The new Audi Q3 - a first driving impression
A compact SUV that doesn't try to reinvent everything - but to make everything better.
Our test vehicle: Audi Q3 SUV TFSI 195 kW
- 2000ccm, 265PS/195kW, 4 cylinders, TFSI petrol
- 7-speed direct shift gearbox S tronic quattro
- Exterior color: sage green metallic
- Interior: black - express red
How does the Audi Q3 drive?
You get in, drive off - and the Q3 makes it amazingly easy. It moves so naturally that you almost forget how much technology is involved. Nothing hitches, nothing wobbles, nothing pushes. A car that you don't have to explain because it immediately feels "right". Calm, precise, pleasantly unagitated.
- Advanced standard suspension
- Optional sports suspension and two-valve damper control
- Adaptive dampers work permanently depending on the situation
- Optionally further developed progressive steering
- New "balanced" basic mode (compromise between comfort and dynamics)
Why should you definitely drive the Audi Q3 in the dark?
The real wow moment comes when the sun is gone. The Q3 doesn't make the night brighter - it makes it clearer. With the new digital Matrix LED headlights with new micro-LED technology. The road is clean in front of you, the edges are sharper, orientation is easier. And at some point you catch yourself thinking: "How did I actually drive without this before?"
- 25,600 individually controllable micro-LEDs per module
- Orientation light - projected lines for lane guidance
- Lane light with dynamic highway illumination
- Flashing indicator in the light image for visible lane change intention
Why does the Audi Q3 impress at first glance?
The new Q3 has this modern serenity: wide, clear, self-confident - without seeking the big show. A car that doesn't need to be loud because the proportions are just right. Powerful, but not obtrusive. A design that works.
- Wide single frame, newly contoured headlight shape
- Digital OLED rear lights with continuous LED strip
- Significantly improved aerodynamics (drag coefficient 0.30) and acoustics
What does the Audi Q3 feel like inside?
Inside, everything is logical, tidy and pleasantly reduced. No flood of buttons, no visual clutter. And the seats? They feel as if you had been asked how you would like them. You sit down and immediately realize: "Yes, you can go a long way with this."
- New "Digital Stage": 11.9" instrument cluster + 12.8" MMI touch (curved)
- New steering wheel control unit: right: gear selection, left: Lights & wipers
- Sustainable materials (recycled polyester, Econyl)
What do we think of the new gear selector lever and control unit in the Audi Q3?
Hm yes, the gear selector lever on the steering column in an Audi is a bit of a "what now?" moment at first. But as soon as your hand stops searching in the center console and finds a place there, you understand the idea behind it. The new organization of the interior is not a design whim, but a practical consideration. Compared to the rest, the entire control element looks a little artificial and less harmonious. But that is a matter of taste. And, as we all know, you get used to everything.
- New gear selector lever on the steering column
- Right-hand lever: D/B, N, R, P
- Left lever: light functions & wipers
Conclusion on the new Audi Q3?
The new Q3 is one of those cars that has nothing to prove. You get in, drive off - and the rest just feels right. Many things feel familiar, many things have been improved. Especially in the evening, the car shows how far lighting technology has come. The interior remains calm, tidy, almost decelerating.
