Audi’s SUV lineage can trace its roots back to 2005 when the Q7 first burst onto the scene, it was followed shortly after by the Q5 which debuted in 2008 and then the Q3 in late 2011. Even without mentioning the Q2 or Q8, that is quite a CV already! The addition of the Q3 to Audi’s lineup expanded its offering to a new part of the market, younger buyers with a more urban friendly lifestyle who would eventually progress into family life where a larger Q vehicle would await. The Q3 benefitted hugely from prior releases of the Q5 and Q7, allowing Audi to take its learnings from those and apply it to this new, smaller platform back in 2011.
In the 15 years that has since passed, the Q3 has recorded over 2 million units sold, spread across two generations that have offered the SUV in its traditional form as well as a coupe body style. Safe to say, the Q3 has indeed been a success for Audi. It should come as no surprise then to see that a new generation has been launched!
Unveiled to the world in mid-late 2025 and more recently finding its way to our shores, the new Q3 arguably represents the biggest leap forward that any prior generation has taken before. Not just in its styling or powertrain development but in technology which has arguably seen the greatest advancement over the previous generation, this also includes aspects that will be a first for the Audi lineup entirely! Namely, the all new fixed unit that incorporates the gear selector, indicator and wiper stalks but more on that later.
Let’s start off with the exterior but first, some context! It’s been a significant 12-month period for Audi here in New Zealand with the launch of the Q5 coming in around this time last year. The Q5 of course being the brand’s most successful model locally and now, the Q3 is here as well. Like the previous generations, Audi’s intention was to give it a look that identifies it as part of the Q family but with enough differences to make this recognizable as a Q3. Positively, the intention shines through to the finished product here.
This new Q3 features Audi’s split headlight fascia with the slit like digital matrix LED DRLs (daytime running lights) atop and the chunkier headlight units below. Worth noting that the DRLs have a few different signatures on offer which can be selected based on your preference, via the infotainment screen. Audi of course really pioneered the inclusion of LED headlight signatures with the R8 back in 2006 and so it should come as no surprise to see them exercise creativity when it comes to the headlight units of their newer models. Stick around long enough after locking the car and you will be treated to a light show of sorts from the Q3’s headlights, culminating with a flash of the four rings before turning off.
A hexagonal gloss black grille completes the sense of Audi familiarity at the front. Despite the fact that the four rings are now darkened and sit flush within the grille, a move to favour the logo’s appearance in a digital landscape but perhaps one that has become slightly lackluster in its real world form.
Speaking of appearances, the uninitiated could easily mistake this new generation Q3 for a Q5 and for good reason because the car has indeed grown. Length is now 4.53m, width is 1.86m and height is just over 1.6m. Still very much a compact footprint as far as SUVs go but one that is now certainly more prominent in size when compared with its predecessors. On the note of a footprint, this particular 195kW models comes with 20 inch ‘5-spoke tripod’ Audi Sport wheels that are only available on this range topping model, not to be confused with the Audi Sport ‘5-twin-spoke peak’ or ‘5-arm dynamic’ wheels available on the other two Q3 models.
What is unmistakable though is its looks, certainly from the rear where a new taillight cluster sees the inclusion of ‘Digital OLED’ units (195kW only) and a light bar, the latter of which will offer a show of its own when locked/unlocked. The real topic of conversation with the rear would have to be that illuminated badge, it’s something that I first spotted on the A6 e-tron which I reviewed last year and am still unsure of my fondness for it. Can’t argue that it certainly denotes the marque’s prominence to other road users but the use of the colour red might make you an unwanted victim of tailgating, even more so than normal!
Electric assistance will help lift the lid and expose a sizeable 488L worth of cargo space which can of course can be expanded to 1,386L once the seats are dropped down. Notably, the coupe will have lesser room on offer but that is to be expected when the roofline/c-pillar drops as sharply as it does in that particular variant. To each their own but I reckon I’d have the extra practicality (and save $3,000) because the new Q3 looks cool enough as is, certainly in this shade of ‘Sage Green’ which is one of two new hero colours on offer, the other being ‘Madeira Brown Matt’ which is a $5,500 option. With ten colour choices on offer, this is actually a rather difficult decision to make because ‘Malpelo Blue’, ‘Navarra Blue’ and ‘Progressive Red’ are all worthy of being chosen as well!
Prospective buyers are also spoilt for choice on the interior where the ‘ambient lighting package pro’ boasts a myriad of colours to choose from. In this particular 195kW S-Line quattro model, the interior upholstery is mainly leather with the inclusion of Audi’s ‘Dinamica microfibre’ on the door cards as well. In general, the cabin feels like a return to form for the brand, high quality fit and finishes all around with premium materials including metal door handles and an ‘aluminium Divergence’ inlay that goes across the dashboard. Yes, gloss black plastic rears its ugly head once again and although it does look swish on a brand new vehicle (case in point above), it’s hard to see this finish being maintained once rings, watches, keychains etc are thrown at it, not literally, but you get what I mean!
The above aside, the interior is nicely kitted out with the inclusion of a premium SONOS sound system with 3D effects and modes, part of the $5,000 ‘MMI experience pro’ package that also adds a heads up display and higher capacity USB charging. This review vehicle also came optioned with the $4,000 ‘panoramic sunroof’ option, which can be opened to improve the cabin’s airiness. Although that isn’t generally a problem as the windows are sizeable all around, making the interior appear more spacious than it possibly is!
The keener eyed among you would have picked up on the lack of a gear shifter within the centre console. There’s a very good reason for that as this lever has been moved to the top of the steering column. It’s an all new inclusion to the ‘Virtual Cockpit’ layout that features the indicator and wipers on the other side as visible below. Admittedly, it takes a moment to get familiar with because this is quite a radical change to a part that drivers will interact with multiple times on each journey. From a reviewer’s perspective, the gear shifter is an easy one to get used to as the move to electrification has made this a norm for many other manufacturers but for someone who has come from a previous generation Q3 or Q5, this could be something new to get used. As is the indicator and wiper stalk, buyers would be well versed to take a moment to get used to this before setting off. However, once you’ve begun to live with this car, this ‘softwrap’ interior becomes second nature.
With the interior having seen such a radical change from any of Audi’s outgoing vehicles, it’s nice to see that they have gone with a tried and tested choice of powertrain on this 195kW model. Firstly, it has a 2L four cylinder turbocharged engine, mated to a 7-speed Audi S-tronic dual clutch gearbox that delivers its power to all four wheel via the quattro all wheel drive system. Power output is rated (unsurprisingly) at 195kW with torque peaking at 400Nm so there is certainly plenty on tap. In fact, this particular Q3 will do the 0-100 sprint in an impressive 5.7s, I wonder if it should have been called the SQ3 with pace like this! Fuel efficiency is rated at 9L/100km and I did see an average of 9.8L/100km during my 650 kilometres spent with the car, a figure which was well within expectations for me.
Being an S-line vehicle, the ride quality is on the firmer side but the general driving experience is rather hushed thanks to acoustic glass that does well to dissipate the various noises of the world around you. My time with the Q3 saw me complete traffic filled commutes as well as longer motorway stints and I’d have to say, the SUV did well as an all rounder. My passengers, appreciated the improved rear space and the SONOS system’s audio quality as well which does take some fiddling with before a comfortable setting is achieved. There’s plenty of power when you need it and when you don’t, the Q3 will settle in well for the long haul. At lower speeds, I appreciated its maneuverability as well.
Despite being loaded with safety equipment, I seldom found the Q3’s systems to be intrusive, only the ‘driver attention and fatigue monitor’ which would sound off first thing in the morning for some reason, often drawing a chuckle from yours truly!
The Verdict
Thus far, I’ve waxed lyrical about this new Q3 and honestly, it deserves the praise. It does well as a practical SUV, the technology isn’t too overwhelming, it’s nicely made etc. However, this review wouldn’t be complete without talking about the price and at circa $105,000 for this model as reviewed, it’s rather steep for a Q3! The other bone to pick is the name, the ‘Q3 TFSI 195kW S-line quattro’ doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue and could certainly do with some work. While the Q3’s price tag can be redeemed to some extent by looking at a base model Q5 which costs $112,990 locally, six figures for a Q3 still feels like a hard pill to swallow.
2026 Audi Q3 TFSI 195kW S-line quattro: 4.5/5
Thanks for reading! For more Audi news and reviews, visit Tarmac Life.
Car courtesy of Audi New Zealand. Pictures and words by Matthew D’Souza.
