2026 Audi Q3 Review
Our automotive expert shares opinions and new photos of the 2026 Q3.
Tim Stevens
Pros: Striking new style, added power, and more standard features mark a big step forward for Audi's small SUV.
Cons: The starting price is higher, and fewer powertrain choices limit configurability.
The Takeaway: Audi's redesigned 2026 Q3 looks and feels more premium, but it comes at a higher premium, too.
Meet the new 2026 Audi Q3, which is not only bigger and more powerful than its predecessor but also outfitted with substantial technology improvements. It's part of Audi's product refresh onslaught, which is coming fast and strong. We've only just sampled the new A5 and A6, and now it's the company's smallest SUV on the United States market that's getting a full reboot. Its starting price has sadly crept up, but buyers willing to pay the premium may find the upgrade worthwhile.
What's New for the 2026 Audi Q3
QuickTake: Refreshed style and more power highlight the new 2026 Q3.
This 2026 model-year redesign marks the beginning of the Q3's third generation. It's a substantial change over what's come before, with a wholly new style inside and out. Audi's five-seat subcompact luxury crossover SUV has grown in length, width, and height, but it's also gained potency, now with 255 horsepower. That outclasses much of the competition.Â
Not only that: With an estimated fuel-economy rating of 25 mpg in combined city and highway driving, Audi's new Q3 improves efficiency by 2 mpg over the previous model while eliminating the need for premium fuel.
Tim Stevens
About the 2026 Audi Q3 Review Vehicle
QuickTake: Audi's new 2026 Q3 costs more than before.
The 2026 Audi Q3 is available as a single model called the Quattro S tronic, with a base price around $45,000, including the destination charge to ship the SUV to a dealership from the Győr, Hungary, assembly plant where it is built. That's an increase of nearly $4,000 over the outgoing model.
For this Q3 review, I test-drove a well-equipped example in the San Luis Obispo, California, area. Optional equipment highlights included 20-inch wheels, a Technology Package, a Driver Assistance Package, and an Infotainment Package, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to $51,790, including the $1,295 destination charge. Audi provided the vehicle for this Q3 review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.
Tim Stevens
Design, Quality, and Interior Layout
QuickTake: A striking new exterior wraps a redesigned interior with some compelling touches.
I'm not in love with many of the new exterior designs Audi has been sending to market lately, including the new A5 and A6. However, I do think the new Q3 looks quite fetching, especially in Malpelo Blue, a great color for catching the California sun.
That nose, with its giant grille, is overly aggressive for what is at its core an everyday crossover SUV, but it certainly makes for a memorable first impression. The detailing on the rear is sharp as well, especially the optional OLED taillights.
The interior, however, is hit or miss. The Q3 has some nice details, such as a swath of wood veneer across the middle of the dashboard for visual flair. However, there's plenty of glossy piano-black plastic, which acts as a magnet for dust and fingerprints.
The Q3 sadly features capacitive-touch controls (think a smartphone's touchscreen) on the steering wheel. I think they're difficult to use accurately without looking down, and too easy to trigger accidentally. Behind them, Audi has introduced a new interface with pleasing tactility. A curved bar sweeps across the top of the steering column, its left and right edges just behind your fingers as you drive.
On the right is the shifter, which you rock up for D, down for R, and push inward for P. The left side has a similar rocker that you push up or down to toggle the turn signals. There's a little rotary controller you can spin to adjust wiper speed, and embedded buttons for the front and rear washer nozzles.
It's curious at first, but I quickly found myself liking it. The buttons are pleasant to press, the wiper wheel has a great clicky feel, and overall, it's a nice step forward. Now Audi just needs to bring this kind of tactility to the rest of its controls.
Tim Stevens
Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space
QuickTake: A roomy interior makes for a comfortable and practical Q3.
The Q3's comfortable front seats offer little lateral support but didn't leave me squirming even after five hours in the saddle. Standard seat heating was a nice touch on a chilly March morning, but the lack of ventilation feels like an oversight.
There's really nothing missing in the second row. With the front seat adjusted for someone of my 6-foot height, I had plenty of legroom back there. Headroom was ample, too, and thanks to the sliding and reclining rear seats, I could even kick back and relax a little.
The second-row seats have a 40/20/40 split, meaning you can drop the middle portion individually for hauling longer items such as skis, lumber, or extra-long baguettes. With the second-row seats upright, cargo space measures up to 29 cubic-feet. Fold those down, and that expands to 50 cu-ft.
Tim Stevens
2026 Audi Q3 Infotainment System Review
QuickTake: Audi's interface is easier to use than before, but the display orientation wastes valuable dashboard space.
In the 2026 Q3, Audi pairs two OLED displays into a single curved panel that sweeps from the left side of the dashboard to the middle. The digital driver information display measures 11.9 inches, while the central Multi Media Interface (MMI) infotainment touchscreen measures 12.8 inches.
Standard features include:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- Audi Connect connected services
- Integrated navigation
- Wireless charging pad
Add the optional Infotainment Package, and the Q3 picks up:
- SiriusXM satellite radio
- 12-speaker Sonos sound system
Audi's displays offer top-notch quality, with great contrast and vibrant colors. However, I think the extra bezels on all sides are an unfortunate waste of precious interior space. It's especially noticeable on the driver's display, which looks a little like you're watching a widescreen movie on an old 4:3 television.
You can at least get a map view through that screen, something that's been missing from a few of Audi's most recent releases, such as the new A6. Or you can choose a view showing the current active safety systems, or go with a simpler, more traditional gauge layout with sections on either side for showing things like current trip information and media playback. Add the Technology Package and you also get a head-up display.Â
On the central touchscreen, Audi's latest MMI software is simple to use and intuitive, with large buttons that are easy to hit, even on bumpy roads. The integrated navigation is a breeze to operate, especially when paired with Audi's latest AI voice assistant, which helps when performing more nuanced searches.
Open-ended statements such as "Hey Audi, I'm hungry" or "I'm thirsty" quickly gave me suggested lists, as did more complicated requests such as "Which nearby place has the best chile relleno burritos?" The 12-speaker Sonos-branded sound system provides reasonably clear, sharp sound and decent bass, but the tepid midrange left much of my playlist feeling flat.
Tim Stevens
Safety Features and Ratings
QuickTake: The new 2026 Q3 offers a comprehensive set of standard features.
Audi equips the new Q3 with several advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) as standard equipment. They include:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward-collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane-departure warning
In addition to those features, my test car added the Driver Assistance Package, which includes:
- Lane-centering assist
- Surround-view camera
- Automatic parking assist
During testing, the adaptive cruise control proved faultless in detecting traffic and smoothly modulating the Q3's speed to match its surroundings. The lane-centering-assist system also kept the SUV in the middle of its lane on the highway and on secondary roads, even in bright sunshine and when the lane markings were less than pristine. That said, the SUV wandered when the lines moved to the right or left to form an exit lane.
Because the 2026 Q3 is all new, as of publication, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had rated the SUV for safety.
Tim Stevens
2026 Audi Q3 Specs and Fuel Economy
QuickTake: Audi's new Q3 has more power and performance, while maintaining competitive efficiency.
For better or worse, the new Q3 offers just one engine configuration, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It's more powerful than the outgoing Q3, delivering 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, increases of 27 horsepower and 22 lb-ft over the previous model.
Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard, and the crossover has an S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. According to the EPA, the new Q3 is rated at 25 mpg in combined city and highway driving. In my mixed testing, I managed 24.1 mpg. That's lower than the fuel economy you'll get from a BMW X1 or Volvo XC40, but the Q3 makes up for it somewhat by not requiring premium fuel.
Tim Stevens
2026 Audi Q3 Test Drive
QuickTake: Audi's Q3 is stiff and reasonably quick, but otherwise relaxed from behind the wheel.
Navigating the narrow neighborhood streets of San Luis Obispo, the Q3 didn't make a great first impression. The SUV has a touchy throttle, and the unpredictable take-up of the dual-clutch transmission made my first few steps on the gas pedal more lurchy than I'd like. The brakes, likewise, have a vague feel, making the first few stops equally awkward.
Once I got up to speed, I found the Q3 to be quite relaxed. Yes, it's up on power from the last model, but it doesn't feel particularly quick. Put your foot to the floor, tap the left shift paddle a time or two, and it certainly accelerates strongly. In normal driving, though, the relaxed throttle response and reluctant transmission give it a more laid-back feel.
The suspension is somewhat on the stiff side, but it did well at modulating the bumpy, unpredictable asphalt found along the coast to the north. Ride quality was reasonably good, but I'm sure it would be even better if you opted for the 18-inch wheels rather than the 20-inch designs on my test SUV.
Likewise, I figure the 18s would reduce road noise. Over chewed-up sections of pavement, there was plenty of rumbling transmitted into the cabin. But, on the highway or smoother stretches of road, the Q3 did a good job of staying quiet, helped in no small part by the new acoustic glass that comes standard.
Overall, the Q3 doesn't drive with nearly the vigor one might expect given its aggressive front styling, but I think it feels livelier than your average crossover.
Tim Stevens
Alternatives to the 2026 Audi Q3
QuickTake: Audi's new Q3 shows promise for a return to form for the automaker.
While some of Audi's recent interior and exterior design decisions have left me confused, the redesigned 2026 Q3 definitely has more positives than negatives. I think it's a clear step forward compared with some of Audi's other recent efforts. If you don't mind the extra dollars here, you're getting an SUV that stands up well to its main competitors, such as the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Mini Countryman, and Volvo XC40.
Tim StevensTim is a freelance automotive and technology journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He is a frequent contributor to major domestic and international online, print, and broadcast news outlets, sharing his insights and perspectives on everything from cybersecurity to supercars. Tim also serves as a juror for the World Car Awards and regularly acts as speaker and moderator at major industry events such as CES, Web Summit, SXSW, NAIAS, and AutoMobility LA. He formerly served as editor-at-large and vice president of content at CNET. Before that he was editor-in-chief of Engadget and editorial director at AOL Tech.
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