In celebration of the launch, Audi Philippines hosted a very short but sweet day out with the Q3 and Q5 at Rico’s Cafe in Sta. Elana. To begin the journey, I was placed in the smaller brother, the Q3, and I was immediately taken by how good these new Q models look—sleek, but very subtle in a way only Audi can truly pull off. I’ve always admired how Audi manages to create modern designs without overdesigning their car—just the right amount of every design detail, eye-catching but not attention-grabbing. It’s important to note that the Q3 doesn’t share the same PPC platform its bigger brothers use; it still uses the brand's tried-and-tested MQB Evo platform, which is engineered specifically for subcompact and compact vehicles.

Inside, the Q3 is another lesson in proper restraint; it has modern upgrades like Audi’s new Digital Stage MMI system that has two screens that are linked together through software. I found the new MMI to be intuitive enough and easily adaptable for first-time users, which is a plus. Another interesting feature on the Q3 is the “control bar” found behind the steering wheel, which is a stationary unit that houses your gear lever (right side) and wiper plus light settings (left side). I thought it would be confusing at first, but being Audi, they managed to make it easy to use and ergonomic enough, plus it makes for an interesting design aspect for the interior.

The Q3 uses a 1.5-liter TFSI turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a 48-volt hybrid system. It makes a decent 150 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, with power going to the front wheels through a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission. Although we weren't able to test it, Audi says that a full tank can get the Q3 to around 1,000 kilometers. In terms of driving, the Q3 is perfect for the city streets, small enough to easily cut through the traffic, but not too small to compromise on actual interior space for people and cargo. I liked how refined the Q3 felt despite being the smallest Q model in the lineup; it still feels like a premium car, and the engine is more than enough to elicit giggles when pushed. It also handles like a small hatchback, which is high praise.

For the trip back to Manila, we switched to the bigger Q5. Looks-wise, it looks similar to the Q3 but is much bigger in terms of overall dimensions and space. It has the same new Digital Stage but uses slightly bigger screens for the larger cabin. One key difference between the Q3 and Q5 is that the latter gets an ADAS suite with adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and a 360-degree camera system. Another difference is the powertrain; the Q5 utilizes a 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, also paired with a 48-vlot Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Battery. That engine makes 240 horsepower and 340 Nm of torque, with the same 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Audi says the Q5 has a full-tank range of around 918 kilometers which is still very good for something like this.

The difference in driving between the Q3 and Q5 is huge; the latter is much more of a cruiser and is super comfortable on the highway. It remains one of the smoothest drives I’ve ever experienced on our usually hectic expressways. Its driving habits are so well-tuned that it requires very little steering input to change lanes, plus the NVH levels are optimal, keeping outside noise to a minimum. I also have to commend the powertrain; it's insanely quiet even when pushed a little, and it’s very easy to maintain speed or build up speed without the need to mash the throttle- a real cruiser.

Both the new Q3 and Q5 represent the next generation of Audi SUVs, and I can safely say that Audi didn’t miss a beat with either. In fact, the brand is even offering a trade-up program for interested buyers, which allows you to trade in your existing vehicle from any brand and enjoy up to 5 years of zero-interest payments, a 5-year warranty, and a 5-year service package.