Nobody knows when the crossover coupe craze will end, but if you fancy such vehicles, then you do know that Audi has a new one out. It’s called the Q3 Sportback and is based on the regular Q3.

Up to the B pillar, you could confuse it with the second-gen Q3, but further back, it features a low roofline that makes it look more stylish. Of course, lowering the roof towards the rear has had a negative impact on headroom and cargo space, although you can still fit a decent amount of luggage for a car in this class.

Also Read: Audi Q3 Sportback Or BMW X2? We Compare Them, You Tell Us Which One You’d Go For

However, you should avoid sitting tall passengers on the rear seat if you still want to be friends with them after the journey, especially with the optional sunroof fitted, which further cuts into the headroom. Kids will appreciate the rear passenger compartment better, though, and installing a child seat is very easy. Elsewhere, the cabin feels nicely made, especially with the new digital screens, leather appointments and ambient lighting.

Even in 35 TFSI spec, which uses a 1.5-liter petrol four with 150 PS (147 HP / 110 kW) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque, the Q3 Sportback feels very lively and refined. It provides a clear acceleration across the rev range and returns an average of 7.7 l/100 km (30.5 mpg US / 36.7 mpg UK) indicated by the trip computer in FWD guise.

These are some of the things pointed out by CarSales, who answered Audi’s invitation to test drive the compact coupe SUV in Germany’s Black Forest Mountains – the rest can be viewed in the review that follows.