Audi Q3 review

The Audi Q3 is a family SUV which the German manufacturer hopes will be loved as much as the third quarter (or Q3) of the calendar year, from July to September. Barbecues, holidays, sunshine (sometimes, at least) – what’s not to like?

And Audi knows it has a winning formula on its hands already, with the previous versions of the Q3 proving to be some of its most popular models.

This new third generation version delivers a big shakeup inside and a rejig in the engine department which delivers a range of petrol options, a diesel and a plug-in hybrid with a very impressive official electric range.

There’s also still a choice between this Q3 SUV, which we’re focusing on in this review, or the coupe-styled Audi Q3 Sportback, which gets the same ingredients but with a sloping roofline.

So, what’s the new Q3 like and how does it compare to its rivals, including the BMW X1, Volkswagen Tiguan and Volvo XC40? Read on to find out.

How fast is it and which engine is best?

The Audi Q3 has a strong lineup of engines on offer. Things start with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine called the 1.5 TFSI 150, and this is expected to be the biggest seller. While it’s one of the slowest options in the Q3 lineup, covering 0-62mph in 9.1sec, it’s still plenty quick enough for real-world use. If you do want more performance, though, there are two other pure petrol four-wheel drive options which are quicker: the TFSI 204 and TFSI 265.

Even so, the quickest engine option in the lineup is the e-hybrid 272. It’s a plug-in hybrid which officially covers 0-62mph in 6.8sec, and has a pure electric range of up to 73 miles – which is very impressive, and rivals that of the plug-in hybrid version of the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Completing the lineup is a diesel TDI 150 which, on paper, offers very similar straight-line performance to the TFSI 150 petrol.

Overall, while we’re yet to drive every single engine option available with the Q3, it’s the TFSI 150 that looks the most recommendable.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

There are three different suspension setups available. Entry-level Sport and S Line versions get the regular “comfort” setup, while range-topping Edition 1 gets a firmer sports suspension. On all trim levels you can pay extra for an optional adaptive suspension setup, which allows you to adjust the suspension yourself to choose between “dynamic” and “comfort” settings, depending on whether you’d prefer a firmer or softer ride.

So far, we’ve only driven Q3s on its optional adaptive setup, and it’s very nice to drive, and few family SUVs can match the Q3 when it comes to handling. Everything feels well tied down and settled at all speeds, and the well-weighted, accurate steering helps this SUV feel light on its toes.

All the Q3s we’ve driven so far also come with Audi’s “progressive steering” which gets faster the more you turn the wheel. This happens in a gradual manner and makes placing the car accurately on the road easy; it also means tight, low-speed turns require less arm-twirling. It’s standard on Edition 1 models, and optional on the other trims.

Things are on the firm side, especially at lower speeds, but it’s never uncomfortable and body movements are very well controlled, so any judders caused by passing over road imperfections are dealt with smoothly and quickly. There are softer riding cars in the family SUV class, though, like the Volvo XC40.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The Audi Q3 is pretty quiet inside on the move, in terms of wind and road noise. You’ll notice some suspension thumps as you pass over road imperfections, but not to an extreme extent. 

A bigger problem is the fact the TFSI 150 petrol engine is unpleasantly boomy when revved hard; when you’re joining a motorway, for example. The same goes for the petrol engine in the plug-in hybrid – the transition between electric and petrol power in that car is mostly smooth, but under hard acceleration, the engine can sound strained.

The automatic gearbox on all versions, meanwhile, shifts very slickly on the move but can be a little hesitant when pulling away.

“I think it’s handy having a button in the plug-in hybrid to force the car into EV mode, if there’s enough juice in the battery, to help keep your fuel bills to a minimum” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

All versions of the Audi Q3 have a massive dual-screen layout on top of the dashboard, providing a fully digital driver display and touchscreen infotainment system.

While the basic layout is the same for all versions, some of the materials change as you go up the trim levels. You get cloth upholstery as standard but S Line adds artificial leather while range-topping Edition 1 gets a microfibre finish. A big plastic panel on the dashboard also changes colour from a light grey to a darker black on the top trim. What’s more, Edition 1 has a no-cost choice of some slightly different colour schemes for the front seats (but don’t expect any bright colours, they are all dark). 

In terms of overall quality, there are some cheaper-feeling plastics around lower down on the dashboard (and for the steering wheel controls, which don’t feel anywhere near as plush as the old Q3’s) but for the most part, things look and feel pretty upmarket inside the Q3 – a Volvo XC40’s interior still feels more consistently premium, though.

Everything inside is very similar to what you get in the bigger Audi Q5. While the interior in that car doesn’t impress much at that price point, to get a very similar setup for less money in the Q3 means it compares more favourably here. It’s still the case, unfortunately, that new Audi interiors don’t set the same high standards as they used to for quality and usability, though.

Audi has opted to reinvent the stalks on the steering column for this new Q3. Now, instead of having two traditional stalks sprouting out, you have a single block which runs along the top of the wheel and houses the controls for things like the indicators, wipers and gear selector on either side. This seems unconventional but has no drawbacks (or benefits, for that matter) from a more conventional setup.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

It’s very easy to get a comfortable driving position in the Q3, with electric four-way lumbar support coming as standard.

Visibility is great, with the relatively high SUV driving position offering a good view out of the front and the pillars not obstructing the view at junctions significantly (although, so far, we’ve only sampled a left-hand drive Q3 on British roads). The view out of the back is also very good (and even in the Q3 Sportback with its sloping roofline, the shallower rear windscreen still gives a decent view out behind).

Range-topping models come with Matrix LED headlights, which can automatically adapt their beam to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers and also project signals onto the road in front of you to highlight hazards, such as icy conditions, and show where the car is placed in its lane.

A reversing camera with 360deg parking sensors comes as standard, but a full 360deg camera setup is part of a pricey optional pack.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The fully digital driver display has been designed in a way to try and prevent the top of the steering wheel blocking your view of it – it’s still unlikely to be perfect for all drivers, but should work for most.

The touchscreen infotainment, meanwhile, is responsive and has a simple layout, but without separate physical controls for it, it can be a bit fiddly to poke and prod some of the small icons on the screen while you’re driving. There is, though, a big ledge at the base of the screen where you can balance your hand while you jab the screen. Even so, separate physical controls would still be far simpler, especially for the climate controls (which are disappointingly controlled only via the touchscreen or the voice command system).

“I don’t really like the look of the infotainment system graphics that come as standard. There are different themes you can choose from but you have to pay for them, which I think is quite stingy on an expensive car like this” – Will Nightingale, Reviews editor

How much space does it have for people?

There’s plenty of room up front, and a decent-sized cubby under the central arm rest. There are two cupholders on the centre console and a shallow lidded storage tray at the bottom of the dashboard where the two USB-C ports are housed, along with the wireless charging tray.

Space in the back is very good indeed. There’s very generous legroom, even for tall adults, and the available headroom is great, too. The Sportback offers an identical amount of legroom, but headroom (because of that car’s sloping roofline) is significantly worse – adults will feel cramped sitting up straight.

There’s a lot of foot space in the rear for the outer passengers, with room under the seats in front as well. However the middle seat has a tall transmission tunnel to contend with, and the centre console encroaches into a lot of knee room there as well.

While the Q3 is great in the back, a BMW X1 is bigger still. A big advantage for the Q3 over lots of its rivals is the fact that the rear seats slide and recline as standard, offering a big range of adjustment to get comfortable (or increase the boot space).

How much room does it have for luggage?

In total, the Q3 offers 488 litres of boot space below the parcel shelf, but space drops down to 375 litres if you go for a plug-in hybrid version (because the battery takes up a chunk of underfloor storage).

In the old Q3, we could fit seven suitcases in the boot of the regular car (the same as the boot of a Volvo XC40), and six suitcases in the plug-in hybrid, and we expect it to be the same for the new car. That’s good, if not quite as impressive as the very practical Volkswagen Tiguan, which can fit nine, while the X1 can fit eight.

A height-adjustable boot floor comes as standard in all apart from the plug-in hybrid version.

Capacity below the parcel shelf is the same, by the way, in both the regular Q3 and the Q3 Sportback – but it’s above the parcel shelf where the sloping roofline of the Sportback robs some space compared to the regular SUV version. As well as offering a sliding and reclining function, the rear seats split-fold 40/20/40 as standard.

“Moving the gear selector to the steering column has freed up space on the centre console, but I think the shallow cubby you’re left with makes that seem hardly worth the fuss” – Stuart Milne, Digital editor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The Q3 is priced slightly above its rivals, like the BMW X1, Volkswagen Tiguan and Volvo XC40, but not to a huge extent in its lower trim levels. A Q3 Sportback is £1500 more than the regular Q3 SUV, and therefore difficult to recommend objectively considering it’s more expensive but offers less space for passengers.

There are three trim levels to choose from: Sport, S Line and Edition 1. Entry-level Sport comes with lots of equipment as standard, such as heated front seats and adaptive cruise control. Going up to S Line brings some styling tweaks, while Edition 1 adds the progressive steering we mentioned earlier, and yet more cosmetic flourishes, but it pushes the price up a lot. You’ll still likely want to consider adding some of the pricey optional packs.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

The new Q3 is too new to have any reliability data for, but Audi as a brand finished a disappointing 24th place out of 31 manufacturers in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey.

You get a three-year or 60,000-mile warranty, which is among the stingiest offerings out there. You can extend it to four years and 75,000 miles or five years and 90,000 miles, but you have to pay.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

The new Audi Q3 is too new to have been tested by crash safety experts Euro NCAP, but plenty of safety equipment comes as standard including lane departure warning and a driver monitor system as well as front and rear cross-traffic alert. It also comes with all the anti-theft features you’d hope for in a new car to deter thieves.

“I’m always surprised that coupe-style versions of SUVs are more expensive than the regular body shape – because you are paying more money to have a less practical car. And that’s the case with the Q3 Sportback.” – Doug Revolta, Head of video

Buy it if

- You want a premium family SUV that’s good to drive

- You want a plug-in hybrid with a brilliant electric range

Don’t buy it if

- You want the softest-riding SUV

- You want a long warranty as standard

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