The new generation of Audi is in full swing. Its entire lineup is in the midst of a revamp, with fresh infotainment systems, interiors, and promises of a new horizon after the broader Volkswagen Group's dog days. This transformation started, for the most part, with the big-boy Audis—the S5, Q5, and A6. Finally, though, it hits the entry level with the substantially updated 2026 Q3. The Q3 is Audi’s most entry-level SUV, competing with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA and BMW X1, thus representing a hugely important entry point into the brand. Maybe a Q3 buyer will graduate into a Q5 or a Q7, so it’s critical to nail the landing here. A colossal infotainment display and some optional OLED taillights are nice eye candy, sure, but is the Q3 a substantive representation of what Audi will be in a year’s time? To find out, Audi corralled a raging stable of Q3s for us to drive on some of California’s finest coastal roads and highways. Well, it was more of a snuggle of Q3s, but you get the idea. Quick Specs 2026 Audi Q3 Engine Turbocharged 2.0-Liter Four-Cylinder Output 255 Horsepower / 273 Pound-Feet 0-60 MPH 5.5 Seconds (est.) Weight 3,935 Pounds Price / As Tested $44,995 / $51,790 The first two impressions of the Q3 are quite good, starting with the styling. I almost didn’t forgive myself for thinking it was a Q5 at first (I thought I lost my edge), until I learned the new Q3 is an entire 1.8 inches longer and 1.2 inches taller than the old one. It’s still nowhere near the Q5’s size, but it has grown quite a bit. Yet the styling is what drives it home. The SUV is upright, with a tall grill and a strong D-pillar that gives the Q3 a real sense of height. The junior vibes that the old Q3 possessed are gone—this feels like a proper Audi rather than a Premium Economy rental car. The aforementioned OLED taillights really class the place up, but so do the standard user-configurable DRLs, which can be set to one of three patterns. Gone are the days of silently judging the person who didn’t spring for the premium lighting package, because all of this is standard. Pros: Great Standard Equipment, Drives Well, Decent Infotainment Updates But the most important part of the transformation is inside, where two colossal screens now dominate the interior: an 11.9-inch gauge cluster and a 12.8-inch central infotainment display. Both are part of Audi’s new electronics suite, which lives in all new Audi products. The gauge cluster is oddly anamorphic, being very wide and narrow to fit in the driver’s view, while the infotainment display is huge and dominating. Interacting with both proved reasonably intuitive and definitely less frustrating than with some competitors (ahem, Mercedes). Since its introduction in the A6, Audi has updated the software with some usability tweaks, like shortcuts and iPhone-style configurable icons to help ease the learning curve. Photos by: Chris Rosales / Motor1 Climate control is controlled via touchscreen, which is always less than ideal, but there is a center console-mounted volume knob and seek / track buttons that more than make up for it. Both displays run crisply, with the infotainment in particular benefiting from a nice, high refresh rate screen that didn’t stumble in five hours of driving. The rest of the interior is a mixed bag. Audi’s material team chose interesting fabric textures for medium-traffic areas like the upper doors and upper dash, and leatherette in most other places. There’s an abundance of piano black in the center, but Audi boasts its largest ever piece of wood trim for the dashboard beauty panel. The rest of it feels more plasticky than I’d care for at $51,790 as tested, and the space overall is a little uninspiring. Though if you’re looking for austerity in your luxury car, this will work for you. Cons: Cheap-Feeling Interior Materials, Poor Stereo, More Road Noise Than Expected Driving the Q3 showed all of its improvements well, especially the powertrain. The Q3 now gets a more powerful tune of Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-banger, with 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet. It also ditches the eight-speed auto for the classic seven-speed dual clutch. Despite the thing weighing close to 4,000 pounds, it moves with surprising vigor and handles supremely well. Audi’s refocus on driving dynamics is quite clear. Similar to the S3 I drove, the Q3 has a crisp, clean, and beautifully linear steering effort and response curve. Balanced, pocketed handling. Delightfully natural sensations of roll and cornering. It drives better than it needs to, though it comes at the cost of ride quality. Photos by: Chris Rosales / Motor1 Frankly, the Q3 is on the crashy side of firm. Cracks and sharp bumps clearly punch into the cabin, while medium and larger rolling imperfections are controlled well. A set of 19-inch wheels comes standard, but my tester wears the optional 20s, which I think are a detriment. There are also a few shades more road noise than I expected, which clashes with a surprisingly subpar stereo. I wouldn’t call myself an audiophile, but I enjoy a great stereo. The Sonos system in the Q3 lacks mid-range clarity, has distorted highs, and a thwompy, soft bass response. It especially lacks fidelity at lower volumes, enough that I had Audi reps check the car for errors. Perhaps it was my ears, but I’m a regular music listener and found the experience quite odd. Audi Q3 Verdict Despite a few hiccups, everything in the Q3 works well. It’s packaged well, and up on both horsepower and standard features compared to its rivals (even though it is down a bit on fuel economy). It also has the benefit of feeling like a real Audi, versus the Benz and BMW feeling like baby versions of the real thing. For $51,790 as tested, it is a little pricey, though most cars are these days. You can option the Q3 how you like, as Audi has opted to delete trim levels and allow customers to order from an array of packages, like the technology package, driver’s assistance package, and visual packages like Black Optic. However, most equipment is standard, including adaptive cruise, the infotainment displays, the 255-horsepower engine, and parking sensors. It’s a chill little SUV that drives well. It might not have the style of some of its competitors, but it has decent substance, great driving dynamics, and good tech. Audi just needs to get someone to retune the stereo ASAP. Audi Q3 Competitors BMW X1 Lexus NX Mercedes-Benz GLA 2026 Audi Q3 Engine Turbocharged 2.0-Liter Four-Cylinder Output 255 Horsepower / 273 Pound-Feet Transmission Seven-Speed Dual Clutch Drive Type All-Wheel Drive Speed 0-60 MPH 5.5 Seconds (est.) Weight 3,935 Pounds Efficiency 22 City / 29 Highway / 25 Combined Seating Capacity 5 Base Price $44,995 As-Tested Price $51,790 On Sale Now We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team