The subcompact SUV market is a very competitive market these days, and it’s even more competitive in terms of luxury subcompact SUVs. Audi makes the Q3, while Jaguar makes the E-Pace. And, in this close race between the two European luxury automakers, the 2020 Audi Q3 is just a bit better than the Jaguar E-Pace is.

The pros and cons of the 2020 Jaguar E-Pace

As MotorTrend wrote in its list of the best luxury subcompact SUVs, the E-Pace was the fifth-best SUV in the segment. At a starting price tag of about $40,000, the E-Pace has a few great features. It comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that gets 246 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. Jaguar also offers a more powerful version of that engine, and that gets about 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. 

This engine is one of the best things about the E-Pace, according to MotorTrend, as it allows it to perform really well on the road. That said, along with “elegant styling,” MotorTrend said that the E-Pace has many flaws too. 

Due to its old chassis design, MotorTrend said that the E-Pace has a “harsh ride.” And, although the E-Pace looks good, Jaguar used “cheap-looking plastic” in a couple of places. On top of that, the E-Pace’s infotainment system was glitchy, which is simply inconvenient. 

The pros and cons of the 2020 Audi Q3

MotorTrend said that the Q3 is the fourth-best SUV in the segment, and, at a starting price of about $35,000, the Q3 is significantly less expensive than the E-Pace is. At the same time, the Q3 has many advantages too. For example, the Audi Q3’s interior is full of high-tech stuff, including a digital gauge cluster display that MotorTrend called “eye-catching.” 

On top of that, the Q3’s interior is very spacious, and this is also true for its cargo capacity. The Q3 has about 24 cu. ft. of cargo space without folding its seats and 48 cu. ft. of cargo room if you fold its second-row seats. In comparison, the E-Pace gets 20 cu. ft. of cargo space without folding its seats and 44 cu. ft. of cargo space if you do fold its second-row seats. 

That said, the high-tech and roomy interior of the Q3 has some issues too. For example, MotorTrend also complained that the Q3 has “too much plastic” inside it. On top of that, the Q3’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder only gets 228-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and this is less powerful than what the E-Pace offers. Plus, the Q3 also had an uncomfortable ride, according to MotorTrend. 

Why the 2020 Audi Q3 is better than the 2020 Jaguar E-Pace

Ultimately, MotorTrend gave the win to the Audi Q3 thanks to its significantly better interior. Sure, the Q3 and the E-Pace have similar flaws in that both SUVs have uncomfortable rides and both SUVs have a lot of plastics in their interiors. However, as MotorTrend wrote, the Q3 has more interior room than the E-Pace has, and, at the same time, it also has a more functional and convenient tech system than the E-Pace has. 

Furthermore, the one area where the E-Pace beats the Q3 in – performance – isn’t necessarily that big of a deal for most subcompact SUV customers. Plus, in order to get access to that superior performance, customers would have to pay a nearly $5,000 premium since the E-Pace is significantly more expensive than the Q3 is. 

While customers in this segment can likely afford that, it still doesn’t win the Jaguar E-Pace any favors. Compared to the Audi Q3, it’s simply worse in most things that matter.