AUDI is now a serious player in the premium SUV market where it has all bases covered.
The gigantic Q7 was the first to engage the competiton and then came the mid-sized Q5.
The latest arrival and smallest sibling is the Q3 which was launched in the UK last October.
The Q3 is direct competiton for BMW's X1 and Range Rover's new Evoque and will also compete against top versions of numerous other products.
I have just been driving the Q3 2.0 TDI quattro version in SE trim and fitted with the S tronic gearbox.
Priced at £27,650 it sits in the middle of the Q3 price range which runs from £24,560 up to £31,360.
As usual when you dip into the Audi options list the price leaps dramatically and this car finished up at £33,900.
This means that some models fitted with all the toys can cost in excess of £40,000.
The Q3 offers typical Audi styling and manages to look sleek and sturdy at the same time.
It makes an ideal alternative to a family wagon and will appeal to the badge-conscious set.
Two petrol and two diesel engines are available and the 177ps unit fitted to the car is a sound choice for its mixture of performance and economy.
It combined well with the seven-speed S tronic electronic gearbox which can also be used manually via steering wheel mounted paddles or by the shifter.
A stop/start system is standard kit in all models and I achieved an average of 45mpg during the test.
The sprint to 60mph takes 7.8 seconds and top speed is 132mph.
The S tronic box also has a trick up its sleeve. If you spend an additional £220 on the Audi Drive Select system and select efficiency mode, the throttle and gearbox settings will be adjusted to optimise economy.
It also features a new ‘coast' facility which disengages drive as you lift off the throttle to save fuel.
The Q3's exterior styling may be fairly conservative but as usual with Audi the cabin shines.
It is not innovative in any way but it is beautifully crafted and has a genuine high quality feel with everything being in just the right place.
You also get decent standard kit including dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth and iPod connection.
There is plenty room for four adults to travel in comfort - five at a push - and the 460 litre boot provides ample luggage space. Fold the rear seats and the space available goes up to 1,365 litres.
From behind the wheel the Q3 offers a nice balance of ride comfort and agility and the four-wheel-drive quattro hardware means the grip is excellent and it can also tackle mild off-roading.
The Q3 is not cheap but running costs should be kept down thanks to low emissions, good fuel economy and high residual values.
A fine addition to Audi's SUV family, the Q3 will will take its fair share of sales and be a status symbol on school runs.