Audi’s Q3 gets an update and ditches indicator stalks

Over the last year we’ve driven a lot of Audis because the brand has been updating its entire line-up. Now, it’s the turn of the Q3 – one of Audi’s best-selling models – to get a refresh. This is the third generation of the Q3, and the family SUV is getting a significant tech upgrade. It is also gaining sleeker headlights and a new front grille while the inside gets a more minimalist design featuring an all-new control unit behind the steering wheel. Audi will continue to offer the Q3 with a diesel option, while a petrol mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid complete the offering.
• The Q3 is a compact family car sitting between the Q2 and Q5 in Audi’s SUV range • It gains a new look, the latest infotainment, tweaked suspension and more driving assistance tech • A new plug-in hybrid system will provide up to 74 miles of all-electric range • On sale from July • Starting at £38,300

In keeping with other recently updated Audis the Q3 now looks meaner than before with thinner Matrix LED headlights at the front. They use 25,600 micro-LEDs which are designed not only to illuminate the view ahead, but to work with the driver assistance systems to project warnings onto the road. Audi says these lights are supposed to reduce glare for oncoming drivers and they can be configured to different welcome patterns when you approach the Q3 when it’s parked. At the back, higher level trims gain OLED lights at the rear and a lighting strip which runs across the rear of the car connecting the main clusters. The whole car has been made to look more assertive while improving aerodynamic efficiency and there’s a new sage green paint colour available along with a selection of wheel options depending on the model you choose.

Inside, the Q3 gets a modern and minimalistic interior featuring Audi’s latest Android based infotainment. The panoramic display combines an 11.9-inch driver instrument cluster with a curved 12.8-inch touchscreen. An additional heads-up display is standard on plug-in hybrid models, or it can be added as part of the Sound & Vision Pack. Perhaps one of the most intriguing changes is Audi’s new steering wheel control unit. This moves the gear selector to behind the steering wheel to free up more space in the centre console like you'll find in the closely related Volkswagen Tiguan. However, Audi has also redesigned the indicator, lighting and windscreen wiper controls by doing away with the traditional stalk. Thankfully, it has not copied Tesla by putting buttons on the steering wheel, instead it has incorporated them all onto the one control which features a selection of dials and toggles. Elsewhere there’s new ambient lighting with higher trims gaining backlit fabric panels on the doors. Audi has tweaked the Q3 to help improve comfort by adding acoustic glass to reduce the amount of noise entering the interior and the suspension has also been adapted to improve ride quality and handling. All cars will come with adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera, lane departure warning, driver monitoring and emergency braking. Additionally, the car will be able to bring itself to a stop if it detects the driver is not in control of the vehicle. You’ll also be able to teach the Q3 up to five parking manoeuvres it will be able to complete by itself.

At launch there’ll be the choice of either the TFSI mild-hybrid petrol engine with 150 horsepower or a diesel TDI with the same amount of power. Shortly after this a new plug-in hybrid will also be available. This will have 272 horsepower, and it will use a 25.7 kWh battery to provide an all-electric range of up to 74 miles. Later there will be an all-wheel drive 204 horsepower petrol TFSI Quattro added to the range followed by a more powerful 265 horsepower version.

The updated Q3 will go on sale from July, with first customer deliveries expected towards the end of the summer. Petrol models will start from £38,300 while the diesel will cost £40,000. Meanwhile, the plug-in hybrid will be priced from £45,800.

Audi has recently updated several models including the A3, A5 and A6. as it continues to refresh the rest of its line-up the Q2 could be next on the list.

With this latest round of updates Audi will be hoping the Q3 stands out against competition from the likes of the Mercedes GLA, Volvo XC40 and Peugeot 3008.