Audi’s product renewal is in full swing. After launching the next-generation A5 and Q5, as well as the electric A6 and Q6 E-Tron models in recent times, Ingolstadt is now sprucing up a smaller vehicle. The aging Q3 finally transitions to its third iteration, bringing substantial updates inside and out. The BMW X1 rival may be just another compact luxury crossover, but there are some surprises we weren’t expecting.
Starting on the outside, Audi is giving the new Q3 split headlights and taillights, even though its bigger brother has skipped this trendy design choice. Only the upper daytime running lights are immediately visible, as the main matrix LED headlights “hide” behind heavily tinted glass surrounded by glossy black trim. A single headlight contains a whopping 25,600 micro-LEDs, each roughly half the thickness of a human hair. That sounds expensive to replace.
Photo by: Audi
At the back, Audi has also separated the taillights with a lower LED light bar, combined with an upper OLED setup. Owners can modify the look of the rear lights by choosing from one of six available graphics, achieved by changing how the taillight’s 36 different segments are displayed. The rear lights resemble those of the new A6 and can flank an illuminated badge.
Audi has pledged to move away from fake exhausts, and we’re glad the new Q3 skips the faux tips. While the Q5 has a visible dual-exhaust setup, even on the base model, its smaller sibling adopts a cleaner rear bumper by hiding the exhaust tip underneath. Perhaps Audi is saving the more aggressive setup for the S and RS versions. Either way, this S Line model features a clear diffuser without any cutouts.
The profile might make you think we’ve mixed up the images and accidentally included press shots of the Q5 instead. The resemblance is uncanny, even though Audi claims the wheel arches have design traits derived from the original Quattro. The higher trims come with 20-inch wheels, whereas the base model features a 17-inch set. Tire width has increased from 215 to 235 millimeters, while the drag coefficient has been lowered from 0.32 to 0.30.
Photo by: Audi
The interior is a typical new-generation Audi affair, but without an optional passenger screen. That’s probably for the better, since the base Q5 has a weird-looking dashboard when the extra display isn’t specified. The driver gets a fully digital 11.9-inch instrument cluster, along with a 12.8-inch touchscreen running Android Automotive rather than a proprietary operating system. If you’re like us, you probably won’t be fond of the touch buttons on the steering wheel or the thick bezels of the dual-screen setup.
There is one notable upgrade not found in any other compact Audi: the Q3 is the first in its class to feature acoustic glazing for the front-side windows, offering a quieter ride. Whether the material quality meets expectations remains to be seen, but the company has acknowledged that its interiors have declined and vows to improve the quality of future products.
Audi is relocating the gear selector from the center console to behind the steering wheel. The small lever is mounted on the right side, freeing up space between the front seats for two large cupholders, a cooled inductive charging tray, and dual USB ports. To make this possible, engineers designed a multi-purpose left stalk that incorporates controls for the windshield wipers, lighting functions, and turn signals.
Left lever for the turn signals, windscreen wipers, and lights
Photo by: Audi
Right lever for the gear selector
Photo by: Audi
Let’s talk practicality. With the rear bench in its normal position, the 2026 Audi Q3 offers 488 liters (17.2 cubic feet) of cargo space. Slide the rear seats all the way forward and upright, and the volume jumps to 575 liters (20.3 cubic feet). Fold the bench flat and you unlock 1,386 liters (48.9 cubic feet). Need more? The upscale crossover can tow up to 2,100 kilograms (4,630 pounds).
As for engines, the base Q3 comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that can shut off two of its four cylinders to reduce fuel consumption when full power isn’t needed. This mild-hybrid unit produces 148 hp and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque, sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Next up is a larger 2.0-liter gasoline engine producing 261 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm), paired with Quattro all-wheel drive. On the diesel side, Audi offers the familiar 2.0 TDI rated at 148 hp and 266 lb-ft (360 Nm), in a front-wheel-drive configuration. Both engines use the same seven-speed S Tronic gearbox. There is no diesel and AWD combo at launch.
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Source: Audi
Perhaps the most interesting option is the plug-in hybrid, though it’s FWD only. It combines a 1.5-liter gas engine with an electric motor, resulting in a total system output of 268 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). The battery pack has a net capacity of 19.7 kWh, enabling an electric range of 75 miles (120 kilometers) in the WLTP cycle. When depleted, DC charging at up to 50 kW replenishes the battery from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes. Unlike the gas and diesel models, the hybrid uses a six-speed automatic instead.
Audi will launch the new Q3 in Europe this September, with German pricing starting at €44,600 for the 1.5-liter gas model. The plug-in hybrid starts at €49,300. US-bound versions could arrive by the end of the year or early 2026.
With the not-for-America Q2 being phased out after a single generation, the Q3 will become Audi’s entry-level SUV. An SQ3 should follow, and ideally, a new RS Q3, though it’s unlikely to retain the beloved inline-five engine. A swoopy Q3 Sportback is also expected soon to take on the BMW X2.
A fully electric Q3 is not currently in the pipeline, but Audi plans to introduce a more affordable EV in the A3 segment as early as next year. Whether it will be a hatchback or a crossover remains to be seen, but we know it’ll be built in Ingolstadt and priced below the Q4 E-Tron.
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