Such is the continued growth of crossovers, manufacturers are beginning to offer them in multiple body styles, hence the introduction of the Audi Q3 Sportback. Wearing a leaner, more athletic outfit, this is effectively a five-door coupe version of the regular Q3 launched in 2018.

It’s slightly lower, narrower but longer, featuring mostly new bodywork. Currently, the Q3 Sportback has few direct rivals – in its crosshairs are cars from rival manufacturers that are ever so slightly larger or smaller.

That could be key to its appeal, managing to fill a void we never thought existed, but is a fashionable coupe-like body enough to tempt you away from the regular Q3, arguably a more practical and sensible option to this Sportback?

What’s it like inside?

Thanks to that Q3 badge, the Sportback’s interior is lifted straight from the regular car, particularly noticeable if you’re sat in the front. The contemporary screen-laden dashboard is angled towards the driver, with high-quality tactile touchpoints all around, including the well-damped controls and the textile finishes around the plastic dashboard components.

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There’s understandably some difference in the rear as the roof-line is 16mm lower, but essentially a pair of 6ft-tall passengers will be fine back there, with only the back of their heads brushing the headlining. The main difference is that it can feel quite dark thanks to the smaller windows and lower roof. Three adults in the back would be a pinch, but then again, this isn’t a crossover aimed at larger families. The backrest angle can be adjusted on a 60:40 split, while the seat base can be slid forwards and backwards by 30mm.

Bootspace is a shade reduced from the SUV version of the Q3, but still offers plenty of room. With the rear bench in place you still have 530 litres of space at your disposal (measured up to the load cover), increasing to a much more accommodating 1,400 litres when the 40:20:40 split seats are folded forwards. Impressive considering the shape of the body and sloping roof.

What’s it like to drive?

Sharing a derivation of the Volkswagen Group’s MQB architecture – and underpinnings that are identical to the regular Q3 – the Sportback is available with a familiar range of powertrains. Initially, buyers had a choice of a 35 TDI (2.0-litre, 150hp diesel) and 45 TFSI Quattro (2.0-litre, 230hp petrol with four-wheel drive).

Before the end of 2019, those were joined by a 40 TDI Quattro (with 190hp), with a 35 TFSI (1.5-litre, 150hp petrol) following that. The more interesting development is that the S Tronic-equipped version of that engine (a twin-clutch automatic gearbox in Audispeak) has a 48-volt mild hybrid system connected to it to boost efficiency and smooth-out acceleration issues. This 48-volt system will also appear in the Q3 SUV and other forthcoming Audis in the months to follow.

A flagship RS Q3 performance model arrived later, fitted with the familiar 2.5-litre five cylinder engine found in the RS 3 and TT RS. With 400hp sent through the Quattro all-wheel drive system, this is no slouch.

What models and trims are available?

British buyers love up-tempo Audis, meaning that for the Q3 Sportback the entry-level grade is Sport, with S Line – expected to be the most popular here – being one rung higher. There’s also Black Edition trim, with a flagship Vorsprung specification topping the line-up. The RS Q3 sits at the top for those performance fans.

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Even the Q3 Sportback Sport – doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue, does it? – comes complete with 18-inch alloy wheels, full LED exterior lighting, 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit electronic instruments, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, an electric tailgate and six driving modes.

Find out whether the Audi Q3 Sportback could fit your needs as an upmarket crossover for young families by reading the rest of our full review. Alternatively, consider looking at the Range Rover Evoque, BMW X2 or Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe (more expensive, but similar in concept).

>> Audi Q3 SUV full review

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