Life with an Audi Q3 | Taking stock of running costs

Hitting the 10-year milestone at this fine company got me thinking of the long-term test specimens that passed through our parking basement over the last decade.

The list is varied and lengthy, from playful sports cars like the Mazda MX-5; to a snarling Ford Mustang CS my colleague Thomas Falkiner got intimate with last year, plus popular steeds such as the Toyota Hilux and sensible compacts like Suzuki’s Baleno.

We even took custodianship of the Audi RS E-Tron GT for a season, with its lightning-fast acceleration that left prolonged neck spasms and smiles.

If you think about it, motoring journalists are long-distance drivers with slightly above-average vocabularies. We are quite literally always behind the wheel. Beyond the usual cycles of weekly vehicles that go through an automotive publication, extended testers make for interesting insights that one might not get during the usual short period. Ergonomic quirks, real-world fuel consumption, exposure to the aftersales experience and more – culminating in reports that prospective buyers would find useful. We try to be as comprehensive as possible.

One of the most thorough undertakings that comes to mind was a year-long stint with a 2019 Volkswagen Golf 7 1.4 TSI; during which we clocked up 30,000km, two services and one ruptured alloy wheel – which wasn’t the car’s fault. The duration a car is placed with the publication depends on the carmaker’s prerogative.

Audi proffered its Q3 Black Edition for a three-month evaluation. Arriving in my parking bay at the start of June, the premium German compact SUV is set to return to its rightful owners early in September. We’ve remarked positively on its solid build and sturdiness when dirt roads are on the agenda, testing its 183mm ground clearance in the last update. Feelings about the fuel economy are mixed: good on the open road, thirsty around town. This month we decided to take a closer look at some of the numbers a potential shopper might crunch before signing on the dotted line. First up, of course, is the big one: sticker price.

The standard, listed price of the Q3 35 TFSI Black Edition is R868,050. Thankfully, there is not much to specify in terms of options because it is just about fully loaded – with amenities such as a panoramic roof, heated seats and an electrically-opening tailgate all included. You could of course go for one of the less expensive, lower-grade Q3 versions if such niceties do not appeal to you.

Financing the amount of R868,050 over 54 months, with a 10% deposit at the current prime interest rate of 11.75% gives you a monthly instalment of R20,774. Certainly not an insignificant sum of money. It certainly helps to see what the market has to offer before you buy, however. On a popular listings website we found a 2024 Q3 35 TFSI Black Edition like our car – but in red, with 3,694km on the odometer, for sale at an Audi dealership for R749,000.

Another example from an Audi dealership was a 2024 car in blue, marketed as a new unit with no mileage, for R801,437. We called them up and asked the salesperson about the substantial discount – he confirmed that a surplus of units in circulation prompted the special offer. There were a number of other discounted new Black Edition examples to be seen. On the upkeep front, the Q3 benefits from a five-year/100,000km maintenance plan. Earlier this year Audi announced that its maintenance plan offering could be extended by up to 15 years and 300,000km.

We got a quote from an Audi dealership for this maximum extension to the year 2039 and 300,000km: R253,000 is the cost. Part of the Black Edition styling repertoire includes a set of 19-inch wheels, shod with 235/50/19 tyres. Our car was fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 SUV tyres from the factory. We received a quotation of R3,440 per unit of the tyre. There are less - and more expensive brands of tyres to consider.

Insurance is obviously going to differ among individuals. I sought quotations based on my situation: 31 years of age, having had a driver’s licence since 2011, an insurance history over seven years and no claims in the past three years. The vehicle is parked overnight in an access-controlled complex, in my area, west of Johannesburg. The cheapest quote was R1,798 (King Price; R6,500 excess) and the most expensive was R3,324 (Nedbank Insurance; R5,000 excess).

Recent reductions in the price of fuel have offered some respite to motorists. At the current inland price per litre for 95 unleaded (R23.11); it costs approximately R1,340 to fill the 58l tank.