BMW X1 vs Audi Q3

I am sure this will end up going down in a one-sided debate, but what do you expect out of the X1 and what do you expect out of the Q3? Does the Q3 have a chance at stacking up against the X1?

I want to know what you guys think about each ride in these categories:

- Design

- Performance

- Price (worth it?)

- Options

- Your overall excitement

Give each (the X1 and Q3) a score of 1 - 10 in each category. 50 point potential total.



BMW X1
- Design: 8
- Performance: 7
- Price: 6
- Options: 9
- Excitement: 5

**TOTAL** 35 points

Audi Q3
- Design: 9
- Performance: 6 (base model) 9 (RS model)
- Price: 6
- Options: 7
- Excitement: 7

**TOTAL** 35 points (38 RS performance)


What are your opinions???

I want another choice....

How about***********: Either

Originally Posted by kyfdx

I want another choice....

How about***********: Either

I can't add it to the poll, but you're right. I should have put that as an option too. The more I have been looking at the Q3, the less I like how it looks. The RS Q3 would be the only one I would consider.

They're both automatic only, so "Neither".

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus

They're both automatic only, so "Neither".

Same here

Audi because they don't **** around like BMW and will probably bring a diesel over

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

Audi because they don't **** around like BMW and will probably bring a diesel over

+1. I care greatly about fuel consumption, emissions, and driving joy. Efficiency is something that's enjoyable ALL the time, driving joy probably 15% of the time when I can actually find a safe, fun road to flog my cars on.

Just test drove the 2 litre Diesel at lunchtime .... with sport pack and GPS + sunroof.... something is not right, noisy engine and Interior Quality is not good

Audi Q3 for multiple reasons:

Real Tires, not RFT's

Better interior layout

Able to make performance enhancements and not just bolt on pretty stuff

And........if they actually bring the RS-Q3 here (it is being made) lots, and lots, and lots of power.

RFTs, these are not the hassle free thing that people are led to believe. And you can adjust the suspension all you want. They still run harder than standard tires.

Have not heard many good things about the interior for the X1. Neither layout or materials are getting positive reports.

No one makes any real performance enhancements for BMW's X1 or X3. Just bolt on cosmetic stuff. That is nice, but being able to improve performance down the road can breath new life and fun factor later in car's life.

Any reason you closed the poll?

I would think the Q1 would go up against the X1, and the Q3 against the X3

Q1 is a small small suv

Q3-X1
Q5-X3
Q7-X5

It's ironic timing - I was just watching a video comparing the two.

The Q3 and X1 are natural competitors. Having seen neither in person yet, I would guess:

Q3:
Likely Good:

• probably will bring manual to US
• probably will bring proven TDI to US
• will have better interior w/o cheap X1 plastic sounds
• will be unique as the less commonly seen car in US

Likely Bad:

• less fun to drive than X1
• it's shape looks almost American-clunky to me, like a GM or Chrysler crossover

I'd want a X3 except I also want European-built and ED - so right now what's competing in my head is the ED Q5 vs the ED X1. The Q3 looks to be just that crucial little bit too small, whereas I go back and forth on X1 (some angles look big enough, other times I worry that it *LOOKS* VW Golf or college-car sized.

The interior design of the X1 has been updated for the US to replace those hard plastic pieces with softer ones.

X1 for me. Just ordered on last week.

Originally Posted by BMWfanatic87

I would think the Q1 would go up against the X1, and the Q3 against the X3

Nope, the numbers don't match up.

X1 vs Q3
X3 vs Q5
X5 vs Q7

Originally Posted by iamthewalrus

They're both automatic only, so "Neither".

+1

Cheers

Have driven both and recently took delivery of an X1.

The X1 interior (with the cool design package) and the sunroof are much better than in the Q3. The X1 has a physical for the sunroof which reduces heat gain considerably. The Q3 just has a curtain.

But Audi wins out on mechanics. First, the ride. The X1 is really hard and on longer journeys is making us feel slightly sea-sick on motorways I drive regularly.

Stability, the hard ride makes the car bounce a bit a >90km and you have to work a bit against head windor side wind from passing cars/ trucks.

There is definitely more cabin noise on the X1 even with the 2500 euro interior upgrade.

Steering, I had no idea about this until now but BMW uses mechanical steering and Audi electro-mechanical. Result is that the X1 has a really heavy feel and can be tiring to drive for more than a few hrs. My wife definitely does not appreciate the weigh training. There is also a slight vibration on the wheel when the car is moving or stationary whenever the car is in gear, the vibration disappears when the car is in neutral, even on the motorway.

Transmission. Both have start/stop but the X1 has a mechanical system which transmits all of the engine kick back at start through the gear stick (and peddles) to the driver. So when you push the clutch and reach for the gear stick, your hand arrives just in time for a punishing vibration. You have to push the clutch and wait a second or two before touching the gear stick. On the Audi Q3, there is no vibration on the gear stick whatsoever, you push the clutch and put the car in gear and the engine has started and is really to pull.

This is our first (and last) BMW, and we are sadly disappointed by the quality of the mechanics. I drive a lot of rentals for work, no BMW of course, but the X1 is by far the worst car I have ever driven. The last rental was an Audi A1 and the ride was twice as good as the X1 which costs twice as much.

Originally Posted by X1blue

Have driven both and recently took delivery of an X1.

The X1 interior (with the cool design package) and the sunroof are much better than in the Q3. The X1 has a physical for the sunroof which reduces heat gain considerably. The Q3 just has a curtain.

But Audi wins out on mechanics. First, the ride. The X1 is really hard and on longer journeys is making us feel slightly sea-sick on motorways I drive regularly.

Stability, the hard ride makes the car bounce a bit a >90km and you have to work a bit against head windor side wind from passing cars/ trucks.

There is definitely more cabin noise on the X1 even with the 2500 euro interior upgrade.

Steering, I had no idea about this until now but BMW uses mechanical steering and Audi electro-mechanical. Result is that the X1 has a really heavy feel and can be tiring to drive for more than a few hrs. My wife definitely does not appreciate the weigh training. There is also a slight vibration on the wheel when the car is moving or stationary whenever the car is in gear, the vibration disappears when the car is in neutral, even on the motorway.

Transmission. Both have start/stop but the X1 has a mechanical system which transmits all of the engine kick back at start through the gear stick (and peddles) to the driver. So when you push the clutch and reach for the gear stick, your hand arrives just in time for a punishing vibration. You have to push the clutch and wait a second or two before touching the gear stick. On the Audi Q3, there is no vibration on the gear stick whatsoever, you push the clutch and put the car in gear and the engine has started and is really to pull.

This is our first (and last) BMW, and we are sadly disappointed by the quality of the mechanics. I drive a lot of rentals for work, no BMW of course, but the X1 is by far the worst car I have ever driven. The last rental was an Audi A1 and the ride was twice as good as the X1 which costs twice as much.

I'm confused. If you have driven both and seemed to like the Q3, why did you get the X1? I would hate to get a car that rode like that. Just goes to show that BMW is losing touch with the public again. You'll notice that after two BMW's I have elected to go to an Audi.

Originally Posted by Evlengr

I'm confused. If you have driven both and seemed to like the Q3, why did you get the X1? I would hate to get a car that rode like that. Just goes to show that BMW is losing touch with the public again. You'll notice that after two BMW's I have elected to go to an Audi.

Quite! Our original decision was mostly based on aesthetics, the X1 has a more luxurious finish but price was also a factor as the X1 works out a lot cheaper than the Q3 with the same options. Unfortunately, we assumed mechanically they would be similar quality, both being premium brands (we eliminated Mercedes GLK/ ML and Volvo XC60 on looks)

After ordering the X1, I ended up renting a couple of Audi and on receiving the X1 we began noting the differences detailed here.

It's one thing to test driving a car for 30-60mins, quite another to have for a week or so.

Well, the X1 goes back today lets see what BMW can do with it. I'm in no hurry to get it back..