hmm, let’s not go that far) is in the eye of the beholder.
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What an ugly rear.
it looks like it’s farting....
why do people think coupe
why do people think coupe SUVs look cool, they do NOT.
the look like someones gone on photoshop and got some sort of stretch tool and pulled the rear bumper out.
5cylinderT wrote:
For me, thats where the Velar falls down too. Birds eye view looks fine, but on the level, squashing the roof down just empasises the long rear overhang. Not a good look.
Not my thing too, but...
I’d never buy one, and don’t like the looks, but people can choose what they want, it’s their money. If not enough people buy them then they won’t get replaced in the next model cycle.
Only exception to my comment is the Honda Civic which is just hideous, badly proportioned, and offensive to the eye. Even then it’s your money.
I don’t know why people complain about too much choice. Let’s all drive Corsa’s then - they could be knocked out cheaper if the volume was increased, and would just be a tool to get from A to B.
Paul Dalgarno wrote:
I agree with this entirely.
This latest fashion for ‘coupe SUV’s isn’t a segment I can ever imagine myself shopping in, but that’s fine. Calling them coupes does seem a bit silly in the (modern) traditional sense of the word, but also fine for the original meaning. I see them more as high riding hatchbacks, with the more conventional styled ‘SUVs’ as high riding estates. Fine to have both as it is with normal cars.
I’ll stick with my conventional estate, but I’m all for greater choice