The 2025 Audi Q3 Quattro is a textbook example of what makes a premium compact SUV attractive to buyers—taut, elegant styling; a cabin that feels upscale without being overly extravagant; and performance to satisfy drivers who want more than just to get from point A to point B. It’s large enough for a small family, versatile enough to fill up with recreational gear, and small and steady enough to handle daily chores or commuting in an urban setting.
- Base Trim Engine
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2.0-liter trubo I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
-
8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
228 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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251 lb-ft
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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22/29/25 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
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Audi
- Model
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Q3
What many buyers may not realize is that the Q3’s sweet spot in price, aesthetics, size, and performance is not unique, and there are several worthy alternatives available with a variety of powertrains (ICE, hybrid, and EV) that compete in the same luxury compact space. What follows are just 10 examples, whether you prefer the tradition of an untethered gasoline engine, the efficiency of a hybrid, or the instantaneous, silent torque of an EV.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds, the EPA, and Car and Driver. The models below are presented in descending order based on their starting MSRP.
2025 Volvo XC40 B5
Starting Price: $43,895
- Base Trim Engine
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2L Drive-E I4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
247 HP @5500 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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258 lb.-ft. @ 1800 RPM
- Fuel Economy
-
24/30 MPG
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
24/30/26 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Volvo
The Volvo XC40 has a striking blend of affordability, design, performance, size, space, and versatility that makes it a serious consideration over the Audi Q3Quattro. Priced a little higher than the Audi, the Volvo offers a premium feel, with its Scandinavian minimalist exterior and an interior that emphasizes comfort and utility. Performance is credible, with a mild-hybrid 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and AWD in B5 trim. Acceleration is respectable, as is long-distance cruising.
The Volvo XC40 model has been in production since 2017, evolving through successive updates and model designations (C40, EX40, and EC40, depending on bodystyle and powertrain). Over time, Volvo has shifted its powertrain offerings from straightforward ICEs into mild-hybrids and full electrics, increasing safety, tech, and trim richness as it went (as Volvo is prone to do). The current line-up includes the mildly-hybridized B4 FWD and B5 AWD variants, as well as the underrated fully electric EX40.
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2026 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic
Starting Price: $43,500
- Base Trim Engine
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2L I4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed auto-shift manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
221 HP @5500 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
258 lb.-ft. @ 1800 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
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26/34/29 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
-
Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Mercedes-Benz
- Model
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GLA-Class SUV
Like with large American pickups, if you’re a fan of one of the German luxury marques, you’re not apt to even consider the others. But the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic makes a strong case as an alternative to the Audi Q3 Quattro by combining attractive pricing, solid design, competent performance, and practical space in a compact luxury crossover shell. Visually striking, it delivers the kind of comfortable premium cabin appointments for which Mercedes-Benz is known.
Engineered from the entry-level A-Class, the affordable GLA has been Mercedes’s compact luxury SUV since 2013, progressively evolving in build quality, tech, powertrains, and driving dynamics. For 2026, the lineup features the GLA 250 in both FWD and 4Matic (Mercedes-speak for AWD/4WD), plus higher-performance AMG variants. Powertrains center around the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a mild-hybrid system and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.
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2025 Infiniti QX50
Starting Price: $43,000
- Base Trim Engine
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VC-Turbo 2L ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
268 HP @5600 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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280 lb.-ft. @ 1600 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
22/28/25 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
-
Infiniti
- Model
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QX50
On its retirement tour, the 2025 Infiniti QX50 delivers a mix of style, performance, space, and versatility at a price competitive with the Audi Q3. It delivers more horsepower and torque than many rivals in its class thanks to a variable compression turbo 2.0-liter “four.” The exterior design is bolder than the Audi’s, with shar,p muscular sculpting, and Infiniti’s signature styling cues that stand out without being ostentatious. Inside, passengers find generous legroom and a cargo area that rivals many competitors.
The Infiniti QX50 has been part of the brand’s lineup since 2013, evolving from its original launch in 2007 as the Infiniti EX. For 2025, the model is offered in a formulaic set of trims that includes Pure (base), Luxe, and Sport, all with a continuously variable transmission sending power to all four wheels. Multiple drive modes and paddle shifters create the illusion of a multi-speed gearbox, while modern safety systems and a well-appointed interior promote comfortable competence.
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2026 BMW X1 xDrive28i
Starting Price: $42,800
- Base Trim Engine
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2L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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7-speed auto-shift manual
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
241 HP @4500 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
295 lb.-ft. @ 1500 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
24/33/28 MPG
- Make
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BMW
- Model
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X1
- Segment
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Subcompact Luxury SUV
Like the Mercedes-Benz GLA you read about earlier, the 2026 BMW X1 xDrive28i likely won’t even get a first look from Audi aficionados, but it’s nonetheless a worthy consideration to the Q3, offering many of the same premium touches in performance, size, and versatility for a similar cash outlay. As with all BMWs, the X1’s exterior styling leans into clean lines and smooth panels, striking a balance between sporty and sophisticated. Under the hood, it delivers lively acceleration and AWD.
The reasonably-priced BMW X1 dates back to 2009, when it was developed from the RWD E90 3 Series. It made the switch to FWD in 2016, as the BMW lineup welcomed other compact SUVs, but continued to offer impressive materials, technology, driving dynamics, and refinement. The 2026 lineup is exclusively AWD, starting with the xDrive28i, and finishing with the M35i, with the latter showing more-aggressive sporty add-ons, and upgraded features and driver assistance aids.
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2025 Lincoln Corsair AWD
Starting Price: $42,035
- Base Trim Engine
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2L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
250 HP @5500 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
280 lb.-ft. @ 3000 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
22/30/25 MPG
- Make
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Lincoln
- Model
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Corsair
- Segment
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Compact Luxury SUV
The beloved Lincoln Corsair offers a traditional elegance-over-flash luxury package similar to the 2025 Audi Q3 Quattro. Its base price undercuts many luxury rivals while it delivers a comprehensive suite of features, a plush interior, and competitive performance from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, whose array and displacement seem to be ubiquitous in this segment. An eight-speed automatic and AWD are standard for the city-maneuverable and highway-friendly compact SUV.
The Lincoln Corsair is relatively new to the compact luxury segment, first joining Lincoln’s lineup in 2020, as the brand steered away from sedans. For 2025, Lincoln offers the traditional ICE Premiere and Reserve trims, and the Grand Touring plug-in hybrid. Interior themes, luxury touches, and driver assistance features vary by trim, allowing buyers to tailor their Corsairs for comfort, tech, and efficiency.
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2025 Lexus UX 300h AWD
Starting Price: $39,605
- Base Trim Engine
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2.0L Inline-4 Hybrid
- Base Trim Transmission
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Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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196 hp
- Base Trim Torque
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139 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
- Fuel Economy
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44/41 MPG
- Make
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Lexus
- Model
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UX
- Segment
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Subcompact Luxury SUV
The affordable 2025 Lexus UX 300h AWD digs deep into the prestige, efficiency, and reliability of the Lexus brand, making it a worthy consideration over the more expensive and less revered Audi Q3 Quattro. Its hybrid efficiency lowers day-to-day running costs without giving up the premium touches expected by first-time luxury buyers. The design is sharp and modern (considerably more so than the traditional elegance of the Audi), but its performance is considerably more modest than that of the Q3.
The Lexus UX line is in its first generation, though it has undergone a big transformation since it was introduced in 2019, including a switch to a hybrid-only model in 2023. It was the first Lexus (and, as it turned out, the only one) with the Lexus Complete Lease, which bundled insurance, routine maintenance, and subscription services (such as Sirius/XM and Nav assist) into a single monthly payment. The 2025 Lexus UX 300h starts in FWD, with AWD available for all trim levels.
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2026 GMC Terrain AT4
Starting Price: $39,300
- Base Trim Engine
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1.5L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
175 HP @5800 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
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203 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM
- Base Trim Battery Type
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Lead acid battery
- Make
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GMC
- Model
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Terrain
- Segment
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Compact SUV
The 2025 Audi Q3 is very competent off-road, but for a similar price, buyers can choose a 2026 GMC Terrain AT4 with gear that’s ready to handle more rugged adventures. Its visually rugged design leans more toward an off-road SUV than an on-road luxury crossover, with chunkier panels and underbody cladding, higher ride height, off-road tuned suspension, and knobby all-terrain tires. It also does more with its smaller turbo engine, especially for towing.
The GMC Terrain joined GM’s extensive SUV lineup in 2009, as a corporate replacement for the Pontiac Torrent that was a victim of the GM restructuring following the Great Recession. For 2026, the lineup consists of the entry-level Elevation, the off-road capable AT4, and premium luxury Denali, each using a 1.5-liter turbo “four,” though AWD models swap out the CVT for an eight-speed automatic. The AT4 is also mid-pack in terms of creature comforts.
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2025 Buick Envision
Starting Price: $38,000
- Base Trim Engine
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2L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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9-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
228 HP @5000 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
-
258 lb.-ft. @ 1500 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
22/28/24 MPG
- Make
-
Buick
- Model
-
Envision
- Segment
-
Compact Luxury SUV
Buick was one of the early movers in the compact luxury crossover movement, and the 2025 Buick Envision AWD is worthy of consideration in the segment that also includes the 2025 Audi Q3 quattro. Its pricing is competitive and the Envision offers up a lot of space and versatility, and feature content for the money. Design-wise, the Envision leans into soft luxury with a modern look, clean exterior lines, and a quiet, well-insulated cabin.
The Buick Envision was introduced in China in 2014, and made the trip across the Pacific in 2016, evolving through the decade since with better materials, more tech, and more refined drivetrains. The oft-overlooked 2025 Buick Envision comes in Preferred (base), Sport Touring, and top-of-the-line Avenir trim levels, all with the same turbo 2.0-liter four cylinder engine, nine-speed automatic, and all-wheel drivetrain.
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2025 Acura ADX AWD
Starting Price: $37,000
- Base Trim Engine
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1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
- Base Trim Transmission
-
CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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190 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
175 lb-ft
- Make
-
Acura
- Model
-
ADX
- Segment
-
Subcompact Luxury SUV
The Acura ADX is a new addition to the Acura lineup for 2025, offered with a starting price that is much lower than many luxury-compact SUVs, yet also fitted with a lot of content for the money. Bearing a strong resemblance to its stablemates, the ADX’s styling is athletic and modern without being overblown, and its interior is premium grade, with upscale interior materials. Its turbocharged 1.5-liter engine is not geared for blistering speed, though it delivers reasonable performance for everyday around-town and highway driving. Its compact dimensions make easy work of parking and tight-steering maneuvers, without compromising cabin room and cargo space.
The Acura ADX fills a gap beneath the established RDX, targeting entry-level luxury buyers wanting to explore premium vehicles that aren’t too large or cost too much. Trim levels include base and two A-Spec levels, each starting in FWD and available with AWD. The powertrain is constant throughout the line, as is a continuously variable transmission that aids fuel economy but not performance. Interior technology is up to luxury-buyer expectations.
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2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale
Starting Price: $36,535
- Base Trim Engine
-
2L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
-
9-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
268 HP
- Base Trim Torque
-
295 lb.-ft.
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
-
21/29/24 MPG
- Make
-
Alfa Romeo
- Model
-
Tonale
- Segment
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Subcompact Luxury SUV
For those in the know, an Alfa Romeo is often comparable and sometimes superior to an Audi, and the entry-level compact luxury 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale is strongly positioned against the 2025 Audi Q3 Quattro. The differences lie in the Tonale’s blend of Italian flair, racing-roots performance, and sport-wagon versatility, compared to the sober exterior, rock-solid routine, and SUV sensibility of the Q3. Despite its hunkered-down street cred, it’s spacious for passengers and versatile for cargo.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale is relatively new to the compact luxury SUV space, introduced in 2023 to fill out the bottom of the Italian brand’s crossover lineup. It also spun off a Dodge Hornet version, and the two are available as affordable plug-in hybrids that deserve a lot more attention. The gas-only version uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder linked to a nine-speed automatic, while the PHEV drops in a 1.3-liter, inline-four and gears down the transmission to a six-speed auto.
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