After being teased last week, the third-gen Audi Q3 made its global debut on Monday. The first two generations of the Q3 have racked up over two million units in sales combined since the model first launched in 2011, and it remains one of the German marque’s most popular cars. This latest model is a comprehensive redesign from the ground up.
The outgoing model has been on sale since 2019, but given how competitive the compact luxury crossover segment is, not just in the United States, but globally, an all-new Q3 was imminent. Coupled with the recent refresh of the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA, the timing for an all-new Q3 couldn’t have been more strategic. Still, unlike some of the competition heading towards complete electrification, Audi has chosen to stick with gas and hybrid options for its new Q3. However, it may very well be one of the last models from Ingolstadt to feature internal combustion. So what’s new? There’s a lot to unpack here, outside, inside, and under the hood.
A Familiar Face With Sharper Features
Built upon Volkswagen’s MQB platform, the 2026 Q3 is bigger, bolder, and unmistakably Audi. Stretching nearly 1.6 inches longer than its predecessor, and about an inch wider, this compact SUV now looks a lot more planted and grown up, thanks to a longer hood and more aggressive proportions. Look closely and you’ll even find hints of the OG Quattro, with a prominent line running over the rear wheel arch. Upfront, the Q3 borrows design cues like the bigger single-frame grille from the larger Q5, but carves out its own path.
Audi, of course, was one of the first to pioneer LED lighting technology with their R8 supercar back in the day, and that tradition continues to evolve here. The all-new Q3 features split Matrix LED headlights, where each beam boasts 26,600 micro-LEDs. Audi claims they’re so small, they’re thinner than human hair. These new trick lights are not just for show, as they can actually project things like blind spot warnings and more onto the pavement.
At the rear, in keeping with the times, Audi has integrated a full-width lightbar. The OLED tail lights setup allows you to toggle between six different lighting signatures, using 36 individual segments. An illuminated rear badge is also available. Wheel sizes range between 18-20 inches, and you can choose from 11 paint colors, including two new ones for 2026: Sage Green (seen here) and Madeira Brown.
The Inside Story: More Tech and Space
Step inside and you’re met with Audi’s latest digital arsenal. The sharper-looking dash pairs a 12.8 central infotainment display with a 11.9-inch driver’s display, also known as Audi’s virtual cockpit. The big changer though, is that the new system ditches Audi’s proprietary interface in favor of Android Automotive. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included.
One big change: the gear selector has now moved onto a stalk on the steering column, freeing up more room in the center console for more storage, dual cup holders, and a wireless phone charging tray. While Alcantara-style finishes, real wood, and aluminium are available, expect them on higher trims. Most notably, though, the Q3 now features acoustic glass upfront for a quieter cabin.
Since the wheelbase has stayed the same as the outgoing model, the rear seat legroom and headroom are unchanged, but clever packaging has yielded 20.3 cubic feet of cargo room over the outgoing model’s 17.2 cubic feet, bringing the Q3 on par with rivals like the Volvo XC40 and BMW X1. The exception, of course, would be the plug-in hybrid model that eats into some trunk space to make room for the hybird battery.
2026 Audi Performance & Price
In Europe, there are plenty of engine options to choose from, including a diesel (that won’t make it stateside), but U.S.-bound Q3s will most likely feature a mild-hybrid 1.5-liter turbocharged inline four with 148 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, or a punchier 2.0-liter unit that produces 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet, paired to Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. Both employ a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
But perhaps the most compelling option and the one to watch for will be the plug-in hybrid that combines a 1.5-liter engine with an electric motor with 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet. With a 19.7 kWh battery, it’s good for 75 miles of all-electric range on the European (WLTP) cycle. On a 50-kW DC fast charger, you can top up the battery from 10-80 percent in under 80 minutes. As for ride and handling, three new suspension setups will be available, ranging from steel springs on the entry-level car to sport and an optional adaptive suspension setup.
Prices start at €44,600 (~$48,000) and €49,300 (~$57,000) for the plug-in hybrid model. European deliveries of the new Q3 begin in September, with U.S. arrival expected later this year or in early 2026. Audi is also exploring localizing production amid tariff pressures, and given the Q3’s U.S. sales success, a shift to manufacturing at one of its sites, like VW’s Chattanooga plant in Tennessee, seems like the obvious next step. Also, we can’t rule out a coupe-style Q3 Sportback, and SQ3 or even an RS Q3, but just don’t expect a five-cylinder under the hood.
Source: Audi
