The third-generation Audi Q3 is expected to resemble the recently redesigned Q5 SUV when it debuts for the 2026 model year. There are two screens inside: a 12.8-inch touchscreen that faces the driver and an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster. Audi states that the Q3 in the U.S. will feature a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine instead of the 48-volt hybrid engine but has not provided further details. The Audi Q3 is a crucial car for the German company, even if car enthusiasts don’t like it as much as faster models like the RS6 Avant. Last year, the Q3 outperformed the A5 and Q7 to become Audi’s second-best-selling car in the US, trailing only the smaller Q5. The Q3 has been completely redesigned and is now in its third generation. It features a new display and a more appealing exterior design. The Q3 has split headlights, with thin LED running lights mounted above the main headlight unit. The main headlight unit is housed in a vertical trim piece that is connected to the lower bumper intake by a glossy black blade. The style resembles the new Q5 quite closely. The Q3’s face is dominated by a large grille featuring a beautiful repeating octagonal pattern, as well as Audi’s intricate LED lighting. When the Q3 is in Europe, its lights can show information from driver-assist systems on the road ahead, among other cool things. In the US, however, rules are expected to make it harder to use LED technology. The Q3 has a strong presence thanks to its pronounced shoulder lines on the headlamps and taillights, as well as its noticeable creases on the wheel arches. There is a thin light bar running the length of the SUV’s taillights, and above them are “eyebrows” that point inward. The “eyebrows” can be lit up with available digital OLED technology. The back bumper has a big fake vent that sits on top of a diffuser trim piece. The Q3 has wheels that are 17 to 20 inches in diameter. The dashboard features a head-up display and two screens aimed at the driver: an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.8-inch tablet. You can download third-party apps, such as YouTube because the screens run on the Android Automotive OS operating system. VW states that AI is utilized in its voice-activated “learning” assistant. To make more room in the center panel, Audi also relocated the gear selector to a stalk positioned behind the steering wheel. The middle console features two USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and two cupholders. There are also two USB-C ports for rear-seat passengers. The front windows of the 2026 Q3 will be laminated to help keep the car quiet. A sophisticated lit look can also be added to the doors by letting light pass through a 300-times laser-cut cloth strip. A new 12-speaker Sonos sound system is now available. It has four fixed sound profiles: Concert, Lounge, Podcast, and Neutral. It also features additional settings, such as “bass intensification” and “music revitalization,” designed to enhance the sound quality of compressed songs. When the back seats are in place, the Q3’s trunk can hold 17 cubic feet, but when the bench is folded down, it can hold 49 cubic feet. Audi told Invoice-pricing that the Q3 will only be sold in the US with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine and no hybrid help, which means there will be no 48-volt system. The Q3 will be available with a range of different powertrains in Europe. The 2025 Q3 features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 228 horsepower and is available with all-wheel drive as standard. As we await more information on Audi’s U.S. powertrain, the base turbo four in Europe utilizes the 48-volt technology we previously discussed to deliver 147 horsepower to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Also sent to Europe is a diesel engine with four cylinders and 147 horsepower, as well as a gas engine with four cylinders and all-wheel drive that produces either 201 or 261 horsepower. An electric hybrid car with 268 hp and a 20-kWh battery is expected to have a range of approximately 63 miles. The Q3 can pull up to 4,630 pounds, according to Audi. A steel-spring suspension will come standard on the Q3, but a sports suspension can be added if desired. You can also get a setup with better two-valve dampers. For speeds up to 130 mph, there is now a new feature called “Adaptive Driving Assistant Plus,” which helps you stop, accelerate, and maintain a certain distance from the car in front of you. The device will help with lane changes on roads at speeds over 55 mph. It features a new camera inside that monitors the driver’s attention and detects signs of fatigue. Audi has announced that the Q3 will be sold in the US next year. More information about the US model will be released soon. In Europe, the third season is scheduled to start in October. The starting price of the current 2025 Q3 is $41,095, so the new one will not cost much more. However, we’ll have to wait a few months until Audi releases all the information for the US market.
