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The third-generation Audi Q3 was seemingly simply launched in Australia, and already it is in line for an replace.
Audi Australia has but to substantiate launch timing for this up to date mannequin, however has stated it should come right here sooner or later, and can carry recent infotainment, new steering wheel controls, and a few tech upgrades.
But perhaps you need to purchase a brand new small luxurious SUV now and do not need to wait round. Is the Audi Q3 that is at present in inventory value your cash?
We put the mid-range 150kW Q3 to the take a look at, with the extra sensible wagon (SUV) physique.
A caveat right here: this can be a Launch Edition variant.
Launch Edition variations of the Q3 SUV and Q3 Sportback, surprisingly, weren’t simply beauty affairs. They launched extra important options, like adaptive dampers and a sound actuator, that are ordinarily unique to the top-spec 195kW grade.
That makes these particular launch fashions a fairly intriguing choice, however the 150kW mannequin they’re primarily based on is already an excellent factor.
How a lot does the Audi Q3 value?
As talked about, the Audi Q3 is obtainable as both an SUV or ‘coupe’ SUV, the latter sporting the Sportback moniker.
| Model | Price earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2027 Audi Q3 SUV TFSI 110kW | $61,600 |
| 2027 Audi Q3 Sportback TFSI 110kW | $64,600 |
| 2027 Audi Q3 SUV TFSI quattro 150kW | $70,200 |
| 2027 Audi Q3 Sportback TFSI quattro 150kW | $72,700 |
| 2027 Audi Q3 SUV TFSI quattro 195kW | $81,827 |
| 2027 Audi Q3 Sportback TFSI quattro 195kW | $84,327 |
The Q3 lineup opens at $61,600 earlier than on-road prices for the front-wheel drive TFSI 110kW, with the all-wheel drive TFSI quattro priced at $70,200 plus on-roads; choosing the Sportback physique prices an additional $2500.
Our Launch Edition tester was priced at $74,600 plus ORCs, bringing an exterior black bundle, 19-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels, metallic paint, pink brake calipers, adaptive dampers and a sound actuator.
To add the wheels alone to the usual 150kW, you’re taking a look at an additional $1300. This pretty Sage Green metallic paint prices an additional $1480 like the opposite premium finishes, whereas the black bundle prices an additional $1600 and the pink brake calipers and adaptive dampers are unique to the 195kW.
Not solely does the 195kW carry these options, it additionally provides the options of the 150kW’s $4400 Premium bundle – a panoramic sunroof, head-up show, higher-output USB ports, and a Sonos sound system – for an inventory value of $81,827 plus ORCs.
The Q3 rivals the likes of the BMW X1 ($67,500 to $94,700 plus ORCs), the Mercedes-Benz GLA ($64,300 to $100,026 plus ORCs), and the Lexus UX ($55,370 to $73,210 plus ORCs).
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But its hardest competitors may come from inside Audi’s personal showroom. The equally sized, electrical This autumn e-tron has been repositioned, and is now priced from $71,650 to $83,250 plus ORCs.
This means you may get an all-wheel drive electrical Audi with extra energy and torque than this Q3 for not way more cash.
Personally, I’d be tempted by one other SUV within the Volkswagen Group secure – the Cupra Formentor VZx at $74,990 drive-away. It’s not fairly as plush inside, nevertheless it presents better efficiency and extra distinctive styling.
To see how the Audi Q3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
What is the Audi Q3 like on the within?
I used to be fairly essential of the new-generation Audi A5 and its inside, which merely did not really feel premium to me, with its questionable materials and design selections.
The Q3’s is way more spectacular. Our tester was outfitted with a black inside with sweeping brushed aluminium inlays, giving it a particular look, although you possibly can choice engaging wooden inlays as seen right here.
Perhaps the very first thing that’ll get your consideration is the bizarre hub behind the steering wheel, which integrates wiper, high-beam and indicator controls on the left-hand facet, and the gear shifter on the right-hand facet.
Instead of a stalk on both facet of the steering column, there’s this mounted meeting with small movable elements at both finish for altering gear and turning the symptoms on and off, in addition to small buttons for features just like the washers and just a little dial for the wipers.
It’ll really feel bizarre for about 20 minutes – I do know it did for me. But after that, I used to be pleasantly stunned by how pure it felt. There’s a satisfying mechanical operation to turning the symptoms on and off, and the whole lot’s clearly labelled and visual. Audi might have tried reinventing the standard steering-column stalks, however on this case, it truly labored.
There’s nonetheless a conventional stalk for the cruise management, and it stays intuitive to make use of. There’s little or no bodily switchgear on the dashboard itself: only a row of buttons, which incorporates the drive choose controller, traction management and idle-stop/begin system buttons, the digital camera, and a shortcut to the driving force help settings menu.
The gloss-black touch-capacitive buttons on the steering wheel entice smudges and could be a bit awkward to function. For the upcoming replace, Audi will return slide wheels to the steering wheel, which is able to make skipping tracks or adjusting the quantity simpler.
As is changing into widespread with Volkswagen Group merchandise, there is no knob or dial for headlight management – you merely press a button a number of instances. Your high-beam controls are nonetheless discovered behind the steering wheel.
The integration of the screens is much less sleek, and the expertise has some bugs. Audi has designed a curved, sweeping array that integrates the 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen and the 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, nevertheless it does not combine them harmoniously.
There’s numerous useless area right here, with a thick bezel across the touchscreen and a good thicker bezel across the digital instrument cluster, a lot in order that the show appears misplaced in a sea of black.
For a model that is lengthy been recognized for elegant interiors, it is a baffling design alternative and detracts from what’s in any other case fairly a horny cabin.
The infotainment interface is kind of intuitive. There are anchored shortcut buttons for the local weather management on the base of the display screen, and anchored shortcut buttons for key features just like the settings menu, navigation and media on the right-hand facet of the display screen. There’s additionally a swipe-down menu.
The graphics are neat and chic, and the display screen’s responsive. We’d give this infotainment system high marks had been it not for the horribly unreliable Android Auto connectivity we skilled. Technically, Android Auto’s wi-fi, however on some events it’d repeatedly drop out. Plugging in your cellphone would both resolve this problem or nonetheless lead to repeated dropouts.
It was essentially the most unreliable Android Auto expertise I’ve had this yr. While you might be inclined responsible my cellphone, it is a brand-new Google Pixel, and I’ve had no points with every other automobile since getting it earlier this yr.
I’m uncertain if that is associated to the driving force profile, however the automobile would nearly at all times revert to Balanced drive mode, fan velocity three, and traditional-looking devices within the gauge cluster. Except when it would not. Sometimes it’d solely default to one in all these items.
I’m unsure what the system logic is there, however a minimum of all of these issues are simply resolved. Perhaps not fan velocity, as a result of, annoyingly, that requires an additional faucet on the display screen to regulate in contrast with different automobiles, and in comparison with adjusting the temperature.
There’s a wi-fi cellphone charging pad positioned on the base of the centre console. As with many different wi-fi charging pads, to make sure greatest efficiency it is best to most likely take away any chunky cellphone instances. It’d additionally often sound an alert and show a warning on the display screen saying there is a overseas object in there when there wasn’t.
There’s no head-up show on this automobile, however the instrument cluster itself is superb. It’s straightforward to toggle between views and customise the knowledge that is on display screen. Audi’s lengthy been recognized for its wonderful digital instrument clusters, and this one’s no exception, even when it does appear like it is fallen right into a pitch-black abyss.
The instrument cluster will show the embedded navigation or your smartphone mirroring navigation. Once you set in a vacation spot in Google Maps in Android Auto, it replaces the embedded navigation map with a projection of your Google Maps map.
Other issues Audi’s recognized for embrace a bodily quantity management, helpfully positioned on the centre console for passengers, and a height-adjustable centre console armrest.
The centre console bin beneath is comparatively deep and in addition continues below the cupholders. It’s subtly illuminated, which is useful given you possibly can’t fairly inform the place it ends with out sticking your hand in.
Other storage consists of rubberised door pockets that may simply swallow a 1.5-litre bottle, plus a decently sized glove compartment that is not fully used up by the proprietor’s handbook. There’s no shelf below the centre console although, regardless of this changing into more and more widespread amongst SUVs.
The entrance seats within the Q3 really feel fairly flat, arduous and unsupportive to me. There’s heating and energy lumbar adjustment, however there is no air flow or therapeutic massage.
There’s some gloss-black trim on the centre console, however Audi’s made another materials selections within the cabin which are fairly welcome. Fabric upholstery working alongside the doorways and the highest of the sprint is probably not to everybody’s style, however we’re fairly keen on the massive metallic insert on the dashboard itself.
Soft-touch plastics are additionally used for the highest of the sprint and the doorways. You’ll discover leather-based inserts on the door armrests and on the perimeters of the centre console, so your knee has someplace snug to relaxation.
Step into the again and there is an appropriate quantity of room. At 180cm tall, I can sit comfortably behind myself, with headroom to spare, although it is value noting our tester did not include the non-obligatory panoramic sunroof seen in these inside photos.
There’s not an awesome feeling of spaciousness behind the Q3, nevertheless it’s not cramped. There’s a slim however tall driveline hump, which barely eats into legroom for the centre-seat occupant.
Amenities again right here embrace air vents, controls for adjusting the third zone of local weather, a pair of USB-C shops and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders.
Open the ability tailgate and there is 488 litres of cargo area, increasing to 575L when you slide the 40:20:40-split/folding rear bench, plus a useful baggage web to maintain issues tied down. There’s additionally a small recess on the left-hand facet for smaller gadgets, with a 12V outlet. Underneath the boot ground, you will discover a space-saver spare.
In what will be the most pointless characteristic we have seen on a brand new automobile, you possibly can alter the signature of the LED daytime working lights.
I confirmed this to somebody, and their response was: “Why would you ever do that?”. I feel that sums up that characteristic properly. Pick one of many three themes, set it and overlook it.
| Dimensions | Audi Q3 |
|---|---|
| Length | 4531mm |
| Width | 1859mm – excl. mirrors 2087mm – incl. mirrors |
| Height | 1601mm |
| Wheelbase | 2681mm |
| Cargo capability | 488L-575L – rear seats up 1386L – rear seats folded |
To see how the Audi Q3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
What’s below the bonnet?
There are three engines accessible within the native Q3 lineup, with our tester’s 150kW turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol 4 sitting proper within the center.
| Specifications | Audi Q3 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L turbo 4cyl |
| Power | 150kW |
| Torque | 320Nm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive sort | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1823kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 7.1 seconds |
| Fuel financial system (claimed) | 7.3L/100km |
| Fuel financial system (as examined) | 8.7L/100km – inner-city, suburban and freeway loop 8.7L/100km – over the course of every week |
| Fuel tank capability | 60L |
| Fuel requirement | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 166g/km |
| Braked tow capability | 2000kg |
To see how the Audi Q3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
How does the Audi Q3 drive?
As talked about, this can be a Launch Edition, so there’s one key distinction between this and common 150kW variants: the inclusion of adaptive dampers, permitting you to decide on between three ranges of firmness from the suspension.
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In concept, it is a fantastic concept. In follow, we did not really feel the necessity to deviate from the usual Balanced drive mode, which may also be customised. In addition to Balanced, there are Dynamic, Comfort, Efficiency and Offroad Plus modes.
Comfort positively appears so as to add some extent of float to the trip and numbs the steering considerably. Dynamic, in distinction, companies up the suspension and makes the steering heavier.
In follow, there’s not a large distinction between Balanced and Dynamic, which signifies that, in its normal drive mode, the Q3’s completely pleasing to drive.
Indeed, if the 150kW Q3’s this pleasing, it stands to cause the 195kW variant’s a gem.
We took the Q3 on a spirited mountain drive over a few of the greatest and twistiest mountain roads in Southeast Queensland and had been pleasantly stunned.
The steering’s properly weighted and does transmit the texture of the street to your palms. There’s maybe simply that final little little bit of really feel lacking from the Q3, which, together with a barely spongy brake pedal, prevents this from being essentially the most entertaining SUV it could possibly be.
But we had been delighted with the velocity you possibly can carry into corners, the sharp turn-in, the balanced really feel, the well-controlled physique roll, and the general feeling that this Q3 drives extra like a hatchback than an SUV.
The turbo engine’s peppy, although when you’re after actual thrills, there is a extra highly effective choice accessible within the Q3 lineup.
The transmission proved to be well-calibrated. On a spirited mountain drive, it happy with clean, fast shifts, nevertheless it was additionally extraordinarily nice in day-to-day visitors.
Dual-clutch computerized transmissions generally tend to exhibit low-speed vibration, roughness or clunkiness, significantly when creeping by means of heavy visitors, and but the Q3’s transmission exhibited none of this. This is among the greatest dual-clutch autos we have skilled.
Also a pleasing shock was the extent of refinement within the Q3. German automobiles are recognized for his or her refinement, however one problem we have noticed with lots of them, significantly under the $100,000 mark, is their tendency to permit an excessive amount of tyre noise to enter the cabin at freeway speeds or on coarse-chip roads. Yet the Q3’s inside is properly insulated and engine, tyre and wind noise across the automobile is stored properly at bay.
The trip’s on the firmer facet, nevertheless it’s usually snug. We did observe a barely knobbly really feel on city streets at low speeds, however we do not really feel you will be shortchanged by selecting up a non-Launch Edition 150kW.
The driver-assist techniques are well-calibrated. Lane-keep help is normal, and you may toggle lane-centring to work if you’ve obtained the adaptive cruise management on. It works fairly properly, retaining you centred inside your lane.
It was refreshing to see that the overspeed alert does not default to on, because it does in a distressingly giant variety of automobiles immediately. We had no points with the operation of options like adaptive cruise management, autonomous emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring.
We did observe an error message flash up on the cluster nearly each time we drove the automobile, briefly displaying a warning concerning the driver-assist options, however their precise operation by no means gave the impression to be interrupted.
We puzzled why the reversing digital camera appeared to stagger round like a wino. If you watch carefully, you will see it truly strikes – or fairly, jerks – together with your steering inputs. It’s weird, however a minimum of the decision is sweet, and it offers you the space to an obstruction which is helpful in tighter parking conditions.
Audi is thought for its matrix LED headlights, however these aren’t normal on any Q3, with solely extra fundamental computerized high-beam accessible right here.
Matrix LED headlights are bundled with digital OLED back lights as a part of a $3250 choice bundle for 150kW and 195kW variants. We’d fairly see them as a standalone choice fairly than being tied to the acquisition of the a lot much less helpful digital OLED tail-lights.
To see how the Audi Q3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
What do you get?
While the SUV and Sportback are each accessible in 110kW, 150kW and 195kW variants, there are some minor specification variations between the physique kinds.
2027 Audi Q3 TFSI 110kW normal tools highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels (SUV)
- 19-inch alloy wheels (Sportback)
- S line exterior bundle (Sportback solely)
- Semi-autonomous parking help, incl. 5 programmable parking manoeuvres
- Power tailgate
- Automatic LED headlights
-
- Cornering lights
- Intersection gentle and motorway gentle
- Automatic high-beam
- 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- 2 x entrance USB-C shops
- 2 x rear USB-C shops
- Audi Connect plus Security & Assistance companies – 10-year complimentary subscription
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- Car finder
- Remote lock and unlock
- Emergency name
- Audi Connect plus Navigation & Infotainment companies – 3-year complimentary subscription
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- Parking data
- Live visitors
- Cooled wi-fi cellphone charger
- 10-speaker sound system
- Leather-appointed upholstery
- Power-adjustable entrance seats
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- 4-way energy lumbar
- Heating
- Driver reminiscence
- Sliding rear bench with adjustable backrest
- 3-zone local weather management
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Aluminium door sills
- Matte cross-brushed aluminium inlays
- Colour ambient lighting
The TFSI quattro 150kW provides:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Front sport seats
The TFSI quattro 195kW provides:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Adaptive dampers
- Heated steering wheel
- Illuminated aluminium door sills
- Black headliner
As talked about, our tester was a TFSI quattro 150kW Launch Edition, which over the common 150kW provides:
- Metallic paint
- 19-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels
- Red brake calipers
- Black exterior styling bundle, incl. black bumper, window and mirror trim, black roof rails
- Adaptive dampers
- Sound actuator
If you’ve got missed out on the Launch Edition, you possibly can specify the Q3 SUV TFSI quattro 150kW with numerous choices. These embrace:
- Metallic paint: $1480
- Black exterior styling bundle: $1600
- Panoramic sunroof: $2600
- American Whitewood inlays: $370
- Advanced lighting bundle: $3250
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- Digital matrix LED headlights
- Digital OLED back lights
- Premium bundle: $4400
-
- Panoramic sunroof
- Head-up show
- 12-speaker Sonos premium sound system
- Higher-output USB shops
To see how the Audi Q3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
Is the Audi Q3 secure?
The Audi Q3 has a five-star ranking from impartial security authority ANCAP, primarily based on testing performed in 2025.
| Category | Audi Q3 |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant safety | 87 per cent |
| Child occupant safety | 86 per cent |
| Vulnerable street consumer safety | 80 per cent |
| Safety help | 83 per cent |
Standard security options embrace:
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Autonomous emergency braking with intersection help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep help
- Front cross-traffic help
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Safe exit warning
- Speed signal recognition
- Surround-view digital camera
- Swerve help
- Front, front-side, curtain and front-centre airbags
To see how the Audi Q3 strains up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability software
How a lot does the Audi Q3 value to run?
All Audi fashions are lined by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with 5 years of roadside help.
| Servicing and Warranty | Audi Q3 |
|---|---|