Audi Q3 SUV 2018: price, specs, release date and full details

Audi is set to release its new Q3 in 2018 and rival the BMW X1, here’s all there is to know

The next-generation Audi Q3 is due to go on sale in 2018 and the latest spy shots of the car confirm that Audi will usher in an evolutionary look for its fresh BMW X1 rival. We expect the compact SUV to be priced from around £27,000.


The front of the Audi Q3 has a redesigned grille, which is wider than the one on the model currently on sale. There are also fresh headlights, suggesting the Q3 will be brought in line with the front-end designs seen on the recently updated A5 and A8.

The profile will look similar to that of the new Q5, although it will of course be scaled down. Our exclusive image, shows just how the new Q3 could look once the wraps are taken off.

The Q3 currently on sale is the oldest model in the German marque’s range, so big changes are anticipated under the skin. There’ll be an all-new cabin and an all-new platform to bring the Q3 right up to date with the rest of the Audi line-up.
Underneath the metal skin of the current Q3, the mechanicals can be dated back to the Mk5 Volkswagen Golf. So like a large number of models in the VW Group line-up, the new Q3 will make a move over to the MQB platform – which is used by everything from the Skoda Kodiaq to Audi TT.

The benefits of the new platform range from less weight and more space, to the potential for higher fuel economy with the aid of hybrid technology. The new model will share a similar footprint to the current Q3, but there will be small increases in length and width – 60mm and 50mm respectively – while the wheelbase is expected to be stretched by up to 50mm, too.
Those gains in size will help boost practicality as Audi looks to provide more cabin space for passengers in the rear. Boot capacity is expected to increase from the current car’s 420 litres, too.

The current model’s cluttered dashboard and centre console design will make way for a far slicker and more ergonomic layout, inspired by the larger Q5. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit display will replace the conventional instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, while a dashboard that is designed horizontally rather than vertically will increase the visual width of the cabin.
The new MQB chassis also opens up a range of new engine possibilities for the Q3, with the most significant being a plug-in hybrid e-tron. It won’t arrive immediately, however, and is likely to land around 12 months after the Q3’s initial launch. The powertrain is expected to comprise a 1.4-litre TFSI engine and an electric motor, which combine to deliver official economy of over 150mpg with CO2 emissions below 40g/km.
Auto Map also understands Audi is plotting an all-electric Q3. It could use underpinnings from the updated VW e-Golf, which now boasts a range of 186 miles. The car would offer a quick-charge set-up to make the Q3 EV a more viable proposition for consumers.

At the opposite end of the range will be an RS Q3. It’s likely to use the latest version of Audi’s five-cylinder turbo, which is not only lighter – it’s made from aluminium – but also far more powerful, with 394bhp. As in the current car, it will be transmitted via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and quattro four-wheel drive. The rest of the range will comprise four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with displacements of 1.5 and 2.0 litres. Power will range from 148bhp to 218bhp.

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