Inside, the Q3 is conservative but classy, and those who don’t like dust and fingerprints will be pleased to know it has almost no piano black trim at all (just a little around the multimedia display). Everything is well fitted together and the materials are all up to snuff, with soft-topped dash, soft-skinned door uppers both front and rear, real brushed aluminum trim, cloth-wrapped A and B pillars, and standard leather upholstery. Rigid plastics are used for lower door trim, lower dash and console, as expected in this segment.

Standard equipment in the base Progressiv trim includes a panoramic sunroof, 19-inch alloys (18-inch for Quattro models), three-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power tailgate, and some splashy interior ambient lighting including in the cupholders and around the door panel speaker grilles. The standard audio system is an AM/FM/XM/CD system with SD slots and Bluetooth connectivity, but the one thing notably missing is a USB port, with Audi instead providing its own unique Audi Media Interface plug and a range of available adaptors. So much for charging my cell phone or camera on a work trip!

My tests car’s upgraded Technik trim (the only trim beyond Progressiv) added equipment including a potent upgraded Bose 14-speaker audio system, rearview camera, parking aids, blind spot detection system, and proximity entry with pushbutton start. My test car was also fitted with Audi’s optional navigation package, which offers crisp graphics on the big seven-inch multimedia display screen. Control of the infotainment system is through Audi’s MMI (multi-media interface), which offers reasonably intuitive control via a central control knob and four perimeter buttons that allow you to quickly select from available menus in the corners of the screen.

The front seats are decently spacious and I found them to be above average for comfort, but then my test car had a $1,600 Sport package that features upgraded sport seats. The split-folding back seat isn’t huge (it’s in the back that you really give up space compared to the Q5), but it’s roomy enough for a pair of average-sized adults. At 5’11” I could sit behind myself in reasonable comfort, and I did manage to fit three adults across in the back seat for a short trip, with no real complaints. The panoramic roof makes the back seat feel roomier than it otherwise might, and it received positive comment from my passengers.

Aft of the rear seats there’s a useful 460 L of cargo space, which rises to 1,365 L with the rear seats folded. I found the non-hinged cargo cover to be a bit of a fiddly pain to remove and install, and I noted that you do give up a fair bit of cargo room in exchange for the Q3’s swoopy hatchback look (you also give up quite a lot of rearward visibility thanks to the thick C-pillars). I did like how the power tailgate has a lock button as well as a close button so you can lock the car and close the tailgate in one button press.

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