The new Audi Q3 has joined the self-improvement era
You have to feel for car makers these days – it’s never been harder to release a vehicle that stands out.
Even some bargain-basement models come with technology once reserved for luxury cars.
As a buyer, it’s easy to get caught up in massage seats, big screens, cooled cup-holders and the cheap prices.
But what happens to those cars where everything is just executed… well? Not ostentatious, not silly, not gimmicky. Just a pleasant surprise-free package.
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Sadly, they can get a bit lost in the noise. Which brings me to the new Audi Q3.
Here is a car that works as a cohesive whole, not just a collection of trendy parts.
The Q3 has needed an overhaul for a while, but Audi has managed to bring the popular small SUV firmly into 2026.
It’s not just a few aesthetic changes, either. The car has been redesigned inside and out to what Audi describes as the “best version of itself” (even cars aren’t immune to the modern language of self-improvement it seems).
This means there are now three engine types to choose from: a new front-wheel drive 1.5L 110kW mild-hybrid priced from about $69,000 drive-away or the updated all wheel drive 2.0L turbo engine with either 150kW (about $78,000 drive-away) or 195kW of power (about $91,000 drive-away).
You can also choose either a standard SUV body shape, or a slightly sexier sportsback version for an extra $2500 or so.
Sadly, the mild hybrid failed to impress. This was probably, in part, thanks to having just driven its gruntier siblings. That’s the problem with having an impressive family; your achievements look less remarkable through comparison.
Still, there are people who will choose this variant because it is cheaper and more fuel efficient. Good luck to those dull souls.
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Personally, I thought the mild hybrid felt almost recalcitrant on the roads – I got the sense it would rather be sitting in a garage.
Not so the case for the 2.0L models, particularly the 195kW version.
There’s plenty of grit in the Q3, which can get to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds – respectable for a car of this size. It also sounds good getting there. There’s a low growl to the engine which, even in the fuel crisis, made me a bit misty-eyed for internal combustion engines.
But acceleration is just one rather blunt metric when it comes to assessing a car. Driving experience is a little tricker to quantify, and quite personal. This is where the Q3’s drive modes shine. For a lot of cars, these options change the on-road experience so imperceptibly, one wonders why they bother at all. That’s not the case with the Q3.
The adaptive dampers (essentially a high-tech computerised shock absorber) help noticeably change the ride quality. The ‘dynamic’ mode was particularly fun with its stiffer, sportier feel and faster gear shifting. Most people will no doubt be happy to cruise around in the softer “comfort” mode.
It’s worth noting that the adaptive dampers will only be standard across all models for the car’s launch, before eventually becoming an optional extra for all but the 195kW engine.
Toggling between drive modes can be done on the central screen or, praise be, with a physical button. While the 2026 Q3 has had an extensive interior redesign, your most-used options are still accessible without having to bumble around on the (much larger, much improved) central screen.
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Perhaps more controversially is the new “steering stalk” which controls the Q3’s windscreen wipers, headlights and indicators on one side; gear selection and park brake on the other. It might look a bit clunky and confused, but it’s logical and quickly becomes second nature.
In theory, removing the gear stick was supposed free up the centre console area. Perhaps it has, but there’s nothing particularly ground breaking about the use of space here. There’s the usual storage container and cup holders you’d expect to see in a car of this size. Personally, I’d prefer to have the gear stick back.
The redesigned exterior of the Q3 has been, so far, positively met. The glowing red Audi rings on the back is a nice touch, though perhaps a little reminiscent of HAL, the sinister computer program from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The shape of the Q3, however, felt oddly familiar to me the whole time I had it. This sense of deja vu was maddening. Eventually it struck me. The redesigned Q3 is extremely reminiscent of Hyundai’s 2020 Santa Fe. The squinting headlights, the gently curving side panels, the general shape and placement of the grill – it’s like they’ve copied someone else’s homework, on the condition they “make it different”.
But still, the Q3 looks good. It’s modern, and sleek. It also delivers precisely what you’d expect from a car in this segment – an understated but sophisticated experience.
