The Audi Q3 is back for its third generation, and it's not just a facelift – it's had a full-blown overhaul, especially on the inside.
Since launching in 2011, Audi has sold over two million Q3s worldwide, making it one of their best-sellers. The new model is set to arrive in the UK this September, starting from £38,300.
From the outside, it’s all sharp lines and slim lights – a big step away from the softer, rounded look of the last version. It borrows some seriously sleek lighting tech from the new A6 Avant, including a full-width rear light bar and even an illuminated Audi badge on the back.
But the biggest change? It’s inside. Audi has ditched traditional stalks (like indicators and wipers) and replaced them with a futuristic panel of buttons on the steering wheel hub, which they call the ‘steering wheel control unit’. You’ll now control everything – from lights to drive modes – using physical buttons that don’t move. It’s bold, and if people like it, Audi plans to roll it out across more models.
They’re not the first to try something new here – Tesla tried something similar on the Model 3, but brought stalks back for the updated Model Y after mixed reviews. So, Audi will be watching feedback closely.
Another major interior change is the removal of the traditional gear lever, freeing up space for proper cup holders and a wireless charging pad. You also get a new 12.8-inch touchscreen and an 11.9-inch digital instrument display – both sharp and modern.
Power-wise, the Q3 sticks with familiar VW Group tech. The entry-level option is a 148bhp mild-hybrid, but there’s also a punchier plug-in hybrid with 268bhp and a proper 75 miles of electric-only range – double what the old one offered. That version starts at £45,800. There's also a 148bhp diesel at around £40,000 – one of the last Audis to offer diesel, as the brand shifts towards electrification.
What’s still up in the air is the future of the RS Q3. The previous gen used the beastly 394bhp five-cylinder engine from the RS3, but with tighter emissions rules and Audi going big on EVs, its return is uncertain.
