SAN LUIS OBISPO, California—I’ll be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve driven an Audi Q3, but my last experience, whenever that was, left a sour taste in my mouth. I have a vague recollection of cheap plastic and subpar seat comfort. Sure, it drove nice, but everything else was kind of meh.
2026 Audi Q3 Pictures
What’s new on the Audi Q3: Exterior
The 2026 Audi Q3 is about 2 inches longer and a half inch wider than the previous-gen model. This translates into up to 29 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 50 cubic feet behind the first. The most visible change, however, is going to be to the exterior, with a new grille, new headlights and taillights, and a more upright stance. Full LED lighting is standard.
What’s new on the Audi Q3: Interior
On the interior, the new Q3 cashes in on the big mono-screen trend, and it houses a 11.9-inch digital cluster and 12.8-inch infotainment screen. The Q3 debuts a new Audi user interface on its infotainment system, with larger and redesigned app icons, which will be rolled out across the app and future vehicles. Oh, and with the Q3.
New Shifter
Engines
Though the engine itself isn’t new, it is, as Audi says, “thoroughly updated.” The 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, which is more power than any of its competitors—including the BMW X1. The standard transmission is a 7-speed automatic. One of the more impressive things to note about this new powertrain: It does not require premium fuel.
Ride and Handling
As you would expect, there is a little bit of sporty baked into the 2026 Audi Q3. We stayed in the “Balanced” drive mode for most of the drive, and it was well-suited to the everyday driving most people do. It had decent throttle response, and just enough fun to keep you engaged. I toggled through “Dynamic” and “Comfort” modes as well, but ended up back in Balanced because seemed to be, well, a nice balance between sporty and comfortable.
If you aren’t used to sporty vehicles, however, it’s worth noting the ride for the Q3 is more on the firm side of things, so you will feel the road’s imperfections more than you would in some other subcompact SUVs. But that firm ride is also part of the enjoyment.
Power and Perfomance
Audi has done a great job with the engine updates, and the acceleration feels plenty quick. The overall size of the Q3 makes it nimble. So, the end result is a vehicle that has a fun-to-drive dynamic with more carlike handling.
I have previously complained about turbo lag in Audi vehicles when accelerating from a stop, but the updates to the Q3 engine eliminates most of the lag.
What we liked
With the update, you get a lot of new standard features on the Audi Q3, such as heated front seats and tri-zone climate controls. Other standard features that were once optional or not available include the remote start, the Audi Connect App Store, wireless phone charging, keyless entry, power folding mirrors, driver’s memory seat, rear side airbags, ambient lighting, and 3 years of pre-paid maintenance. So, while the base price for the new Q3 might look like a big leap, it’s not as much as you’d think.
I also really really liked the new user interface for the infotainment system. The app icons are well designed and large, thus being easy to tap while driving. The new mono screen that houses the infotainment and digital cluster feels well-planned rather than like an afterthought, and the camera views on the screen are high definition and clear. The Q3 has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and one of the really cool things I liked is that the map in the instrument cluster mirrors whatever you’re using on the infotainment system.
A few things that could be improved
Frankly, there isn’t much that I didn’t like about the 2026 Audi Q3. It’s well put together and quiet, but if I had to point to a few things, and be really picky, I’d start with the lack of a lever—manual or otherwise—in the cargo area that will release the rear seats to fold flat. I also thought the cup holders were a little too small for the large beverages Americans are wont to carry along with them. My 18-ounce Yeti-brand drink bottle, for example, was too wide for the bottom of the holder, thus it bobbled around a bit. Annoying but not a dealbreaker. Especially since the bottle holders in the door were perfectly placed and could hold the Yeti no problem.
Another picky point: There is black lacquer on the console area. Sigh. It looks good as long as it isn’t dirty or dusty or fingerprinted, but if you don’t carry a dust cloth in your arm rest, it won’t stay any of those things for long. Speaking of the armrest, if you open it partially to reach for something, like a dust cloth, you can’t close it again without opening it all the way.
Prices and Trim Levels
For 2026, there is just one well-equipped Q3 trim level: the TFSI quattro S tronic. It includes things such as LED headlights, leather seats, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, and a 12.8-inch infotainment screen for $44,995, including destination.
Instead of trim levels, the Q3 now includes a series of available packages, including:
- Infotainment ($1,000): SiriusXM with 360L Sonos sound system, and four USB outlets (2 front, 2 rear)
- Technology ($1,400): Head-up display and OLED taillights.
- Driver Assistance ($1,250): Adaptive cruise assist, heated steering wheel, upgrade park assist, and top-view camera.
- Black Optic ($750): Black exterior mirror housings, black exterior trim, and black roof rails.
If you opt for all the things, which is what we drove in San Luis Obispo, you’ll top out at $51,790, which includes destination, premium paint ($595), and the 20-inch wheel package ($1,800).
Our take:
Sure, this is just a first spin, but our initial impression of the 2026 Audi Q3 is favorable. It’s vastly improved over the previous generation, even if it is a little more expensive. It has a lot of cargo space, comfortable seats, more power, great tech, and a lot of standard amenities.
The next-generation Q3 is a tidy package, and if you’re looking for a small but sporty SUV, this is going to be a good place to start your search.
Listen to the Car Stuff Podcast
2026 Audi Q3 Pictures
2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige: 5 Cool things (Review)
