Compare the2024 Audi Q3VS 2023 Fiat 500X

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Q3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The 500X doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q3 and 500X have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q3 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The 500X’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi Q3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The 500X doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Pre Sense Front in the Q3 as “Superior.” The 500X scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

The Q3 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 500X doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q3’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The 500X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Q3’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 500X and is only available on 500X Sport.

The Q3 Premium Plus has a standard Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 500X only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Q3 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 500X’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q3 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist and Automatic Brake Activation automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Fiat charges extra for Rear Cross Path Detection on the 500X, and only on the Sport and the 500X’s Rear Cross Path Detection does not include automatic braking.

Both the Q3 and the 500X have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The Audi Q3 weighs 597 to 608 pounds more than the Fiat 500X. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 127 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 500X was last qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Q3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the 500X’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The Audi Q3’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the 500X’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Q3 has a standard 680-amp battery. The 500X’s 500-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Q3’s reliability 28 points higher than the 500X.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Q3 first among small premium suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The 500X isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The Q3 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (184 vs. 177) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 210) than the 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q3 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 more horsepower (228 vs. 177) and 41 lbs.-ft. more torque (251 vs. 210) than the 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q3 has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the 500X (15.9 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Q3 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the 500X. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 500X:

	Q3	500X
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.95 inches
Opt Rear Rotors	12.2 inches

The Q3’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the 500X are solid, not vented.

The Q3 stops shorter than the 500X:

	Q3	500X
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	163 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	130 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	146 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q3 has larger standard tires than the 500X (235/55R18 vs. 215/60R17). The Q3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 500X (255/45R19 vs. 225/55R18).

The Q3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 500X AWD’s standard 60 series tires. The Q3’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the 500X Sport’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q3 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 500X AWD. The Q3’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the 500X Sport.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q3’s wheelbase is 4.3 inches longer than on the 500X (105.5 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Q3 is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the 500X.

The Q3 handles at .91 G’s, while the 500X pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The Q3 has .5 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500X.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Q3’s rear seats recline. The 500X’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Q3 is 1.9 inches lower than the 500X (17.5” vs. 19.4”). The Q3’s rear step up height is 1.6 inches lower than the 500X’s (18” vs. 19.6”).

Cargo Capacity

The Q3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the 500X with its rear seat up (23.7 vs. 14.1 cubic feet). The Q3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the 500X with its rear seat folded (48 vs. 39.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q3 easier. The Q3’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the 500X’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

The Q3’s cargo area is larger than the 500X’s in almost every dimension:

	Q3	500X
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	34”/65”	n/a
Max Width	54”	41.3”
Min Width	39”	37.8”
Height	28”	28.8”

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Q3. The 500X doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Q3 has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The 500X doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Servicing Ease

The Q3 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The 500X uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When different drivers share the Q3, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The 500X doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Q3’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The 500X’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Q3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the 500X can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q3 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 500X doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q3’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 500X’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

The Q3 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The 500X only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The Q3’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The 500X has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Q3 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Q3 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the 500X Sport.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Q3 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi Q3 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 500X doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q3 is less expensive to operate than the 500X because typical repairs cost much less on the Q3 than the 500X, including $7 less for fuel injection and $263 less for a fuel pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q3, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Fiat 500X isn't recommended.

The Audi Q3 outsold the Fiat 500X by almost 29 to one during 2022.

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