2026 Audi Q3, Audi’s smallest and most affordable SUV, gets a significant update for 2026, with a new body that’s more muscular and slightly larger than before, and adopts the eye-catching styling cues of its larger relatives, particularly the petrol-powered Q5 compact SUV and its all-electric sibling, the Q6 E-Tron.
So far, the new 2026 Audi Q3 is being introduced to customers in Germany, and we’ve managed to get a lot of information about the new Q3’s technology, interior, and styling ahead of its US launch in the first quarter of 2026.
2026 Audi Q3 Review
The Audi Q3 subcompact SUV has been a hit in the US, and the 2026 Q3 is poised to build on that popularity. Essentially a miniaturized version of the best-selling Q5, the Q3 is a subcompact luxury SUV that competes with the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA-class.
While traditionally lagging behind its rivals in terms of power, the latest Q3 attempts to rectify this with a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 255 hp and a more responsive dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard.
Additionally, the latest model features new styling inside and out, revised suspension, and updated technology features.
2026 Audi Q3 Design
Even though the 2026 Audi Q3 is exactly the same length, width, and height as the 2025 model, we’d expect the new one to be larger. That’s how much more rugged and mature the updated Q3 looks, thanks in part to the separate daytime running lights and headlights design found on the Q5 and Q6 E-Tron.
Despite the changes, the larger-looking 2026 Q3 is only slightly larger in dimensions than before. The wheelbase remains essentially the same (105.6 inches compared to last year’s 105.5 inches), while overall length has increased by 1.8 inches, height by 0.1 inch, and width by a slight 0.4 inch.
Cargo space figures surpass the current Q3 figures in the US market (23.7 cubic feet with the seats upright and 48 cubic feet with the seats folded) with 29 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats upright and 50 cubic feet with the seats folded.
What’s new
In addition to the new body, interior, and headlight technology, the redesigned Audi Q3 also features an updated suspension and a more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
2026 Audi Q3 Engine
When the Q3 hits North American showrooms, it will be powered by a revised version of the brand’s flagship 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. With 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, the engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This should provide improved performance compared to the previous model.
Overseas, the Q3 will offer a range of engine options, starting with a 1.5-liter turbocharged “TFSI” four-cylinder engine producing 147 hp that includes cylinder deactivation (which shuts off two of the four cylinders to save fuel) and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.
Next up is the 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 262 hp and also benefits from a mild hybrid system, plus a TDI diesel engine that won’t be sold in America.
Finally, there’s the Q3 e-Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid offering 268 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque between a gasoline engine and a 114 hp, 243 lb-ft electric motor. It uses a 25.7 kWh lithium-ion battery (usable capacity is 19.7 kWh) that is claimed to give the Q3 a range of up to 75 miles on electric power alone, at least according to the highly optimistic WLTP test cycle.
However, even if the Q3 e-Hybrid is tested using the EPA’s lower standards, the Q3 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is still capable of achieving a range of about 50 miles on electric power alone.
Unfortunately, none of these engine options, at least in their current form, will be sold in the US. Audi says Americans will continue to get the 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 without mild-hybridization. This engine has been upgraded with an additional 27 hp and 22 lb-ft of torque, bringing the total output for the 2026 model to 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque.
Power is sent to the wheels via a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and the standard Quattro all-wheel drive system. Audi says the combination is capable of reaching 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, an improvement of 1.6 seconds over the previous model’s official figure.
Performance
Audi estimates that the new Q3 will reach 60 mph in a quick 5.5 seconds. We’ll test that claim ourselves and update this section with the results.
2026 Audi Q3 Interior
The interior features a number of changes aimed at improving functionality and creating a comfortable environment. The gearshift lever has been moved to a stalk on the steering wheel to create additional storage space in the console, and the gearshift lever housing also houses slightly unconventional turn signal and windshield wiper controls.
Acoustic laminated glass has been added to the options list, and a variety of interior lighting themes are available. Numerous trim options are available, including sustainably sourced wood and recycled fabrics for the seats and floor mats.
Rear cargo space increases slightly to 29 cubic feet with the rear seats in place (previously 24 cubic feet), but with the rear seats folded, it’s the same size as the previous Q3 at 48 cubic feet.
By now, almost everyone knows that Audi interiors generally blend modern minimalism with quality (albeit somewhat subdued) materials. The 2026 Audi Q3 looks almost like it was designed by AI, if the command were “design a new Audi interior for 2026.”
Of course, that’s not a bad thing, and we hope the new Q3’s cabin materials are at least nicer than the rather plain materials used by the current version, which like the similarly sized A3 compact sedan feels a bit cheap compared to larger Audis.
A pair of large screens are hidden behind the steering wheel of the 2026 Q3 and in the center of the dashboard. In front of the driver is an 11.9-inch digital instrument panel, while a 12.8-inch touchscreen is to their right.
However, if you look at the center console, you might notice something is amiss: there’s no gear lever. Instead, there’s a starter button, an electronic parking brake switch, and audio control knobs for volume and track selection.
The gearshift knobs have been relocated to one of two very unusual fixed wings located behind the steering wheel. Located where the gearshift lever would normally be, this structure doesn’t move like, for example, the turn signal or wiper control levers.
Instead, it’s mostly fixed, with the right wing housing the transmission selector and the left unit housing a complex array of buttons, switches, and knobs for high beam activation, wiper control, and turn signals.
Just looking at the wings, it’s not entirely clear how all these controls work, and Audi’s press materials for the German market are pretty vague. However, we found some online videos that reveal that, while most of the “wings” are fixed, each wingtip on the left and right moves like a small lever.
On the left, the wingtip can be clicked down or up to activate the left or right turn signals; a knob inside the movable section controls the wiper speed, and pressing a button on the end of the lever clears the windshield. There’s a separate button for high-beam control. On the right, the end of the lever can be moved up or down to mimic the stick-style gearshift control familiar to Mercedes-Benz and Tesla owners.
Put this innovative additional control setup in the “until we get it, we’ll withhold judgment” category, though established technologies like steering column shifters, wipers, and turn signal levers seem like odd targets and implementations of innovation.
Technology
The 2026 Audi Q3 features a new panoramic display that combines an 11.9-inch instrument panel with a 12.8-inch infotainment screen to create a slightly curved, driver-focused cockpit. Built on Android Auto OS technology, the display allows for direct integration of third-party apps like YouTube without the need for a smartphone connection.
AI-enhanced voice recognition aims to simplify voice commands, and a 420-watt Sonos audio system with 12 available speakers ensures the music keeps flowing.
Safety
Standard equipment includes parking assist, lane keeping warning, forward cross traffic alert with accident avoidance, and automatic emergency braking.
Adaptive cruise control with lane change assist is available, as is parking assist with a “trainable” parking feature that remembers your regular parking spot parameters and allows the car to park and back out automatically on demand.
2026 Audi Q3 Price
The 2026 Audi Q3 starts at $44,995. The Audi Q3 is only available in S-Line Quattro trim for 2026. This trim features several S-Line-specific styling accents, including a more prominent black grille, body-colored sporty bumpers, and Selenite Silver trim around the rear diffuser and intake frame. New 18-inch wheels come standard, but 19- and 20-inch wheels can be ordered as optional equipment.
2026 Audi Q3 Release Dates
Audi will launch the new 2026 Q3 in Germany later this year, but sales in the US won’t begin until the first quarter of 2026.
2026 Audi Q3 SUV Sportback
The 2026 Audi Q3 SUV and Sportback will start at $61,600 before other costs when the new generation arrives in Australian showrooms, with more advanced technology and a wider model range.
Scheduled to arrive in Australia in the second quarter (April–June) of 2026, the new Q3 SUV and Sportback represent the third generation of Audi’s small SUV and feature an all-new body based on the MQB Evo platform used across the Volkswagen Group.
Audi Australia has confirmed key details and pricing, but has yet to provide full equipment specifications for the local range.
Alongside a more aggressive exterior styling inspired by the latest Q5 SUV, the new Q3 introduces new engines, updated interior technology and higher equipment levels for Australian buyers, albeit with a price increase over the previous model.
Priced from $61,600 before additional costs for the Q3 SUV TFSI 110kW, the 2026 Q3 is priced $2900 higher than its predecessor, while the Sportback, which starts at $64,600, is priced $3600 higher.
In addition to the standard Q3 SUV, the Sportback model features a more aggressive roofline and is 29 mm lower, with a sleeker exterior that reduces trunk capacity from 1,386 liters in the SUV to 1,289 liters in the Sportback. Depending on the variant, the Sportback costs $2,000 to $3,000 more.
Across the model range, the latest Q3 introduces Audi’s latest MMI (Multimedia Interface), featuring a curved design that combines an 11.9-inch digital instrument display and a 12.8-inch center touchscreen.
Another standard feature is a 360-degree camera system, with Audi promising a “complete suite” of driver assistance and safety technologies, including a new reverse assistant and ‘trained parking’, which can remember parking manoeuvres.
Available engines start with a new 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine producing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and driving the front wheels.
Audi promises improved fuel efficiency over the 1.4-liter engine replaced by this new entry-level powertrain, which is claimed to have a combined fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km in its base version.
Standard equipment on the base Q3 includes:
- Adaptive LED headlights with three daytime running light pattern options.
- Soundproof windshield
- Illuminated rear Audi logo
- Keyless entry
- Automatic trunk door
- Electrically adjustable front seats.
- Leather upholstery
- Wireless charging for smartphones (including cooling function to prevent device overheating)
- 260 watt audio system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer.
- Colored ambient lighting
- Cross-brushed aluminum interior inlays
The Sportback variant adds the S line exterior package and unique 19-inch alloy wheels, but does not come with roof rails.
The Launch Edition variant, offered on the 110kW and 150kW Q3 SUV and Sportback models for an extra $5400, adds metallic paint, 19-inch ‘sport’ alloy wheels with red brake calipers, a black exterior styling package, adaptive dampers and a sound actuator.
You can opt for a more powerful variant, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 150 kW and 320 Nm – up from 132 kW – paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Audi claims a 0-100 km/h time of 7.1 seconds.
The S line exterior package is standard on the 150kW model, along with 19-inch alloy wheels, front sports seats with integrated headrests, and hill descent control.
The Launch Edition versions of the Q3 150kW SUV and Sportback receive the same upgrades as the 110kW Launch Edition and also cost an additional $5400.
At the top of the range, the flagship Q3 produces 195kW of power and 400Nm of torque from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The power increase from the previous 132 kW/320 Nm offers some relief for performance-focused buyers ahead of the launch of the anticipated RSQ 3 flagship, although it has not been officially confirmed.
Audi Australia claims the more powerful engine enables 0–100 km/h acceleration in 5.7 seconds, with standard equipment including 20-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, tinted windows, a panoramic sunroof and adaptive dampers.
2026 Audi Q3 Australia
The next-generation Audi Q3 SUV is scheduled to arrive in Australia in mid-2026, with the flagship being a 195kW model that will have “performance levels close to those of the S models”.
2026 Audi Q3 Price and Specifications
The SUV and Sportback will arrive in Australia between April and June.
Available in 110 kW, 150 kW, and 195 kW powertrains; there is no PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) version at launch.
Prices start at $61,600 before vehicle registration fees.
Pricing and specifications for the 2026 Audi Q3 SUV and Sportback in Australia have been confirmed ahead of their arrival in showrooms between April and June.
With a starting price of $61,600 before additional costs, the 2026 Q3 will be offered with three engine options – a 1.5-liter 110kW mild hybrid, a 2.0-liter 150kW, and a 2.0-liter 195kW – similar to its sibling, the Cupra Terramar.
Audi Australia has raised prices by between $600 and $2900 compared to equivalent versions of the previous model, with the biggest increase applying to the 110kW TFSI, which gets a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.
Plug-in hybrid technology – which produces up to 200 kilowatts of total system output in Europe – has not yet been confirmed for Australia, but could join the local product line-up at a later date.
Audi has confirmed that the Q3 and Q3 Sportback will arrive in Australia at the same time, with the Sportback model priced at a $3000 premium over the SUV version, down from $3500.
Standard equipment on the 110kW Q3 TFSI, which switches from a 1.4-litre turbo engine and six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to a 1.5-litre unit with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, includes a 12.8-inch MMI infotainment touchscreen, a 260-watt 10-speaker audio system and a wireless smartphone charger with a cooling fan.
The car also features an 11.9-inch digital instrument panel, colored ambient interior lighting, electrically adjustable front seats with driver memory, adaptive LED headlights with three selectable DRL patterns, and an illuminated Audi logo at the rear.
All Q3 Sportbacks add S line exterior styling as standard, which is also fitted to the 150kW and 195kW quattro Q3 SUVs.
Launch Edition versions of the Q3 TFSI 110kW and TFSI 150kW quattro will be available, adding 19-inch alloy wheels, standard metallic paint, red brake calipers, black exterior styling, adaptive dampers and an S line exterior for the 110kW SUV.
The 150kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo engine in the Q3 TFSI 150kW quattro replaces the 132kW/320Nm Q3 40 TFSI for between $600 and $700 more, while the 195kW/400Nm Q3 TFSI quattro shares its powertrain with the Cupra Terramar VZ and Volkswagen Tiguan 195TSI R-Line.
Audi says the 195kW TFSI quattro – which also adds more standard equipment such as a panoramic glass roof, 12 Sonos speakers and a heated steering wheel – delivers “performance almost equivalent to the S model” with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds.
The Q3 TFSI 195kW quattro starts at $81,900, $8410 more than the Terramar VZ and $10,350 more than the Tiguan 195TSI R-Line.
With the increased size, the new generation Q3 now sits at the lower end of the mid-size SUV segment, measuring 4531mm (+36mm) long, 1859mm (+6mm) wide and 1628mm (+14mm) tall with a wheelbase of 2681mm (+2mm).
The 2026 Audi Q3 and 2026 Audi Q3 Sportback will arrive in Australian showrooms between April and June, with further details – such as a full specification list, available option packages and exterior color options – to be shared closer to launch.
2026 Audi Q3 Price in Australia
- Q3 TFSI 110kW FWD – $61,600 (up $2900 over 35 TFSI)
- Q3 Sportback TFSI 110kW FWD – $64,600 (up $2400 from 35 TFSI)
- Q3 TFSI 110kW Launch Edition FWD – $67.000
- Q3 Sportback TFSI 110kW Launch Edition FWD – $69.000
- Q3 TFSI 150kW quattro S line AWD – $70.200 (naik $600)
- Q3 Sportback TFSI 150kW quattro AWD – $72.700 (naik $700)
- Q3 TFSI 150kW quattro Launch Edition AWD – $74.600
- Q3 Sportback TFSI 150kW quattro Launch Edition AWD – $77.100
- Q3 TFSI 195kW quattro AWD – $81,900
- Q3 Sportback TFSI 195kW quattro AWD – $84.400
Standard features of the Audi Q3 TFSI 110kW 2026:
- 1.5-litre mild-hybrid four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with 110kW/250Nm
- Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
- Front wheel drive
- 12.8-inch MMI infotainment touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Radio digital DAB+
- Sistem audio 10 speaker, 260 watt
- Wireless smartphone charger with cooling fan
- 11.9-inch ‘Audi virtual cockpit’ digital instrument panel
- Colored ambient interior lighting.
- Electrically adjustable front seats with driver memory function.
- Aluminum inlay with cross-brushed matt surface
- Adaptive LED headlights with three selectable DRL patterns.
- Illuminated Audi logo on the rear
- Soundproof glass for front door windows
- Keyless entry and push button start
- Electric tailgate
- Electric heated, folding, auto-dimming side mirrors with memory function.
The 2026 Audi Q3 Sportback TFSI 110kW adds (compared to the 110kW TFSI):
- S line exterior design
- Choose alloy 19 inches
- Roof rails removed
Feature additions to the 2026 Audi Q3 and Q3 Sportback TFSI 110kW Launch Edition (compared to the 110kW TFSI and 110kW TFSI Sportback):
- S line (SUV) exterior design
- Choose alloy Audi Sport 19 inches
- Metallic color
- Red brake caliper
- Black exterior styling package
- Adaptive dampers
2026 Audi Q3 and Q3 Sportback TFSI 150kW quattro additional sound actuators (compared to 110kW TFSI and 110kW TFSI Sportback):
- S line (SUV) exterior design
- Choose alloy 19 inches (SUV)
- 150kW/320Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (non-hybrid)
- Quattro all-wheel drive
- Sporty front seats with integrated headrests
- Hill descent assistance
Feature additions to the 2026 Audi Q3 and Q3 Sportback TFSI 150kW quattro Launch Edition (compared to the TFSI 150kW quattro):
- Choose alloy Audi Sport 19 inches
- Metallic color
- Red brake caliper
- Black exterior styling package
- Adaptive dampers
- Voice actuator
Feature additions to the 2026 Audi Q3 and Q3 Sportback TFSI 195kW quattro (compared to the TFSI 150kW quattro):
- 195kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (non-hybrid)
- Choose alloy Audi Sport 20 inches
- Adaptive dampers
- Panoramic glass roof
- Red brake caliper
- Privacy glass
- Aluminum divergence insert
- Stainless steel pedals
- Heated sports steering wheel
- Black title
- ‘Professional’ colored ambient interior lighting
- Head-up display
- Sonos 12 speaker audio system, 420 watts
- Faster USB-C charging port
Verdict
The 2026 Audi Q3 is a big step ahead with a bolder look, better performance, and the latest digital technology. The Q3 confidently moves from being an entry-level luxury SUV to a true premium challenger with a stronger body, a better turbocharged engine, a more modern dual-clutch transmission, and a digitally connected interior. Its larger cargo space, updated safety features, and better driving characteristics make it even more appealing in countries around the world.
We will keep adding the most recent official news and specifications to this article as the automobile industry changes. Don’t forget to check out the other interesting car articles on our website. Bookmark this page now to remain up to speed on dependable, up-to-date car news and in-depth reviews.
