The 2026 Audi Q3 gets new sheetmetal, a new, more upscale interior, and more power and torque good for 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. It’s a good setup but not as good—on paper at least—as the AMG Mercedes GLA 35i and BMW X1 M35i Audi compares it to, though those cost a few grand more. The new Q3 starts at $44,995 including destination and is in showrooms now.Audi spent last year launching sedans (A6 e-tron, S6 e-tron, redesigned A5/S5 sedan, A3/S3, and last month it was a new A6); this year it’s launching SUVs (look for a Q9 by end of ‘26), and next year look for the performance RS 5 and RS 3. Right in the middle of that product onslaught is a refresh of the practical entry-level luxury Q3 crossover.Audi says the 2026 Q3 S line quattro you see here competes against the AMG Mercedes GLA 35i and BMW X1 M35i. More on that in a minute. The Audi offers two rows of seats and lots of premium interior features, while sporting an upgraded engine pumping out 255 hp through all four wheels good for a 0-60 mph time of just 5.5 seconds in this 3,935-pound SUV—all on regular fuel, no less. It’s a comfortable, competent package that you could say is sportier and better equipped than the Q3 it replaces. 2026 Audi Q3The new look is not radical but meant to convey the Q’s more subtly upscale leanings: It’s two inches longer overall, barely longer in the wheelbase, 1.6 inches wider, and it’s 1.2 inches taller. That translates to more room inside, of course: 25 cu-ft of cargo space in back, 29 if you slide the 40/20/40 second row forward, and 50 cu-ft with the second-row seats folded flat. “The car got a lot more grown up,” said Audi’s senior product manager Anthony Garbis. “It has a very nice, very strong presence, a strong stance. It’s not like a little hatchback or Avant proportion. It’s very vertical in the front, with upright lights, a long hood, and fast and straight roofline. The taillights look like an A6 sedan. The design is a great blend of proportions. It’s easily the most mature, grownup vehicle in the segment.”It’s also way quieter inside, thanks to dual-pane acoustic glass for the front side windows and added sound insulation throughout that combine to drop noise inside by a whopping 5 decibels (for comparison, wearing foam ear plugs will block out 20 dB). You’ll also notice an all-new slathering of what Audi calls “class-above,” upscale materials on the dash and doors, which are immediately appreciated when you crawl inside. Audi is proud of the Q3’s new Digital Stage MMI that incorporates an 11.9-inch instrument cluster and 12.8-inch touch display as well as a new UX and the return of maps to the virtual cockpit. It all worked splendidly on my day’s drive, though I plugged in my iPhone 17 to the NAV. 2026 Audi Q3Get out on the road and from behind the wheel the Q3 surprises with a tight and responsive feel. The electromechanical variable-ratio electric power steering is quick on the highway, quicker in the corners and when parking. A suburban driver might want a slightly softer setup, but someone who appreciates the occasional apex will appreciate it. The throttle feels a little too jumpy, too, for most city-dwelling crossover owners, but you get used to it after a short drive. Keep that in mind if you’re doing a test drive of only a couple blocks at the dealer.On the freeway the Q3 was, as promised, quiet and comfortable, a lot like the more upscale rides Audi was comparing it to. Pricing is a bit upscale, too, starting at $44,995 including destination. That’s up $3,900 compared to last year’s Q3, but Audi says you’re getting a lot more content this year, including three year’s maintenance. It’s also thousands less than the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35, which sports more power, quicker zero-to-60, and a much higher sticker price (but right in the middle of the complete Mercedes GLA lineup, which starts with a 250, priced at $41,500). The BMW X1 M35i likewise has more power, is quicker to 60 mph, but costs seven grand more. So Audi may be seeking more of an aspirational comparison by lining those two cross-shop-comparos. It might be closer to an X3 and a GLB, though it’s sportier than those. Should you get this one or one of the others? Depends on your budget, but you likely will enjoy the new Q3 if you pick it. Try ‘em all and decide.