Audi Q3 Sportback vs Lexus ES

The Audi Q3 Sportback starts from $64,600 before on-road costs, while the Lexus ES opens at $65,540. That makes the Audi Q3 Sportback the more affordable entry point by $940.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $71,060 and $72,094 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The Audi Q3 Sportback features a 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Lexus ES gets a 12.3-inch display and 7-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Audi Q3 Sportback stands out with Bang & Olufsen audio that you will not find on the Lexus ES. The Lexus ES counters with wireless charging, panoramic roof and heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Audi Q3 Sportback gets leather upholstery while the Lexus ES offers synthetic leather.

The Audi Q3 Sportback uses a 4-cylinder inline petrol with turbocharging, MHEV technology and Cylinder on Demand (CoD) producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed s tronic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.1 seconds.

The Lexus ES responds with a Hybrid making 160kW and 221Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.9 seconds.

The Lexus ES has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 110kW. In the real-world sprint, the Lexus ES is 0.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Audi Q3 Sportback measures 4,531mm long on a 2,681mm wheelbase, 444mm shorter than the Lexus ES at 4,975mm (2,870mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus ES generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 488L in the Audi Q3 Sportback and 473L in the Lexus ES, giving the Audi Q3 Sportback a 15L advantage.

For towing, the Audi Q3 Sportback leads with a 1,200kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,625/year for the Audi Q3 Sportback and $1,511/year for the Lexus ES. That is a $114 annual difference in favour of the Lexus ES.

Estimated annual total: $1,625 (Audi Q3 Sportback) vs $1,511 (Lexus ES). The Lexus ES saves you roughly $114 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Audi Q3 Sportback) vs 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus ES). The Audi Q3 Sportback has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: —4yr (Lexus ES).