There's a common debate between two of the top compact SUVs on the market, the Audi Q3 vs. the BMW X1. While each luxury model delivers a satisfying amount of everyday practicality and enjoyable performance, there are quite a few differences between them. Curious to learn whether the Audi Q3 or BMW X1 is better fitted to your lifestyle? You can do so by reading through the comparison developed by Audi Salt Lake City!
We thought a dive into each SUV would be helpful for those near Salt Lake City, Park City, and North Salt Lake.
Cabin Dimensions
When choosing a compact SUV, you expect to have a cabin that can accommodate your kids, your friends, or any type of cargo. Both the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1 have interior room to spare, but Audi gives you a little bit more space for everyday usability.
For instance, the front row legroom for each SUV reaches 40 inches, but the Audi Q3 provides 56.7 inches of front shoulder room compared to the 55.6 inches of shoulder room in the first row of the BMW X1.
Available Trim Levels
![]() | ![]() |
Luxury models, such as the Audi Q3 and the BMW X1, are built to make sure you're driving off the lot in a model that specifically fits your wants and needs. To improve customizability, both SUVs have unique trim levels. The Audi Q3 offers three trims, while the BMW X1 offers two.
Premium is the standard trim for the Audi Q3 and features a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with MMI® touch response plus an 8.8-inch center touchscreen display.
Â
From there, you can choose the Audi Q3 Premium Plus or the fully loaded Audi Q3 Prestige. Each trim has the elegance and ability that the Audi Q3 is known for yet introduces unique styling or helpful technology features.
The BMW X1 only has two trims to choose from, the X1 sDrive28i and the X1 xDrive28i. When looking at them side by side, these two BMW trims differ mainly in their drivetrain options. For variety in tech and appearance, the Audi offers more.
Keeping You Entertained
Sometimes you want to play music while wheeling down a winding road and sometimes you want to toss on a podcast to better combat slow-moving traffic. In terms of the sound systems, the Audi Q3 has a significant edge on the BMW X1.
If you move up to the Prestige trim level for the Audi Q3, you'll enjoy a Bang & Olufsen® 3D premium sound system with 15 speakers, a 16-channel amplifier, and 680 watts of power.
The most advanced sound system you can get for the BMW X1 is a meager 7-speaker HiFi set up with a 205-watt digital amplifier.
So, Audi Q3 or BMW X1?
In the end, it becomes clear why most prefer the Audi Q3 to the BMW X1. The Audi simply offers a more appealing package of everyday usability and entertainment.
To learn more, you can contact Audi Salt Lake City and arrange for a test run through Park City, Salt Lake City, and North Salt Lake!