The BMW X1 and Audi Q3 have a lot in common. Both are of German origin and have entered the premium compact SUV market one after the other. They are also both among the leaders in terms of technology and engine performance. But for the 2020 model year, the Q3 is on the way to a decisive victory over its Munich-based rival, who is setting the bar very high. Find out why the SUV with the four rings is a better choice in many ways than the BMW in this 2020 BMW X1 vs. 2020 Audi Q3 comparison by Audi Blainville, your Audi dealer of choice in the city of the same name!
Style: the 2020 Q3 more incisive in its lines compared to a more curvaceous X1 near Blainville.
In the first round of this BMW X1 vs. Audi Q3 comparison: exterior styling. On this point, the two German SUVs are diametrically opposed. While the 2020 BMW X1 is rather curvaceous in its lines, especially its two-piece grille and its head and taillights, the 2020 Audi Q3 is quite different, with a sharper design.
The 2020 Audi Q3’s impressive single frame grille with vertical slats, razor-sharp headlights, muscular side panels and aggressive rear headlights give the 2020 Audi Q3 a profile that is as sporty as it is chiseled. Add to this the possibility to choose colors as striking as elegant (Pulse Orange, Turbo Blue, or Daytona Grey Pearlescent), and rims up to 20 inches, and you get a line of rare charisma for an SUV. Hence, if it’s sporty styling that you’re looking for, there’s only one alternative for you from the Laurentians to the North Shore of Montreal: the 2020 Q3, and not the 2020 X1!
Technical specifications: engines with the same figures, but different performances.
But even in luxury compact SUVs, it’s under the hood that the game is played, with performance for justices of the peace. And on paper, the 2020 BMW X1 in its xDrive28i variant, and the 2020 Q3 in its 45 TFSI variant, appear to be a match for the performance. Both are equipped with a 2.0L four-cylinder turbo engine with 228 hp for 258 lb-ft of torque. Both also feature an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
But the similarities end there. In terms of acceleration, the Q3 accelerates harder, with a 0–100 km/h sprint a tenth of a second faster (Q3: 7.1 seconds vs. X1: 7.2 seconds). But where the Audi has a clear lead over its Bavarian rival is in the efficiency of its four-wheel drive. The Q3 comes standard with the legendary quattro all-wheel drive system, which has proven its worth in rally racing. Faced with this system, which is one of the best available, the BMW and its xDrive, however good it may be, can’t hold up against Audi’s drive, which plays in another league. So, if you want to benefit from all the capabilities of your SUV in complete safety even on the worst winter days between the Laurentians and the North Shore from Montreal to Blainville, the 2020 Q3 is still the one you’ll have to choose over the 2020 BMW X1.
Interior: a purer and more technological interior for the 2020 Q3 compared to BMW’s premium compact SUV.
Finally, let’s talk about life on board. On this last point, the opposing philosophies of the outside are also found on the inside. While the interior of the BMW is once again curvilinear in style, the Q3 is very sharp in its edges, including an extremely geometric and uncluttered dashboard, which gives a surprisingly spacious feeling.
This impression of a state-of-the-art interior for the Audi Q3 is quickly confirmed when you look at the equipment it can offer. Power and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, power sunroof, and Bang & Olufsen premium sound system: you’ll have everything you need, and even more, to face your daily life between Blainville and the Laurentians with peace of mind!
All in all, the Q3 has a sleeker look and offers more performance and technology than the X1.
So, while the 2020 BMW X1 offers a very high level of performance, Audi’s premium compact SUV is a step up. Sharp, clean lines inside and out, superior acceleration with full all-round capability as well as the latest innovations in on-board equipment make the Q3 THE benchmark in luxury SUVs. So before going to have a look at the 2020 X1 at BMW, stop by Audi Blainville to discover in the flesh all the advantages of the 2020 Q3 over the latter! We’ll take advantage of this opportunity to introduce you to Audi leasing and financing programs that will help you get behind the wheel of YOUR Q3. We look forward to meeting you soon at the dealership!
