Luxury compact SUV shopping is quite intense!
Many are comparing the Audi Q5 versus BMX X3 and I’ll share why!
Buckle up and press that round start engine button, the ride is about to be smooth, ‘Planted’ and aggressive!
And don’t forget that your salesperson will be just as aggressive so read and read more before you shop!
Whether you are downsizing from a large SUV or upgrading from a more basic brand there are a lot of luxury compact SUV options out there vying for your dollar.
DO you really know which Luxury compact SUV 4 Cylinder you want?
Luxury Compact SUV
My personal compact SUV shopping story.
Last year I bid adieu to my Suburban.
The vehicle was just too large for my changing life.
While I still needed a well-appointed cargo area and craved a 3.0 L 6 Cylinder engine, I no longer needed that huge vehicle.
Well, I shopped and narrowed my options down to a luxury compact SUV.
Unable to find one around here, I actually purchased it from a dealership in Virginia.
There’s a lot of Good and Bad with that.
Fast forward 4800 miles later, and 5 snowstorms later, I got rid of that XT5, because it is not SNOW-friendly and I am!
Like you, I went back out and started shopping for a new luxury compact SUV.
My Comparative Luxury Compact SUV 4 Cylinder Shopping
Honestly, other than writing about the basics that I gathered, I can keep this simple and sweet.
I’m not here to sell cars for either brand (BMW or AUDI, but this is what I’ve learned!
Honestly, I was kind of blind going into this, but the blinders are OFF and I shopped until I dropped.
We shopped between a 2021 BMW SAV x3 xdr3Oi & and Audi Q5 (premium).
FYI: Both vehicles offered 2.oL 4 Cylinder Turbo-Charged engines, but neither is what we purchased, after drive time and issue with both brands.
Bottom Line Before I Start Sharing Comparative Luxury Compact SUV Shopping
My XT5 was a luxury premium, so I had ‘stuff’ in it, from heated steering wheels and seats to cargo nets, covers, auto rain-sensing, auto high beams, etc.
Plus it was a 3.o L 6 Cylinder AWD so there’s no going backward on ‘stuff’ just so you get where my perspective on this article is coming from.
What I can tell you, is to decide firmly on a wish list and a budget.
Then, shop, and see what you can do between the brands.
Always remember, if a dealer’s got a car on the lot they are far more apt to negotiate than if they have to ‘transfer’ a vehicle in.
So stick to your list, and see what you can GAIN from onsight inventory and try to benefit from buying what they’ve got IF it matches your list!
BMW X3
If you love driving and do lots of it, at higher speeds, and that is your basic need (highways daily) you buy a BMX X3.
Alluring sophistication behind the wheel with race-car-like qualities you simply can’t go wrong, but it’s not very awe-inspiring with Stuff and I’m a ‘stuff’ girl!
Because unless you upgrade throughout the tiers and ‘increase your spend’ you are not getting ‘stuff’. Instead, the car is more for driving without ‘extras’ and that’s not me.
Its twin-turbo 4 Cylinder engine is amazing and more impressive than the Mercedes I test drove.
Curves and speeds don’t change the aggressiveness of the car, and your ride won’t be compensated.
The term how you feel inside the BMW X3, “Planted!” after driving at more than one dealership.
My Personal Dislikes About The BMW X3
Your thoughts may differ but these are what raised my eyebrows and when compared to an Audi Q5 they just don’t stack up!
- A phone charging mat is not included at the basic tier (convenience package) level. Rather, you’ve got to kick up in packages to higher amounts that you might want to pay for the phone charger.
Luxury Compact SUV BMW X3 Missin Phone Charger
Our world is tech-driven and you kind of can’t do without it. So plan on a nasty little expensive upgrade!
- If the vehicle doesn’t have the charging pad in it, the sales concierge will offer you a magnetic stick to place in the cupholder. Well, then you are down a cupholder and that is ridiculous.
- Automatic High Beams are not included with auto lights, that’s another upgrade. When you upgrade to that package the high beams then roll with the vehicle to the left or the right to highlight the driving area.
- You’ll not have a spare tire because you have run-flats on your car and these are a pretty price to replace (had a BMW before and already know!) As a gauge let’s just say that run-flats are about 50% more on average than the typical non-run-flat tire.
- Leatherette seats (sensor tec) do not thrill me after having Leather seats but again, an additional $1700 upgrade!
The Tier Options of A BMX X3
Your choices in the tiers are:
- Convenience
- Premium
- Executive
BMW Tier Options & What They Mean To Your Wallet
Look at my photo to see the pricing!
Convenience is Basic and really didn’t do it for me: you’ll get keyless entry, adaptive LED headlights, and a panoramic moonroof. My question is where’s the ‘stuff?’
Premium starts to offer more goodies: like heated front seats and steering, and finally Apple CarPlay which is kind of ridiculous when in basic everyday cars it just comes standard. Then of course you also get the sought-after heads-up display.
The Executive Package offers parking assistance (which both parallel parks and backs up & it’s cool but maybe not really practical for most. Additionally, a rearview camera, as well as the 3D surround view (which I love)!
BMW Shopping Experience
I disliked the BMW shopping experience at the local dealers.
One was very aggressive and pushy yet never really gave options, rather, pushed me to the brink of really disliking the brand and his sales manager is ignorant.
The other dealer I visited was very helpful while in person, yet follow-up stunk.
I actually had decided to move into an X5 instead of an X3 and couldn’t get a firm price or arrival ETA, so that was that.
Needless to say, ‘kid-glove attention’ should apply at all times in a luxury car purchase and NONE of that happened, so sorry, no BMW here!
Funny, I ended up spending the same amount of money on a totally different vehicle so, in the end, I was open to all options, a lot of it had to do with the sales experience!
Audi Q5 2.0T Quattro Premium AWD
Honestly, this car is a perfect match to the BMW, except it’s loaded with far more
The premium plus package offered up leather seats, heated fronts as well as Driver 1 and 2 (yes!).
Additionally a 3-zone climate control as well as a HomeLink garage door opener and a panoramic roof.
Further, there are LED daytime running lights, heated windshield nozzles, and a power tailgate (open and close!)
So what is missing in the Audi Q5 That I was seeking?
Size. End of story.
Plus the fact that I would have to get into the premium plus to get a phone charger.
The Audi Q5
Audi Q5 is the perfect creation of a turbocharged 4 Cylinder that drives smooth, offers rich features in its packaging without compromising ‘goodies’ at its retail price.
My issue was losing space from the already smaller XT5 Cadillac I was in.
The dimensions didn’t add up big enough for me and this quickly got checked off my list.
However, there’s more to my Audi Story and while I didn’t purchase the Audi Q5 there’s a lot going for this vehicle.
Why You Would Buy The Audi Q5
The retail price is incredible and there are some hot incentives including using your COSTCO membership to get $2k off!
Single, and in need of reliable transportation that cuts through the snow like a beast, this is your baby!
Whatever your needs are the cargo space will be ample and even if you have a few friends ride along occasionally, for the shorter distance you can do it with slight crampy backseats!
The MPG whop ass on this and it’s a very comfortable and intuitive smooth ride from curves to hills!
Smart, sophisticated, and simple-to-understand packages with fair pricing for this luxury compact SUV will win many over.
Why Wouldn’t I buy An Audi Q5?
Short. Simple. Sweet.
One trip to a Costco, Sam’s, or BJ’s for a family will not be great.
The cargo space is crammed and even putting the seats down.
Hockey bags, LAX equipment, added to backpacks and blankets, get crammed in there fast.
Teens that don’t drive yet and ride with you will be very cramped than the less than spacious backseats.
Add in any possible cargo and you might as well start over with your purchase as there is just not enough room.
I can’t imagine a few younger teens, and a baby seat in the back, it would be way beyond tight.
Comparative Luxury Compact SUV 4 Cylinder Shopping Overall
In the end, this is all about preference, wishlists, and cash flow.
Your preference won’t be understood until your drive each.
Size is purely subjection and in my case the driving factor of a big NO to each.
Wishlists can be updated, changed, and reformulated, but they always have to meet cash flow.
After driving each, and looking at the tiers (packages of what is included) there is no doubt in my mind I’d choose Audi over BMW always.
But, to each their own, you’ll understand best when you are behind the wheel and the car sales persons’ desk, and then you can decide. ~ DANA XO
