The compact luxury SUV market is booming, with more and more drivers seeking the perfect blend of premium features and city-friendly practicality. The 2025 Lexus UX and the 2024 Audi Q3 are standout contenders in this segment. Both offer different strengths and cater to different types of buyers. If you’re in the market for a small luxury SUV, this 2025 Lexus UX vs. Audi Q3 comparison will help you decide between these popular models.
Exterior Design and Aesthetics
The 2025 Lexus UX boasts a distinctive and dynamic exterior design characterized by its signature spindle grille and sharply sculpted body panels. The flared front and rear fenders add a sense of athleticism, while the angular lines and bold contours give it a modern, aggressive look. The UX also offers various aesthetic enhancements, including color-keyed overfenders,18-inch wheels on the F SPORT models, and a black contrast roof option. These elements create a vehicle that, with its air of luxury and sportiness, turns heads in urban environments.
In contrast, the 2024 Audi Q3 features a sleek and stylish exterior emphasizing elegance and sophistication. A large, hexagonal grille flanked by swept-back headlights dominates the front, lending it a commanding presence. A sloping roofline and pronounced wheel arches mark the side profile, contributing to its streamlined and aerodynamic appearance. The Q3’s design is more understated than the UX, focusing on a refined and polished look that’s appealing if you prefer a more classic aesthetic.
Interior Design and Features
The 2025 Lexus UX has a luxurious and sophisticated interior designed with premium materials such as leather upholstery and wood trim. The cabin is ergonomically designed with a driver-centric layout to ensure comfort and ease of use. Key features include heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and noise-reducing insulation.
The UX also has a versatile cargo space with 17.1 cubic feet available with all seats up and a power liftgate with hands-free operation for added convenience. The advanced infotainment system includes an 8-inch touch-screen display on lower trims and a 12.3-inch display on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and a suite of driver-assistance technologies are standard across the UX lineup.
The 2024 Audi Q3 blends comfort, sophistication, and innovative technology within its stylish interior. The Q3 features standard heated front seats, three-zone automatic climate control, and leather seating surfaces, giving the cabin a premium feel. Audi has designed the interior with high-quality materials and a clutter-free layout, although some critics note the use of hard plastics in certain areas.
The Q3 also offers flexible cargo space with 23.7 cubic feet behind the second row; it includes a hands-free power tailgate for easy access. The infotainment system has a pair of large displays, offering intuitive controls and connectivity options.
Performance and Efficiency
Lexus has powered the 2025 UX with a hybrid powertrain that combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 196 horsepower. This setup prioritizes fuel efficiency, achieving up to 43 mpg combined for front-wheel-drive models and 42 mpg combined for all-wheel-drive variants. While the UX offers a smooth and quiet ride, its performance focuses more on efficiency than speed, making it ideal for urban commuting. However, while the continuously variable transmission contributes to its fuel economy, it can also mean a less engaging driving experience.
The 2024 Audi Q3 offers a range of turbocharged engines, including a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with different power outputs. The base model produces 184 horsepower, while higher trims can deliver up to 228. The Q3’s performance is more dynamic than the UX’s, with a 0-to-60 mph time of around 7 seconds for the more powerful variants. However, this comes at the cost of fuel efficiency, with the Q3 achieving around 25 mpg combined. The Q3’s eight-speed automatic transmission and available quattro all-wheel drive enhance its driving synergy, providing a more engaging and responsive experience than the UX.
Safety and Reliability
The 2025 Lexus UX and the 2024 Audi Q3 both offer robust safety features, but they cater to different aspects of driver and passenger protection. The 2025 Lexus UX comes equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, which includes advanced features such as a precollision system with pedestrian detection, lane-tracing assist, road sign assist, and dynamic radar cruise control.
The UX has received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with high marks in side crash tests. This compact SUV also includes standard safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a comprehensive airbag system.
On the other hand, Audi has equipped the 2024 Q3 with Audi’s pre sense basic and pre sense front systems, which provide forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and a top-view camera system for enhanced situational awareness. The 2024 Audi Q3 has also earned commendable safety ratings, including a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.
Warranty
The difference in warranty coverage further illustrates the distinctions between the two brands. The Lexus UX comes with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty, and an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for hybrid components. In contrast, the Audi Q3 offers a similar basic warranty but only has a four-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty. This makes the Lexus UX more appealing if you’re looking for long-term coverage, especially for hybrid options.
Cost of Ownership
The cost of ownership for the 2025 Lexus UX and the 2024 Audi Q3 differs significantly. The Lexus UX, especially with its hybrid powertrain, has excellent fuel economy and reliability, resulting in an estimated five-year ownership cost of around $45,000. In contrast, the Audi Q3, though powerful and luxurious, incurs higher maintenance and repair costs, leading to an estimated five-year cost of about $57,741.
Experience the 2025 Lexus UX at Lexus Stevens Creek
The 2025 Lexus UX and the 2024 Audi Q3 offer different advantages. The choice depends on whether you’re drawn to the UX’s efficiency and advanced safety features or the Q3’s dynamic performance and sophisticated design. If you can’t decide which is for you, use our comparison tool. You can also access online comparison ratings, such as Car and Driver car comparisons.
Ready to experience the incredible Lexus UX for yourself? Contact us today or visit Lexus Stevens Creek to explore our extensive lineup and discover the perfect SUV for your San Jose lifestyle. Your dream ride awaits.
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