When the Audi Q3 35 TDI Urban Edition turned up last minute for review, we knew we wanted to test one key element – its fuel economy. You see, we’ve been inundated with electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles this year. And as technologically impressive as they are, keeping them charged up can be a real palaver. Finding an available charger for the electric G-Wagon soaked up an anxious 18 hours of our lives recently.
However, when a no-nonsense Audi Q3 35 TDI turns up with 58 litres of diesel in the tank, you don’t think twice about range anxiety. According to Audi South Africa, on a combined cycle, the turbodiesel Q3 will sip 4.9 l/100 km. That’s a cruising range of 1 180 km per tank! Challenge accepted …
AUDI Q3 35 TDI URBAN EDITION
Going on an economy run is all about adhering to one law – inertia. The latest Audi Q3 35 TDI has clever 48V electrical architecture, which makes coasting off-throttle easier than ever. Therefore, critical to getting good fuel economy is keeping the vehicle moving with uninterrupted momentum for as long as possible. Ironically, this involves many techniques used in high-performance driving. As we shall now explain …
1. EYES ON THE HORIZON
Keeping your eye far on the horizon, and not just a few car lengths in front of you staring at the tarmac, allows you to make good driving decisions. Where your eyes go, the Audi Q3 35 TDI will go. A car merging into the lane in front of you can rob you of valuable momentum and waste fuel. Looking far ahead allows you to better preempt this and adjust your speed/line.
2. SLOW UPHILL, FAST DOWNHILL
We review vehicles in a hilly, undulating neighborhood and can vouch for how important it is to tackle hills correctly. Go as slow as necessary up any hill, based on speed limits, traffic density, etc. Then, if possible, build a gap and pick up as much speed as you can downhill, so you can win some of that fuel use back. Do not slide the car into neutral and freewheel. Not only is it not as efficient as staying in gear – especially with the Audi Q3 35 TDI’s 48V lift-and-coast function – but it’s less safe.
3. MIND THE GAP, AUDI Q3 35 TDI
Although our Audi Q3 35 TDI test was aimed primarily on economy, you cannot insure an open road at all times. So, when encountering stop/start traffic, try stay in the highest gear possibly for your road speed and maintain a gap to the car ahead. We’re not advocating causing a traffic jam. But if you can crawl along at idle on zero throttle between traffic stops, you’re saving a tiny bit of fuel, compared to those who accelerate and brake to end up in the same spot.
4. WATCH THOSE REVS
Pulling off from a stationary stop is obviously the biggest user of fuel there is. So, when you have to, accelerate smoothly but not excessively. Sure, you’re not going to win any traffic light races but the DHL guy up your backside isn’t paying for his gas. A good technique to keep from over-revving is to take note of your car’s revs at a highway cruise of 100 km/h in top gear. In the case of the Audi Q3 35 TDI, that’s just over 1 750 rpm in seventh gear. Make that a new ‘rev limit’ you shouldn’t exceed in any gear.
5. CORNERS ARE KING
Finally, once you’ve got the Audi Q3 35 TDI up to speed, don’t waste it by braking. Just like race driving, try and maintain the momentum the car has, and a fast minimum speed, through all turns. This comes back to point number one – eyes on the horizon. Look at the vanishing point of the road/corner, and try not to let anything break your flow.
AUDI Q3 35 TDI: VERDICT
When you’re so close to the edge of the Audi Q3 35 TDI’s best economy, it’s fascinating to see how exterior influences play with the figures. We’re talking even the coarseness of road surface. Take note of the tyre noise created as a good indication of how much extra friction there is. Something you also can’t help, particularly in the Cape, is the wind. If only they could all be tailwinds.
That said, we were able to match exactly the claimed/combined figure of 4.9 l/100 km over our test period. Which is might impressive because, being our only test car for the week, it needed to make several incidental trips to the city through dense traffic.
We travelled 250 km before the needle even moved off full. And at the half-way point, having done 525 km, the onboard computer assured us there was another 525 km to go. So, there you have it, the Audi Q3 35 TDI Urban Edition, a car full of the latest fuel saving technologies. And one that proves they can always be supplemented by thoughtful and sensible actions by the driver.
AUDI Q3 35 TDI: THE FIGURES
- 2025 Audi Q3 35 TDI Urban Edition
- Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel
- Power: 110 kW @ 3 800 rpm, 360 Nm @ 1 750 rpm
- Performance: 0-100 km/h 9.3 seconds (claimed)
- Economy: 4.9 l/100 km (claimed/tested)
- Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
- Price: R839 070 (starting from)
ARE YOU IMPRESSED BY THE AUDI Q3 35 TDI ECONOMY?
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