The new Audi Q3 has grown up rather nicely. At least that’s the first thing that struck me when I saw it in person.
The previous Q3 was handsome enough, in that safe and quietly confident Audi sort of way, though this new one looks sharper, more expressive and far more self-assured. The lines are cleaner, the stance is stronger, and the whole car now carries itself with more of the visual confidence you would normally associate with Audi’s larger SUVs.
It helps that Audi rarely gets design wrong. The brand has always had a good eye for proportion, restraint and detail, and the Q3 is no exception. The front end now gets slim lighting elements, a more prominent grille and a more chiselled face, giving it a more grown-up look without trying too hard to be aggressive. The daytime running lights also offer three selectable light signatures, while the rear gets slimmer tail-lamps and illuminated Audi rings.
The Edition 1 variant adds to that sense of occasion. With its S-line exterior, darker trim pieces, sportier touches, and a generally monochromatic cabin treatment, it feels properly premium without being shouty. The materials are nicely chosen, and the dashboard looks clean. Overall, the execution is what you would expect from Audi: tidy, precise and very easy to like.
Step inside, though, and you immediately notice something new.
There are no conventional signal or wiper stalks anymore. Instead, Audi has placed a horizontal control bar behind the steering wheel, integrating the indicator controls, wiper functions and gear selector into one cleaner-looking arrangement. The gear selector has also moved away from the centre console and is now operated near the steering wheel, freeing up more space around the middle of the cabin.
To be fair, it did not take long to get used to it. Once you spend a bit of time with the layout, it starts to feel fairly intuitive. The cabin also looks cleaner because of it, with fewer protruding bits around the steering column and centre console.
At the same time, I do wonder why there was a need to fix something that was never really a problem in the first place. Conventional stalks work. They have worked for decades. Nobody has ever walked away from a car thinking, “Wonderful drive, shame about the indicator stalk.” If Audi’s goal was to make the Q3 feel different, then yes, mission accomplished. Whether it genuinely makes the driving experience better is a different question.
The same digital-first approach continues across the dashboard. Like many modern premium SUVs, the Q3 now uses a curved panoramic display that combines an 11.9-inch digital instrument panel with a 12.8-inch MMI infotainment screen. The system looks crisp, responds quickly, and features clean, modern graphics.
As someone currently driving a BMW X1, I find it hard not to compare the two. Both cars now lean heavily into digital displays and a cleaner cabin layout. Both also use glossy piano-black trim, which looks great for about 11 seconds before dust, fingerprints, and life itself begin attacking it. I know this pain well. It is the kind of trim that makes you want to keep a microfibre cloth in the car like an emotional support item (and I do).
The Q3 claws back points with some very useful equipment. The 360-degree camera is a big plus, especially in Singapore where carparks seem to have been designed by people who hate doors, bumpers and joy. It makes tight spaces much easier to handle and adds a layer of confidence you quickly come to appreciate. Audi also lists a good spread of safety and assistance systems. Park assist plus with a 360-degree display, adaptive cruise assist plus, and front emergency brake assist are some.
The Edition 1 also gets sport seats, which is something I appreciate. They give the cabin a more special feel and provide better support than ordinary seats, especially during longer drives. There is also a curious amount of kit that seems more suited to colder climates, such as steering wheel heating. In Singapore, I suspect most owners would happily trade that for stronger seat ventilation and an air-con system that simply obeys instructions.
Space-wise, the Q3 does the compact SUV thing well enough. Up front, it feels comfortable and well arranged. Rear passengers get decent room, although the back does feel slightly tighter than I expected. It is perfectly usable for family duties, school runs, dinners and weekend errands, though taller passengers may find the rear bench less generous than the car’s exterior size suggests.
The boot, however, is usefully shaped and large enough for most Singaporean family needs. Audi quotes 488 litres with the seats up and 1,386 litres with the rear seats folded. That is plenty for groceries, luggage, football boots, school bags, strollers, foldable chairs and whatever else magically appears in the boot after having children.
Under the bonnet, the Q3 uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The gearbox is a seven-speed S tronic. Output is 110kW, or 148 bhp locally, with 250 Nm of torque. It is front-wheel drive, does 0-100km/h in 9.1 seconds, and has a quoted combined fuel consumption of 6.6 L/100 km, or around 15.2km/L.
On paper, that is perfectly respectable for a compact premium SUV. In real-world use, the Q3 feels tractable and easy to drive. There is enough low-end torque for urban driving, the gearbox gets on with things without drawing too much attention, and the car never feels underpowered in normal Singapore traffic.
Refinement, however, is where I found myself wanting a little more.
The engine is not noisy in an obvious or unpleasant way, though you can hear it working in the background. It comes across as a distant, slightly gravelly rumble, and that takes away a little from the polished premium feel you expect from an Audi. It is subtle, though once you notice it, it does stay in your head. The Bridgestone Turanza 6 tyres do well to keep cabin noise to a minimum, though, and provide a fair amount of grip.
The power delivery also does not feel quite as smooth as I would like. The Q3 is never rough, and it is not a bad car to drive by any stretch. Though, compared with the current BMW X1, the Audi feels a little less fluid in how it builds speed and settles into a rhythm. The X1 still feels more dynamically competent to me, with better polish in how the drivetrain, steering, and ride work together.
That said, the Q3 is still an easy car to live with. It is compact enough for the city, premium enough to feel like a proper step up from mainstream SUVs. Yet, good-looking enough to make you glance back at it after parking. That still matters.
The ride is on the firmer side, which seems to be a common point raised about this new Q3. Audi says the car uses two-valve damper control, designed to adapt damping at each wheel depending on road conditions and driving input. In practice, the setup seems to favour body control and a more planted feel over outright softness.
That means it feels composed when you guide it through bends with a bit more enthusiasm, though I am not entirely convinced that most Q3 buyers are looking for a compact SUV to behave like a junior hot hatch. Buyers in this segment usually want refinement, comfort, ease of use, and a sense of occasion. The Q3 delivers most of that, though a touch more suppleness would make it feel more complete.
The more I drove it, the more I felt the Q3 is a car full of strong first impressions and a few slightly puzzling decisions. It looks excellent. The cabin is modern and well-appointed. The technology is useful. The screens are sharp. The camera system is excellent. The boot is practical enough. The badge still carries weight.
At the same time, some of the new control ideas feel like change for the sake of change. The driving experience could also do with a bit more polish. Audi has clearly tried to make the Q3 feel fresher and more distinctive. It has succeeded visually, and mostly succeeded inside. The area that needs a little more finesse is how the car drives and behaves on everyday roads.
Still, this remains a handsome, premium and very likeable compact SUV. It may not be perfect, and I still prefer the BMW X1 from a driving perspective. The Q3, though, makes a very strong case with its design, cabin presentation and equipment. It just needs a little more refinement to become the properly polished Audi it is so close to being.
Technical Specifications
Audi Q3 Mild Hybrid 1.5 Edition 1
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder, Front Wheel Drive
Power: 148 bhp (Combined)
Torque: 250 Nm
Gearbox: 7-Speed S-tronic (A)
Top Speed: 209 km/h
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 Litres
Fuel Economy: 15.2 km/litre (claimed)
Price: $306,999 with COE
