Audi Q3 Review & Prices

Audi’s SUV range is pretty comprehensive these days, but the Q3 might just be the sweet spot. It looks good, drives well and it’s spacious, but with that being said, it’s expensive compared to similar alternatives and the interior isn’t as nice as it was in the old Q3.

You can think of it as a fancy designer watch, then. There’s an understated luxury about it and it serves a practical purpose, but it’s lost charm compared to vintage models - while going through a price hike in the process.

And just like a posh piece of wristwear, there are plenty of fancy small SUV options to consider. The Mercedes GLA and BMW X1 are prime candidates for you to cross-shop the Q3 against, but left-field choices such as the Range Rover Evoque, Volvo XC40 and Peugeot 3008 are worth considering, too.

You could also have a look at the all-electric Audi Q4 e-tron, Mazda CX-60 or Changan Deepal S07 for a stylish, battery-powered alternative.

The Q3 is a pretty handsome thing with its super-slender daytime running lights and ‘hidden’ headlights, worked into the enormous front grilles. The pronounced wheel arches and funky, four-piece taillights (including the light-up badge) are all quite tidy, but it won’t get your heart racing, either.

At a first glance, the interior is even better resolved than the exterior. There are loads of curves in the new Q3: the infotainment and driver display are in single, arched unit, the dash top sweeps up and away from you and the whole lot is designed to wrap around onto the door cards.

Most interesting is the novel indicator, wiper and light panel - in place of traditional stalks. It’s not as controversial as it looks and it actually feels pretty premium, once you’ve gotten used to it. It’s a shame there are so many scratchy plastics in easy to reach places, and the displays look cheap because the illuminated display is surrounded by black plastic.

Where the Q3 impresses is interior space, because there’s plenty of room to get comfortable and to find a good driving position. The back seats are impressively roomy, but the big floor hump and hard middle base mean they’re best suited to two people, rather than three.

Boot space ranges from just 375 litres in the plug-in hybrid to 575 litres in the petrol or diesel model with the sliding rear bench in its furthest-forward position.

Speaking of which, the aforementioned petrol options come in 1.5- and 2.0-litre flavours, the diesels are 2.0-litre-only and you can have a touch of electrification with the company car-friendly PHEV model.

It’s comfortable in town, regardless of which engine you choose, but the sportier trim levels can be pretty harsh over potholes when fitted with the larger wheels and firmer suspension. The Q3 is quiet and comfortable on the motorway, even if the basic models are sluggish, and it’s surprisingly capable on a country lane - especially in top trim Quattro guise.

Verdict

The Audi Q3 is as desirable as ever, now with an even wider choice of engines and swoopier styling. It’s a shame the interior quality has taken a hit when compared with previous generations, as a BMW X1 and even a Peugeot 3008 are more premium inside.

You can see our best Audi Q3 deals here, as well as Q3 lease deals, or find a great deal on a previous-generation Q3 by buying used. You can also search for other used Audis for sale, and remember that Carwow can even help you to sell your old car when the time comes.

Starting at just over £38,000, the Q3 is a couple of thousand pounds more expensive than an equivalent BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA. It’s easy to choose the Audi over the Mercedes, but the X1 is generously-equipped, quick and features a top-rate interior, making it a real thorn in Audi's side.

Even the entry-level Q3 Sport model comes as standard with some useful kit such as a back-up camera, keyless entry-and go, ambient interior lighting, electric boot lid, LED lights at both ends and heated front seats.

The S Line model adds a sportier bodykit, posher headlights, the illuminated badge at the rear, sports seats and privacy glass, while the Edition 1 gets a black styling pack, sophisticated Matrix LED headlights, sport suspension and the so-called ‘progressive steering’. Alloy wheel sizes are 18, 19 and 20 inches respectively.

It feels a bit stingy, though, that things like a head-up display, premium sound system or electric seats remain on the options list even for the top-spec car.

A wide range of engines means performance ranges from brisk to rapid, but only the most powerful model is fun to drive

In town

All versions of the Q3 get an automatic gearbox, all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera - all things that make driving in town easier. Unfortunately, the gearbox is slow when you need it most, taking ages to find a gear when you’re trying to zip around traffic.

There’s good all-round visibility, but the turning circle is slightly larger than in a BMW X1 or Volvo XC40, which we found made a lot of difference. The suspension copes pretty well with potholes and speed bumps, but the biggest wheels spoil things.

On the motorway

The Q3 is pretty hard to fault on the motorway, but the 150hp petrol and diesel models do take a bit of work to get up to speed. The petrol or the plug-in hybrid feel much more sprightly.

Excellent seats with lots of adjustment mean you can get super-comfy on a long journey, and Standard-fit sound-insulating glass means it’s very quiet on the go.

The adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping work really well, and models with the Matrix LED headlights light up with lane-departure warnings, blindspot warnings and even width markers, projecting them onto the road in front of you.

On a twisty road

The BMW X1 and the Cupra Formentor are both more enjoyable than the Q3 is to drive down a twisting country road in its more basic trim levels. The Audi handles corners fine, but it doesn’t encourage you to drive quickly. The top-rung, 265hp, four-wheel drive model is an exception, as the version we tested was properly good fun to drive, fitted with the optional adaptive suspension.

Decent back seats and a big boot, though hybrid models lose some space

The Audi Q3’s front seats and adjustable steering wheel suit drivers of all shapes and sizes; supportive without being restrictive, and they go back a long way for very tall people. The ISOFIX in the front passenger seat is handy for a solo parent with an infant.

Storage space is okay without being amazing. The door bins are quite small but take a bottle or two of water, and there are two large cupholders in the middle. The wireless phone charging pad is hidden under a cheap-feeling sliding cover, and the glovebox is a good size.

Space in the back seats

Rear legroom and headroom is pretty good for a small SUV, better than in the Mercedes GLA, but a BMW X1 or Volvo XC40 feel more spacious still. It’s best suited to two, as the middle pew feels quite hard and perched and there’s a very large lump in the floor.

Rear passengers get a great view out thanks to big windows and the doors open wide, which makes installing a child seat easy, with ISOFIX on both outer rear seats. The bench slides and reclines, there’s a decent amount of rear storage space and also a couple of USB-C charging ports.

Boot space

Boot space starts from 488 litres in the petrol models with the seats all the way back. Sliding them forwards liberates a capacious 575 litres. The seats fold 40:20:40 for extra versatility, while the parcel shelf can be fitted beneath the boot floor. Space is reduced in the plug-in hybrid model, which gets just 375 litres of capacity.

The Q3 features handy pockets at the sides of the boot, the floor height is adjustable, and there’s a number of hooks and tie-down points. Alternatives are also impressively practical, though, with the BMW X1 boasting 540 litres of space and the Mercedes GLA 485 litres.

Trick new control layout is really easy to get used to, but there are a few areas of the cabin that don’t live up to the premium image

The Q3’s steering wheel protrudes out of a wide, flat panel, home to the drive selector and a multifunction control for indicators, lights and wipers. It’s actually quite easy to use - in fact the indicators operate like you’re used to in other cars - albeit with a different-shaped stalk.

There’s a big 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an 11.9-inch display for the driver. The driver display is actually very wide and thin, and there’s a vast amount of wasted space around it which looks nasty. The graphics are crisp but not all that legible, with the rev counter in particular looking squished.

The infotainment screen is clearer and responsive, though it’s responsible for too many functions. Audi has ditched the physical climate controls you got on the old Q3, but the ledge at the bottom of the screen helps stabilise your hand as you prod around. Build quality is largely good and you only really find cheap, scratchy plastics low down in the cabin.

A caveat, Audi now charges you for cupholders, a glovebox lock, seatback nets, boot lights and storage, all part of the £35 ‘Function Pack’. Boo.

Audi Q3 Euro NCAP score (2025): 5/5

Adult occupant: 87%
Child occupant: 86%
Vulnerable road users: 80%
Safety assist: 78%

The range kicks off with the 1.5-litre TFSI with 150hp, which returns a claimed 46.3mpg. The 150hp 2.0-litre TDI diesel ups this to 52.3mpg claimed. Both of those figures are relatively achievable.

Both 2.0-litre petrol models will return around 30mpg in the real world, but the pure-combustion models have relatively unimpressive CO2 figures and won’t make great company cars.

The real draw for company car users is the 272hp e-Hybrid. This pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for CO2 emissions of just 43g/km, which puts the Q3 in a very low band for company car tax with a claimed 75-miles of electric range. Expect close to 60 miles in the real world, so can really treat the Q3 like an electric car, and 50kW fast charging means you can use proper public chargers.

Only the basic petrol model in Sport trim dips under the £40,000 threshold for the expensive car supplement in years two through six of ownership. All other models are liable for the charge, including the PHEV.

*the basic XXX-year warranty is extended by a year with each approved service

The Q3 earned a five-star rating when tested by Euro NCAP in 2025, with its highest marks in the adult and child occupant categories (87% and 86%, respectively).

All versions come with adaptive cruise control as standard, plus the usual glut of lane-departure warnings, speed limit recognition, autonomous emergency braking and the like. You do need an expensive options pack if you want 360-degree cameras or Audi’s ‘proactive occupant protection’, though.

Audi placed a relatively low 23rd place out of 30 manufacturers in the 2026 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, behind BMW in 5th and Mercedes in 1st.

Audi’s warranty is three years or 60,000 miles, which is about par for the course - but Mercedes offers unlimited mileage cover in the same timeframe, while opting for a left-field choice like the Lexus UX could net you up to a decade of cover.