Americans have never been big fans of hatchback cars. Maybe it’s because hatchbacks first hit the market here as low-rent economy cars, lending them an indelible reputation that makes them virtually sales-proof in the status-conscious United States.

So it’s mystifying that automakers can take a car platform, hike the ride height, add an all-wheel drive system, clothe it in a hatchback body, give it an outdoorsy name, tag it with a high price and buyers will clamor for it — something they would never do for a traditional hatchback.

That thought came to mind after I drove the 2016 Audi Q3, a perfectly satisfying bauble that plays the part of entry-level trucklet, until you start to use it.

It’s very easy to be lured by the Q3’s handsome appearance. Anchored up front by Audi’s trademark grille, this crossover’s sheet metal has the flowing, taut, sophisticated appearance typical of modern Audis. But the vehicle’s stubby, 172.8-inch length and 62.6-inch height give a short-but-tall silhouette that’s relieved only by some clever tapering of the cabin’s shape.

The engineering underneath is the same as that of the Volkswagen Tiguan, so while you’ll find front seat space satisfying, you’ll find rear seat legroom disappointingly tight. Cargo space, the raison d’etre of crossovers, isn’t that great, measuring a mere 16.7 cubic feet, 6 cubic feet less than the shorter Volkswagen Golf. What’s worse, liftover — the distance an object must be lifted to be loaded into a vehicle — is high, and the cargo area has an odd triangular shape.

Of course, all of this would be worth it if the Audi was a superior performer, but it isn’t. All Q3s come with Volkswagen’s widely used turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and funneled through the front wheels or all four. The driveline is rated at 200 horsepower, which isn’t enough to motivate this 3,600-plus pounder with overwhelming gusto. Reaching 60 mph takes 7.8 seconds with front-wheel drive, 8.2 seconds with all-wheel drive. That’s pretty pokey for a premium vehicle.

But at least the driveline is smooth and is the perfect accompaniment to the well-sorted handling, which is compliant and comfortable and surprisingly athletic when pushed to perform. The chassis does a good job of transmitting what’s going on without the ride becoming punishing, which makes up for the numb power steering.

At least the cabin is quiet, not to mention nicely trimmed in leather and high quality finishes. It makes a great first, or fifth, impression.

The test vehicle supplied by Audi included its MMI infotainment system, which included a navigation system. But unlike other Audi models, which have the MMI system’s controls on the center console, where they are easy to use, the Q3 has them on the instrument panel, where they’re hard to activate. What’s worse, their size is much smaller as well.

With plenty of competition in this space, there are similarly sized vehicles that offer more performance and space than the Q3 and wear badges every bit as prestigious.

But given the popularity of Audi models, many buyers will opt for the Q3 without realizing that the Volkswagen Golf has more space, weighs less, offers similar performance and costs much less. As long as you don’t need all-wheel drive or a prestigious badge, the Golf is a better buy and much more fun to drive.

But then again, Americans never did like hatchbacks.