The second-generation Audi Q3 compact SUV arrived at the end of 2018, with technological advancement the crux of the brief.
Along with the Audi Q8, this second-generation Q3 is packed to the hilt with the latest technology and safety kit.
Three petrols and one diesel engine available at launch
The smallest engine on offer is a 1.5-litre TFSI petrol with an output of 150hp and 250Nm, which will utilise ‘cylinder-on-demand’ technology, disengaging two cylinders when they aren’t required to boost fuel economy. This entry-level engine will be teamed with a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission at launch and is only available in front-wheel drive form. A six-speed manual will arrive later.
Arriving over the course of 2019 will be a pair of 2.0-litre TFSI petrols, available with 190hp and 320Nm or in 230hp and 350Nm form. These two will feature the same seven-speed automatic gearbox and will be available with Quattro all-wheel drive.
There will be a single diesel motor available at launch: a 2.0-litre TDI offering 150hp and 340Nm. The S Tronic seven-speed gearbox and front-wheel drive version will be available from launch, with a manual gearbox and Quattro all-wheel drive variant to come later.
More patient drivers will also be able to select a 190hp 2.0-litre TDI following the Q3’s launch.
How much does the Audi Q3 cost for company car drivers?
The cheapest route into an Audi Q3 will be with the entry-level Sport model, but the DSG automatic version of the 35 TSI sits two BIK bands lower than the six-speed manual and reaches a higher claimed mpg figure. As a result, this difference in BIK banding is enough to negate the higher P11D price, with the Sport 35 TFSI costing under £145 per month for a 20% taxypayer; roughly £3 per month less than the manual version.
| P11D | BIK rate (%) | Monthly BIK cost (20%) | mpg (WLTP) | |
| Sport 35 TFSI manual | 30,510 | 29 | £147.47 | 40.4-42.2 |
| Sport 35 TFSI auto | 32,090 | 27 | £144.41 | 39.8-41.5 |
| Sport 35 TDI | 33,690 | 29 | £162.84 | 46.3-48.7 |
| S line 35 TFSI auto | 33,890 | 29 | £163.80 | 38.7-39.8 |
| S line 35 TDI auto |
35,490 | 30 | £177.45 | 44.8-47.1 |
New Audi Q3 gains high-tech interior
There are three trim levels available: Sport, S line and Vorsprung. Inside the cabin, Audi has jettisoned any sign of an analogue display in favour of two fully digital displays. The first is a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit where you’d normally see a traditional speedometer and rev counter, the second, a 10.1-inch touch display in the centre of the dashboard.
The natural-language voice control system introduced on the Q8 is present along with Audi’s sat-nav system and a three-year subscription to Audi Connect, which connects the car to the internet. Wireless phone charging is available as an option.
On the safety front, Audi side assist – which warns drivers of cars alongside – is standard as well as a lane departure warning system and a pre-sense front safety system. There are also options for adaptive cruise control and park assist.
