Certain cars in the world hardly need any introduction, and when it comes to the all-new, third-generation 2026 Audi Q3, that’s arguably the case because it is such a known quantity by now.
It is the latest version of the German company’s big-selling compact premium SUV – a machine designed to go up against the varied likes of the BMW X1 and X2, the Mercedes-Benz GLA, the Lexus UX, the Volvo XC40, and more.
As before, Audi will offer the Q3 in two body styles, one being a regular SUV shape with a largely upright tailgate, and the other being the Sportback that has a more rakish roofline that’s 29mm closer to the deck than that of the standard Q3.
Drivetrains comprise an array of turbocharged four-cylinder units, both petrol- and diesel-powered, with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system joining the range under the ‘e-Hybrid’ banner.
Sadly for performance fans, it’s very, very unlikely that the madcap five-cylinder RSQ3 will be returning for this third outing, as it’s expected that the last bow of that glorious 2.5-litre Audi engine will be in the current RS3 hyper hatch.
We headed to the Scottish countryside just north of Glasgow to try out a wide selection of the third-gen Q3 lineup, focusing our attention here on the Sportback e-Hybrid.
How much does the Audi Q3 cost?
Australian pricing for the new Q3 hasn’t been revealed yet, with the outgoing second-generation small SUV currently still showing on the company’s website as a run-out model.
We expect the new Q3 to command a small price premium over the model it replaces, which late in its life ran from $57,500 to $68,400 before on-road costs in SUV form, with Sportbacks jacked up a little from there to $61,000-$70,800 plus on-roads.
We’d also expect Audi Australia to correctly position the Q3 and its Sportback spin-off to take on the BMW X1 and X2. The former (and cheaper) of these currently retails at $61,800 to $73,400 before ORCs, with the M35i performance flagship an outlier at $92,300 plus ORCs.
That’s still less than the old RSQ3 used to cost, at $96,000 plus on-roads, but Audi’s not likely to replace that warbling 294kW monster this time around. Therefore, expect the Q3 to come in at around the $60-75k mark, with the Sportback requiring a few thousand dollars extra model-for-model with the equivalent SUV spec.
To see how the Audi Q3 compares with its rivals, use ourcomparison tool
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What is the Audi Q3 like on the inside?
As you’d expect of Audi, build quality is exemplary and the use of high-class materials for various surface finishes is top-notch except for the odd looking, dimpled metal trim that swathes the big, scalloped area of the passenger fascia.
It looks bizarre, even if it’s solid and cold to the touch, so we’d avoid it if we were you.
Space is good in the second row for taller passengers – provided you’re in the SUV, that is. In the Sportback the lower roofline limits headroom notably in the rear, so taller passengers will find their hair brushing the headlining.
Boot space is decent for this class, at 488 litres in both SUV and Sportback bodies with all seats in use. The rear bench also slides forwards and backwards, so you can increase legroom and trim cargo capacity, or vice versa, as you require.
Due to the slope of its rear screen, the Sportback loses out to the SUV with the rear chairs folded down (1289L versus 1386L for the SUV), but it’s a familiar practicality lament with the PHEV: its big 25.7kWh battery pack, of which 19.7kWh is usable, reduces the Sportback e-Hybrid’s boot numbers again, to 375L-1196L.
Our gripes with the interior don’t end with dodgy metallic trim and a relatively cramped boot, however.
The 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster is far from Audi’s best effort in this technological arena, looking sparsely populated from a graphical perspective thanks to its drab grey backgrounds and wide-yet-narrow shape.
There’s also an unsightly bar of thick black plastic trim above the letterbox screen, which doesn’t exactly scream ‘premium’. Beyond that, another foible is that to preserve steering column symmetry with the gear shifter to the right of the wheel, Audi has lumped nearly every other expected ancillary control onto a single extrusion to the side of the wheel.
This is reinventing separate column stalks for no good reason and leads to a fair degree of familiarisation being required before you’ll be able to operate the indicators, wipers and main-beam lights slickly. The resulting carbuncle of closely aligned switchgear also looks almost as ugly as the wasted band above the screen.
| Dimensions | Audi Q3 Sportback e-Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Length | 4531mm |
| Width | 1859mm |
| Height | 1546-1581mm |
| Wheelbase | 2678-2681mm |
| Cargo capacity | 375L – 2nd row up 1196L – 2nd row down |
To see how the Audi Q3 compares with its rivals, use ourcomparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
The Audi Q3 Sportback e-Hybrid uses a familiar Volkswagen Group PHEV set-up that we’ve seen in many other cars from the German brand’s related marques.
| Specifications | Audi Q3 Sportback e-Hybrid |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Engine outputs | 130kW + 250Nm |
| Electric motor outputs | 85kW + 330Nm |
| System outputs | 200kW + 400Nm |
| Battery | 19.7kWh li-ion – net |
| Transmission | 6-speed dual-clutch |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1825kg – unladed |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 6.8s |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 1.7-2.2L/100km |
| Electric driving range (PHEV) | 104-118km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 45L |
| CO2 emissions | 40-50g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6e-bis |
That makes this the most-powerful third-gen Q3 at launch, just eclipsing the 2.0-litre TFSI petrol version with quattro all-wheel drive that delivers 195kW. However, the e-Hybrid’s portly weight means it’s not as fast off the mark as the AWD TFSI, although a claimed 6.8-second 0-100km/h sprint for the PHEV is none too shabby.
All the power and torque in the e-Hybrid goes solely to the front wheels, however; you can’t have this as a quattro. Further, while the other Q3s use an advanced seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission, the PHEV remains saddled with an older six-speed unit.
The ace up the e-Hybrid’s sleeve is that its 19.7kWh battery allows Audi to quote 106km of zero-emissions driving range – as in, you’ll go more than 100km without having to resort to the engine’s machinations if you drive carefully enough. That, in turn, leads to combined fuel consumption of just 2.1L/100km (WLTP), but of course that’s a fanciful number unless you charge the Q3 Sportback regularly.
Rather more realistically, Audi claims 6.0-6.7L/100km when running with a depleted battery in the e-Hybrid.
To see how the Audi Q3 compares with its rivals, use ourcomparison tool
How does the Audi Q3 drive?
Blandly. We sampled a few Q3s, from the 110kW base variants up to this 200kW e-Hybrid and the 195kW TFSI quattro, and one thing became plainly evident – none of the front-wheel drive versions ride properly.
But don’t get us wrong, they’re not out-and-out uncomfortable – and this PHEV is better than the front-drive petrol and diesel alternatives because its hefty 1900kg mass keeps its suspension more firmly tied down at all times.
But there’s always a sense of fidget and nervousness to the third-gen Q3, an unsettled nature that comes to the fore when you hit a large transverse ridge in the tarmac or inadvertently let one of the SUV’s wheels wander into a deeper dip in the road surface, and you’re greeted with a loud thump that reverberates through the Audi’s structure.
The handling of the Q3, meanwhile, is perfectly adequate and therefore not memorable in the slightest. The weight of the PHEV renders the term ‘Sport’ in Sportback a misnomer, as the car is reluctant to get turned into corners in an eager fashion, with overly light and feel-free steering further robbing the driver of much pleasure at the wheel.
There are also traction issues with 200kW flowing through the front wheels alone, exacerbated by slippery conditions such as a light shower of rain (we were driving the car in Scotland in September).
Generally though, keep the Q3 Sportback e-Hybrid well within itself and it behaves in a civil enough fashion. It limits engine noise well unless you rev it right out, whereupon it gets a tad vocal and coarse, though both wind and suspension sounds are also suitably quelled.
About the only mechanical refinement issue we could discern was an elevated level of tyre rumble echoing about in the back of the passenger compartment when the Q3 was traversing rougher roads. It’s a subtle and chastening reminder that you’re in a more affordable Audi SUV, rather than one of the firm’s ultra-hushed top-end efforts.
To see how the Audi Q3 compares with its rivals, use ourcomparison tool
What do you get?
We await confirmed Australian specifications for the current Audi Q3, but presumably the existing UK-market hierarchy of SE and S line will carry over for the incoming model.
2026 Audi Q3 e-Hybrid S line highlights:
- 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen
- 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster
- Head-up display
- Wireless smartphone charging pad
- 20-inch S line alloy wheels
- S line exterior sports styling
- S line interior enhancements
- S line front seats
- Climate control
- Sonos premium sound system
- LED exterior lighting
- Adaptive cruise control
- Front and rear parking sensors
- 3-spoke multifunction Sport steering wheel
To see how the Audi Q3 compares with its rivals, use ourcomparison tool
Is the Audi Q3 safe?
The latest Q3 hasn’t yet been tested by either Euro NCAP or ANCAP, although both the previous two generations picked up full five-star ratings when they were put through their paces as new vehicles.
The testing process has become much tougher and more stringent since then, but the little Audi has a wealth of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) tech to help it along, so it’d be a shock to see it gain anything less than full marks once those safety results come in.
To see how the Audi Q3 compares with its rivals, use ourcomparison tool
How much does the Audi Q3 cost to run?
We don’t have concrete figures for you here yet either, aside from saying that if you can regularly charge the big battery pack from mains power – either at your domestic residence or your place of work – then you should see super-low day-to-day running costs from the Q3 Sportback e-Hybrid.
A useful trick here is that the Audi can replenish its battery at 50kW via public DC fast-chargers, not just at 11kW on AC power.
As for aftersales provisions, the new Q3 will likely come with Audi Australia’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, as well as qualify for five years of roadside assistance.
The old Q3 had service intervals of 12 months or 15,000km, with an optional pre-paid, five-year service plan coming in at a shade over $3300; something similar is likely to be available for the latest version of the SUV.
To see how the Audi Q3 compares with its rivals, use ourcomparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Audi Q3
The new Audi Q3 does all the things you’d expect it do for a new model from this German automaker proficiently well, while committing few outright automotive atrocities (interior grumbles aside) that would terminally hole its case below the water line.
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It might be forgettable to drive and not that adventurous to look at, but with four-ring badges on its nose and rump, we’d be mighty surprised if the new Q3 was anything other than a top-selling machine.
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