Audi’s new SUV reinvents the indicator stalk – I’ve driven it and here’s what I thought

Small, posh SUVs are big business so it’s no wonder Audi pulled out all the stops when it came to its new Q3. The previous version was one of Audi’s best-selling models, even though it had been out since 2018, so the new one has big shoes to fill.

It has tidier styling, way more technology and a wide engine range with something for just about every kind of driver. And, despite SUV buyers not really being the most adventurous bunch, it even has a trick up its sleeve – a total reinvention of the traditional column stalks that we’ve all grown used to over the decades.

But is it any good? I travelled to Scotland for the launch event to find out whether the new Audi Q3 is now the small, premium SUV of choice, or whether the BMW X1, Mercedes GLA or Range Rover Evoque would be a better bet. That’s not even considering the sheer number of Chinese car brands assaulting the UK market – the new Q3 needs to be appealing enough that customers don’t just decide to save a wedge of money and go for a Jaecoo 7 or BYD Seal U.

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What’s new for the 2025 Audi Q3?

This Q3 is an all-new model rather than a facelift of the old car, and the shared DNA between it and its larger Q5 sibling is easy to see. At the front there’s a big, bold grille with slim (and customisable) LED daytime running lights above it. The main headlight units are neatly hidden away in what appears to be air intakes until you look more closely.

It’s a similar story around the back – the taillights are split between intricate patterned units up above and smaller vertical light clusters for the rest. There’s also a full-width lightbar and even a (pretty gaudy) light-up Audi badge. Round the sides, you get a range of alloy wheel designs and some nicely chunky wheel arches.

It’s not a car that’s exciting to look at, but it is smart, and is suitably purposeful in appearance. It’s also a bit better-proportioned than the too-upright BMW X1 or the dumpy Mercedes GLA, though I reckon the Range Rover Evoque is the supermodel among these cars.

What engines can I have?

There’s a really good range. Three petrols – a 150hp 1.5, or a 2.0-litre with 204hp or 265hp and four-wheel drive. There’s even a 2.0-litre, 150hp diesel, which is pretty rare these days.

Don’t bother spending the extra money on the 265hp version – it doesn’t feel quick or sporty enough. One of the other two petrol engines are probably your best bet as they’re smooth, powerful enough and even reasonably economical. Don’t sleep on the diesel though – it gets the best long-distance fuel economy and isn’t as noisy and clattery as you might expect.

The real highlight is the 1.5-litre eHybrid model, which is actually the most powerful (if not the quickest) with 272hp. It has a really impressive range of 73 miles on a charge, so it’ll cost peanuts as a company car, and it’s really nice to drive around on electric power. However, the engine feels a bit thrashy when it cuts in, and it’s not much cheaper to buy outright than the fully-electric Q4 e-Tron – so unless you really want a plug-in hybrid for longer journeys, going the whole hog and getting a proper EV might suit you better.

What’s the 2025 Audi Q3 like to drive?

Audi’s struck a really nice balance with the Q3. It’s not as exciting to drive as a BMW X1 or a Cupra Formentor, nor is it as comfortable as a Volvo XC40 or Range Rover Evoque. Instead it sits really neatly in the middle, feeling agile without being hyperactive, and settling down nicely on the motorway without leaning like a ship when you take a corner quickly.

All models get an automatic gearbox, all-round parking sensors, a reversing camera and great all-round visibility, so it’s a doddle to drive around town. On a longer trip things are good too, as things like the adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist all work really smoothly.

What is definitely lacking is a bit of excitement – and there’s no hot SQ3 or RSQ3 to fill that void yet. That means if you want some hot hatchback thrills from your small SUV, you’ll need to go for something like a Mercedes-AMG GLA 35, a BMW X1 M35i xDrive or even the Cupra Formentor VZ.

What’s it like inside?

The first thing you’ll notice inside the new Audi Q3 are the controls around the steering wheel. I was pretty apprehensive about these, having seen them in promo videos and teaser images for weeks before I drove the car.

What Audi’s done is got rid of traditional column stalks in favour of a wide panel that runs behind the wheel, with stubby little controls on either end. You might not think wiper and indicator controls need reinventing, but Audi’s got form when it comes to interior innovation – it basically pioneered the digital dashboard display with the TT’s ‘virtual cockpit’ many years ago.

The new drive selector is on the right side of the steering wheel, freeing up space in the centre console, and it operates sensibly. The left side is a bit more crowded, with the indicators operating just like a fatter, blunter stalk. The wipers are controlled by a dinky little dial – a bit fiddly – but generally it shouldn’t take too much getting used to.

There’s a nice 12.8-inch central touchscreen which looks good and works well, but the 11.9-inch driver information display feels like you’re looking through a letterbox – and because it’s so much narrower than the infotainment screen next to it, there’s a simply vast bezel above it that looks quite cheap and nasty.

Shame, because the rest of the interior feels nice – the materials are solid and I could only find cheap plastics if I looked hard at the lower parts of the cabin. Makes a nice change from the creak-fest which is the Mercedes GLA. It has to be said, though, that you can get almost as posh an interior – and with lots more standard equipment – from a much cheaper Chinese brand these days…

Verdict

So should you buy an Audi Q3? Well, lots of people will, though popularity is never a guarantee of a good car (looking at you, Nissan Juke). If you’re looking for a small SUV with enough practicality for a small family, a solid interior and good road manners, then the Q3 will suit very nicely.

It’s a shame it’s a couple of thousand pounds more expensive than the BMW X1, though – I reckon that car has a better interior and is nicer to drive, though the Audi hits back with more sophisticated tech such as its trick Matrix LED lights. I also prefer the Volvo XC40, which is dripping with Scandi-cool and is super-comfy on a long journey. The Q3 makes a great middle ground, though, and should definitely be on your shortlist.

Rating: 8/10

How I tested the Audi Q3 and why you should trust me

I drove the Audi Q3 on its international launch – which rather handily was in Glasgow, so I was able to test-drive it on familiar British tarmac. Our routes took in a variety of roads, including excursions into the Highlands proper as well as some dual carriageway driving on the A82. I also tested the car at night to try out its trick Matrix LED headlights.

I drove both the Q3 Sportback and the boxier SUV, and sampled petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines, giving me a taste of the full range.

I’ve been a motoring journalist for a decade, working across car magazines, websites, local and national press before joining Carwow.

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