Audi adds muscle and comfort to its reimagined Q3 SUV

AUDI

The 2026 Audi Q3 sport utility vehicle is the automaker's smallest SUV but delivers on looks and driveability.

It’s been a while since I’ve piloted an Audi anything. 

Getting the fully revised Q3 SUV was not only a surprise but also a great pleasure. I’d nearly forgotten how fun an Audi can be.

The Q3 is Audi’s smallest SUV. I believe this new version is more spacious than the outgoing model with more cargo area. There is enough room for five, but rear passengers may wish for a bit more leg room.

The new Q3 is much more muscular looking than the old model. The grille is large but not huge and my car had the optional blackout treatment with the classic five rings done in darker hues. The LED headlights are long and lean and sit above faux air intake vents. The fenders are more noticeable, giving the truck a wide-body look. My test vehicle’s blueish-green paint job was snazzy and made the muscly look even more pronounced.

I’m an instant fan of the new interior but there is a liberal use of plastic that may disturb some buyers. Soft-touch areas abound but I would have liked some wood to replace the piano black plastic in some areas. The metal detail is nice and there is some leather trim.

I’m not crazy about the gear selector. It’s part of a complicated stalk system around the chunky steering wheel. The learning curve was a bit longer for me, but it may not bother others. The stalks on the left control windshield wipers, cruise control and the digital dash. The dash can be configured to show different levels of information including infotainment readouts and more. The touch screen is integrated into a curved cockpit that wraps around the driver. The touch screen is responsive and has crisp graphics.

The seats are comfortable and swaddled in a parchment-colored leather. The driver’s seat hits just the right spots. You can adjust your seating position to give you a commanding view of the road. The front passenger’s seat is as comfortable with an even better view of the road. The rear seats are the most comfortable for two but three of average size could be almost as comfortable.

The Q3 is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 255 horsepower and 273 pounds-feet of torque. It sends power to all four wheels via a seven-speed transmission. The horsepower rating seems a bit pedestrian but this Q3 has some giddy up. Zero to 60 isn’t blazing but it’s enough to make you happy. The transmission shifts crisply and doesn’t get in the way of itself. Passing power is plentiful and keeping up with or surpassing the flow of traffic is, well, Audi-like.

The ride quality of the Q3 can be a bit choppy and the brakes can be hard to modulate at times, but I found the driving dynamics to be good. Handling is fine, even when the roads were wet. The ride was always quiet.

The Q3 has no trim levels. There are packages to glam up the truck so you can pick and choose how you want the vehicle equipped. Base price was $43,700 and with options and destination the as-tested price was $51,700.

Not overly pricey for what you get, and you get a nicely tricked-out package that’s enjoyable to drive.

Pros:

• All-new design 

• Much more muscular looking

• Quick acceleration 

• Spacious cabin

• Improved storage

• Great handling 

• Improved tech

• Responsive touch screen

Cons:

• Interior could use wood trim

Comments