Discover

Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 has been one of the fixtures of the premium compact SUV segment for more than ten years. With generation three (world premiere in June 2025) Audi wants to do two things at once: make it visually tighter and more muscular, and make it feel inside like a miniature full-size Audi in terms of tech, lighting and driver assistance. The result is a Q3 that is not only more practical than you think, but also feels remarkably high-tech in daily use, from a new control concept to micro-LED Matrix lights and an infotainment ecosystem that genuinely runs on its own.

Key points (short, promise):

• New design plus better aero and acoustics (including optional acoustic glass at the front, Cd around 0.30).

• Micro-LED Digital Matrix LED with 25,600 micro-LEDs per module plus 23-segment DRL signatures.

• Digital Stage cockpit: 11.9-inch cluster plus 12.8-inch MMI curved display, HUD optional.

• Q3 e-hybrid with up to 119 km WLTP electric range and DC charging up to 50 kW.

• Smarter assistance: including adaptive driving assistant plus, trained parking and reverse assist.

Exterior: compact, but wider, lower and more emotional

Audi clearly makes the Q3 more Q in its presence: broader-looking shoulders, a high-set Singleframe and sharply drawn headlights fully integrated into the aero concept. Along the flank runs a pronounced shoulder line from light to light, which visually splits the body into two zones (light and shadow). And those typically Audi power blisters above the wheel arches subtly nod to the quattro heritage.

At the rear you get a much cleaner picture: a crisply drawn light strip across the full width, optional digital OLED tail lights and even illuminated Audi rings.

Q3 Sportback feel, without having to choose the Sportback

Audi once again positions the Q3 as an SUV and Sportback family. The Sportback remains the coupe line within the range: the roofline slopes from the A-pillar and sits 29 mm lower than the SUV, for a faster, sportier silhouette.

Colours and wheels
There are 11 exterior colours (including Glacier White, Mythos Black, Navarra Blue and Progressive Red), plus new shades such as Sage Green and Madeira Brown (the latter also as an exclusive matte finish). Wheels start at 17 inch and go up to 20 inch, with wider tyres (from 215 to 235 mm) and Audi Sport designs up to 20 inch.

Lighting technology: micro-LED Matrix, full-size class in a compact package

This is one of the real USPs of this generation. The Q3 is the first Audi to use a micro-LED module in its digital Matrix LED headlights (replacing DMD). We are talking about 25,600 micro-LEDs on a module roughly 13 mm wide, each LED around 40 micrometres in size. What that gives you in practice:

• Stronger contrast and better illumination in difficult conditions (rain, fog, darkness).

• Light functions that work together with the assistance systems, for example warnings projected visually onto the road.

• Smart scenarios for construction zones, lane guidance and orientation lights.

• Personalisable signatures: DRL with 23 segments per side and several coming and leaving home scenarios.

• At the rear: optional digital OLED with segments spread over panels and selectable signatures.

Interior: Digital Stage, more sense of space and a new control DNA

Audi brings the big Audi feel to the compact class:

• 11.9-inch instrument cluster plus 12.8-inch MMI touch (curved), together the digital stage.

• HUD optional.

• Android Automotive OS as the basis, with the Audi Application Store (apps such as YouTube run without a smartphone).

• An Audi assistant with AI, visible as an avatar in the MMI and (when active) in the HUD and cluster too.

New steering-column controls mean more room where it counts

One striking change: the steering wheel control unit with two new steering-column stalks. On the right sits the gear selector, on the left you manage the lights and wipers. The result: more room in the centre console (cupholders, extra storage) and a tidier layout.

Audio and ambience

Optionally there is a SONOS premium sound system with 12 speakers (including centre and sub) and up to 420 watts of amplifier power, with different sound profiles (neutral, concert, lounge, podcast). Extra sound features can be added later via Functions on Demand. Ambient lighting goes beyond a simple LED strip: the front doors are optionally available with large illuminated panels (laser-cut patterns plus dynamic light progression, 30 colours via the MMI).

Sustainability (without preaching)

Audi uses recycled polyester for several fabrics and upholsteries and Econyl (recycled nylon) for the velour floor mats, among other things.

Practical: sliding bench, towing capacity and real family logic

The Q3 remains a daily hero:

• 488 litres of boot space as standard.

• With the rear bench fully forward and upright: up to 575 litres.

• Maximum with the bench folded: 1,386 litres (SUV) or 1,289 litres (Sportback).

• The rear bench is longitudinally adjustable and the backrest angle is adjustable as standard.

• Towing capacity up to 2,100 kg (nose weight: 90 kg).

Comfort and acoustics have been addressed too: for the first time in this segment at Audi you can specify acoustic glazing for the front side windows, which is most noticeable on the motorway.

Engines: mild-hybrid petrol, diesel, quattro TFSIs and the strong e-hybrid

Audi casts a wide net, depending on the market:

1.5 TFSI, 150 hp
Mild hybrid plus 7-speed S tronic, with cylinder on demand (COD) (cylinders 2 and 3 can temporarily shut down under low to medium load).

2.0 TDI, 150 hp
Diesel with 360 Nm, aimed at high-mileage drivers.

2.0 TFSI quattro

• 204 hp, 320 Nm

• 265 hp, 400 Nm (top petrol)

Q3 e-hybrid (PHEV) with 272 hp of system power, 400 Nm

• 1.5 TFSI (177 hp) plus e-motor

• HV battery: 25.7 kWh gross / 19.7 kWh net

• Electric range: up to 119 km WLTP (SUV) / 118 km WLTP (Sportback)

• DC charging up to 50 kW (10 to 80% in under 30 minutes in ideal conditions)

• Audi charging: access to charging points in 28 European countries

Chassis and handling: a wider spread between comfort and sport

New is the twin-valve damper control (optional), which can manage rebound and compression separately. That makes the step between comfortable cruising and tighter driving bigger and more clearly felt. Progressive steering has been refined: precise around the centre, but clearly more agile towards full lock. Via Audi drive select, balanced is the new default mode (replacing auto). For quattro there is also offroad plus, which you can set as the default via the MMI.

Assistance: smarter, more personal and (finally) better at parking

Standard at launch: lane departure warning with emergency assist, traffic sign recognition, attention and fatigue warning with driver monitoring, active front assist with evasion and turning assist, plus parking system plus, among others.

Highlights:

• Adaptive driving assistant plus: longitudinal and lateral guidance up to 210 km/h and assisted lane change from 90 km/h on the motorway (with clear arrows in the cluster and HUD).

• Trained parking: teach it your own parking manoeuvres (up to 5 manoeuvres, each up to 50 m).

• Reverse assist: can reverse around 50 m on its own (up to about 10 km/h) after memorising the route (below 35 km/h).

• Emergency assistant can (with the Tech pro package) steer to the hard shoulder and stop if the driver does not respond.