Audi Releases 2015 Q3 Pricing

2015 Audi Q3 (Credit: © Audi)

Small crossovers are the latest rage here in the U.S., so Audi has finally decided to bring its compact Q3 across the pond and offer it in American dealerships. The 2015 Q3 is about 10 inches shorter than the Q5, Audi’s current smallest SUV in the U.S., which will give buyers an alternative to the BMW X1. The big question mark around this new model is with a price tag that starts at an equivalent of around $40,000 in Europe, can the Q3 actually compete with the $31,000 X1 in terms of pricing?

Apparently, Audi pulled off some pricing wizardry, as even with all the import fees, safety equipment and emissions issues, the Q3 Premium Plus will cross the Atlantic with a base price of just $32,500. Though this base model does not come standard with Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel drive, it does come well-equipped with 12-way power front seats with heat, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, xenon headlights and Audi advanced key. It comes packed with a 200-horsepower, 2.0-liter engine and a six-speed Tiptronic transmission.

2015 Audi Q3 (Credit: © Audi)

The entry fee for Quattro all-wheel drive is a reasonable $34,600, which is competitive with the X1 xDrive28i’s $32,700 MSRP. The 2015 Q3 tops out with its Prestige trim with Quattro for $38,500, which makes it about $1,500 less than its European entry-level price. Like I said, pricing wizardry.

There is still no firm release date for the 2015 Audi Q3, but look for it to hit dealers in the fall of 2014.