2026 Audi Q3 revealed – third gen will get micro-LED headlights, new stalks, PHEV with 119 km EV vary

With over two million bought in additional than a decade, the Audi Q3 has grow to be one in all Ingolstadt’s most dependable best-sellers. As such, there’s lots driving on the brand new third era, which has simply been revealed with a all-new design and a swathe of the most recent applied sciences – most of which have been lifted from different fashions within the lineup. No strain, then.

Constructed on an advanced model of the outgoing automobile’s MQB structure (MQB Evo), the Q3 adopts Audi’s newest, extra rounded design language, drawing loads of inspiration from the Q5. As per that automobile, you get a wider however slimmer model of the trademark Singleframe grille, flanked by segmented “digital” (i.e. customisable) daytime operating mild strips and large pretend aspect air intakes – right here housing the primary headlights.

Alongside the aspect, you’ll discover the standard “quattro” blistered entrance and rear fenders, together with a window line that dips downwards on the A-pillars earlier than rising as much as type the kinked D-pillars. A reduce on the high of the latter accentuates the gently-sweeping roofline and creates the in-vogue “floating roof” aesthetic.

Much like the brand new A6, the Q3 options dual-tier taillights, with the full-width decrease strip main in the direction of vertical indicators, forming an L form of kinds. Extra fakery could be discovered within the big rear bumper “vent” on the S line mannequin seen right here, sitting above a diffuser.

As with different Audis, the Q3 could be optioned with matrix LED headlights, right here that includes the model’s first use of micro LED know-how. The lamps incorporate a whopping 25,600 particular person diodes, offering not simply higher-resolution adaptive excessive beam but additionally the power to show data reminiscent of lane strains, blind spot warnings and even an ice image to warn of slippery circumstances forward.

Plus, you possibly can spec the automobile with customisable OLED taillights, together with wheels measuring between 17 and 20 inches in diameter. The drag coefficient is an honest if not spectacular 0.30, and for the primary time in a compact Audi, the Q3 comes with acoustic entrance aspect home windows to enhance refinement.

Inside, the automobile continues to hold over cues from bigger new Audis, together with a curved “digital stage” widescreen show panel housing an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch MMI infotainment touchscreen. Predictably, you possibly can’t get a passenger display like you possibly can the others, however there’s a head-up show, a 15-watt cooled Qi wi-fi charger and even giant areas of ambient lighting within the doorways, created by laser-cutting the material panel 300 instances.

The newest MMI interface is predicated on the Android Automotive OS – with apps like YouTube accessible by the built-in MMI join retailer, plus generative AI inbuilt – and is ready to pump music by an optionally available 12-speaker, 420-watt Sonos sound system.

New for Audi are the column stalks, usually the least talked-about facet of a automobile. Taking a web page from Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and a rising variety of Chinese language automobiles, the suitable stalk is the gear selector, whereas the left stalk combines the capabilities of the lights, indicators and wipers – with separate knobs and buttons for the latter and the washers, it appears mighty sophisticated to function.

This was performed to unencumber extra space for storing within the centre console, though it nonetheless solely homes the aforementioned wi-fi charger and twin cupholders. The boot house will not be way more spectacular – at 488 litres, it’s really almost 50 litres lower than earlier than, though you possibly can slide the rear seats ahead to spice up capability to 575 litres. Folding down these pews will web you a most of 1,386 litres.

The smaller boot is probably going the consequence of getting to suit a battery beneath, as a result of the Q3 comes with a brace of gentle hybrid powertrains. The vary begins with a 150 PS 1.5 litre TFSI turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, outfitted with cylinder deactivation and a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission.

Shifting up the ladder, you’ll discover a 2.0 litre TFSI mill that sends 265 PS and 400 Nm of torque by a standard-fit quattro all-wheel-drive system, whereas a front-wheel-drive 2.0 litre TDI turbodiesel can also be accessible, churning out 150 PS and 360 Nm.

On the high of the lineup sits the plug-in hybrid Q3 e-hybrid, which pairs an undisclosed engine with a 116 PS/330 Nm electrical motor for a complete system output of 272 PS and 400 Nm. In comparison with the outgoing Q3 TFSI e, the e-hybrid’s 25.7 kWh battery has virtually twice the capability, boosting pure electrical vary to as much as 119 km (up from simply 50 km earlier than) on the WLTP cycle. The automobile helps as much as 50 kW of DC quick charging, taking lower than half an hour to cost from 10 to 80%.

When it comes to suspension, Audi presents a selection between customary or sports activities setups, in addition to optionally available twin-valve adaptive dampers. The corporate has labored to enhance steering response and really feel, the latter due to diminished friction; there’s additionally accessible variable-ratio steering to offer the feeling of added agility.

Driver help techniques embody customary autonomous emergency braking, evasive steering help, lane holding help, entrance cross visitors alert, visitors signal recognition and driver consideration monitoring. You’ll be able to, after all, get extra assist by the adaptive driving assistant plus that gives Degree 2 semi-autonomous driving, in addition to automated lane modifications.

For the primary time, the system’s emergency cease help is ready to drive the automobile to the emergency lane earlier than stopping if it detects the driving force is incapacitated. There’s additionally a educated parking characteristic for the park help that may mechanically carry out parking manoeuvres in carports or garages after being taught, plus a reversing assistant.

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Be taught extra: Audi Q3 2026