Reinventing the indicator stalk: Five things you need to know about the new Audi Q3
June 16, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new Audi Q3, a small, petrol-powered SUV which goes head-to-head with the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA. Here are five important things you need to know about it.
- New Audi Q3 revealed
- Audi’s smallest SUV gets a total overhaul
- New interior technology
- Plug-in hybrid engine with 75 miles of EV range
- Revamped exterior design
- On sale later this year
The Audi Q3 is here, and it’s been given a complete overhaul from its slightly dated predecessor. The design is very similar to the larger Q5, and there’s plenty of new tech inside as well.
It’s available with a selection of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines, although there are no pure electric versions as that would step on the toes of the Q4 e-tron. Order books will open later this year, with prices expected to start from around £40,000. In the meantime here are five things to know about the new Audi Q3.
And remember, you can still get great deals on the current Audi Q3 through Carwow with average savings of almost £2,500 at the time of writing. You can also lease a Q3 for as little as £450 per month, and used prices through Carwow start from £28,500.
1. Audi has reinvented the indicator stalk
The indicator stalk is a pretty simple thing in most cars, but that’s not stopped Audi from coming up with a radical new signalling solution in the Q3. Like in a lot of new automatic cars, the gear selector is on the right of the steering wheel where the wiper controls would usually be.
This means Audi needed to move the wiper controls over to the left, but rather than have a thin stalk cluttered with loads of buttons and knobs, it instead has a big, square pad behind the steering wheel which jogs up and down for the indicators. It looks very different from a normal stalk, but it’s actually a decent solution for getting all the controls you need in one place.
2. The interior has been given a complete overhaul
The outgoing Audi Q3 has a solid, posh-feeling cabin, but t’s starting to show its age in the design department. The new model’s panoramic screen setup does the majority of the heavy lifting here, with a 12.8-inch infotainment system and an 11.9-inch digital driver’s display.
You also get plenty of ambient lighting inside the new Q3, including the door panel which has 300 tiny laser-cut holes in it to give you a nice glow at night. The overall dashboard layout is pretty similar to other new Audis of recent months, meaning it’s pretty clean-looking with minimal buttons. A lot of the controls are operated through that screen.
3. The plug-in hybrid has almost 75 miles of electric range
The new Audi Q3 is available with two petrol engines, one with 150hp and another with 204hp, as well as a 150hp diesel for those motorway mile munchers. It’s the new plug-in hybrid which is the most impressive on paper though.
The outgoing car isn’t available with a PHEV engine option, however the new Q3 e-hybrid has a total of 272hp and it can do almost 75 miles on electric power alone. THis makes it ideal for company car drivers, as well as those who want a taste of EV life without committing to an electric car.
4. It should be more relaxing to drive
Audi offers a new suspension setup for the Q3 which gives you a wider spread between comfort and sportiness. It’s called two-valve damper control, and it can continuously react to the road surface and adjust to glide over bumps and imperfections, as well as minimise body roll.
There are also new driver assistance systems on offer. The optional adaptive cruise control can use online data to keep you in lane even when there are no visible lane lines, and the new emergency assist system can fully take over and steer you to the hard shoulder if you’ve passed out behind the wheel.
5. The exterior design is all new
The new Audi Q3 looks much more modern than its predecessor. That massive grille, the hidden headlights and thin DRLs make it look like a baby Q5, and it’s a similar story at the rear with the full-width light bar.
Those lights can also be customised from the infotainment system with different light signatures, and you get an illuminated badge for the first time on a Q3. Alloy wheel sizes start at 17 inches, rising to 20-inch rims on higher-spec cars.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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