Audi Q3 Review 2022 - Top Gear

AdvertisementClose advertisement

• Home
• Car Reviews
• Audi
• Q3

• Overview
• Driving
• Interior
• Buying
• Specs & Prices

Car ReviewAudi Q3 reviewPrices from£37,755 - £53,785 Leasing offers from

£355 p/m

External link towith Leasing.com7Stephen DobiePublished: 23 Feb 2026

Read why you can trust our independent reviews

• Overview
• Driving
• Interior
• Buying
• Specs & Prices

Skip 22 photos in the image carousel and continue reading1 / 22Advertisement“A solid and likeable evolution amid an SUV market undergoing revolution”

Good stuff

Bolder looks, drives tidily, decent tech

Bad stuff

Gimmicky touches, iffy brake feel, doesn't tug on the heartstrings

Overview

What is it?

It’s Audi’s fourth-largest seller in Britain, rejigged and rejuvenated for its third generation. Surprised it’s not the firm’s biggest hit here? Us too – the blighters seem to be everywhere – but the A3, Q4 and A1 currently pip it to the podium.

Still, it’s a ginormous deal, not least when the mid-size crossover market is being so exhaustively assaulted by new Chinese brands. Several each week, it feels like. While Audi ought to occupy the premium seating looking down on the mainstream bloodshed, the Q3 may still be in danger of having its heels nipped at by the Jaecoos of this world. Not to mention more traditional rivals like the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Range Rover Evoque and Volvo XC40. Plus the Cupra Terramar with which it shares its factory, powertrains and wheelbase...

Advertisement - Page continues below

No wonder this Mk3 massively ramps up the visual drama, then. By chance, we pulled up alongside the outgoing Q3 at traffic lights in the first moments of driving this new one. Its previously chiselled looks appeared dowdy beside its replacement; there’s a lot going on, what with its bold, singleframe grille, squinting LEDs (more on those in a sec) and split taillight design.

It has confidence, alright, as well as a muscular stance more reminiscent of the Q-models above it. It’s still pretty compact, at 4.5m long, but has the air of the larger Q5 about its design. What the future of Audi SUV design holds off the back of the minimalist Audi Concept C, we don’t yet know…

Looks like the interior isn’t minimalist.

Nope, that concept’s dinky screen philosophy feels a million miles from the new Q3, which – in Audi’s words – brings large-car tech to a smaller footprint.

A vast curved panoramic display combines an 11.9in instrument cluster and 12.8in central touchscreen that runs on Android and incorporates AI. Behind the wheel is a new concept of indicating, windscreen wiping and gear selecting, traditional stalks making way for stubbier buttons. Visually, the set up looks a bit blunt and clunky, but it feels more satisfying on the move – even if it’ll take a few goes to properly get your head around.

Advertisement - Page continues below

Those new lights we discussed? Micro LED technology up front calls upon 25,600 hair-width bulbs to carve out patterns in the light beams you cast ahead. They work together with your indication (or lack thereof) to warn you of blind-spot dangers during late-night driving – or help keep you between the white lines on dark, wending country lanes.

Too bad the technology is flummoxed by too much rain, not least when the car was launched in autumnal Scotland. Audi’s always liked its lighting gimmicks but this one doesn’t feel much beyond a fun talking point so far. You’ll get more satisfaction from the choreographed dances the LEDs do as you approach or walk away from the car.

Enough lighting. What about power?

There’s tonnes of choice, none of it fully electric. The Audi Q4 e-tron is clearly doing a pretty good job of hoovering up demand there. You’ve the option instead of pure petrols, a plug-in hybrid and even – gasp! – a diesel. They’re either front or four-wheel drive but all deploy an automatic gearbox; cupholders and a ventilated wireless charging pad have leapt into the space a gear lever would previously have occupied. Just like a Terramar, Skoda Kodiaq or Volkswagen Tiguan, then, with the same powertrain options. Only everything’s a bit plusher and techier in here.

A 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol kicks the range off at £39,045. It deploys mild-hybrid and cylinder-on-demand tech to eke out efficiency, combining 148bhp power and a 9.1-second dash to 62mph with mid-40s mpg.

Above that sit two 2.0-litre petrols, both of which have a Quattro badge to signify 4WD. They offer 201 or 261bhp (the latter being what you’ll find in the sportily badged Skoda Kodiaq vRS or, indeed, a base VW Golf GTI for 0-62mph in either 7.1 or 5.7s. The perkier car even nudges 150mph.

But I care about running costs…

Then perhaps you’ll favour the plug-in hybrid. It pairs a slightly uprated version of that base 1.5-litre engine with an 114bhp e-motor for a 268bhp total – plus an official claim of 134mpg+ and CO2 emissions as low as 39g/km to dance triumphantly into generous Benefit-in-kind (BIK) rates, assisted by its 73 miles of claimed e-range –double that of its predecessor and making it one of the longest range plug-in hybrids available on our shores – when its 19.7kWh battery is fully topped up, something you can do in under half an hour at 50kW on a rapid public charger.

It’s front-wheel drive, as is the sole diesel on offer in Britain, a 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI with 52mpg claims and some easily exploited torque (and thus real-world performance). Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it – diesel ain’t dead just yet.

Skip 12 photos in the image carousel and continue reading1 / 12

Audi has launched regular SUV and swoopier Sportback versions simultaneously, the latter (pictured above) bringing a lower roofline and a smidge less boot space for a £1,500 premium. There are no dynamic changes; you’ll be choosing it on looks alone – we think it looks slightly awkward but you can make your own mind up. Small wonder UK sales are typically split 60/40 in the more conventional car’s favour.

But whichever version you choose, it hits all the Audi SUV notes with near perfection. Easy to drive with just enough sporting nous, and strong perceived quality inside (even if it’s a mite downgraded over the larger cars). If you’re an existing Audi Q-car driver, you’ll step merrily into this without breaking stride – despite its flashy tech and weird indicator stalk.

Our choice from the range

AUDI2.0 TFSI Quattro Sport 5dr S Tronic£39,805See prices and specs

What's the verdict?

“The new Q3 nails everything an Audi SUV should be”

The new Q3 nails everything an Audi SUV should be: comfy interior, tidy if uninvolving dynamics, and a generous choice of engines and power sources. If you’re stepping across from its predecessor (or even downsizing from an old Q5 or 7) it’ll coddle you immediately.

What it stops short of is inspiration or excitement – but then we reckon you knew that going in. The design is bolder and more extrovert than before, and its screens much larger. But the basics beneath them haven’t much altered – it’s a trim ‘n’ tidy up rather than a whole new hairdo. Q3 gen3 is a solid, safe bet amid a compact SUV market undergoing something of a revolution.

7

BMW X1

£37,030 - £53,805 8

Volvo XC40

£36,245 - £46,295 8

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

£42,510 - £58,220

Find another car review

Manufacturer296 Special Edition (2025)AbarthAlfa RomeoAlpinaAlpineArielAston MartinAtlasAudiBACBentleyBMWBrabhamBugattiBYDCadillacCaterhamChanganCheryChevroletChryslerCitroenCorollaCorvetteCupraDaciaDodgeDSEagleElementalFerrariFiatFiskerFordFrontlineGeelyGenesisGMCGordon Murray AutomotiveGWMGWM ORAHondaHyundaiIneosInfinitiIsuzuJaecooJaguarJeepJensenKGMKiaKimera AutomobiliKoenigseggKTMLamborghiniLanciaLand RoverLeapmotorLexusLincolnLockheed MartinLotusLucidMaseratiMazdaMcLarenMercedes-BenzMG Motor UKMiniMitsubishiMorganNioNissanNobleOmodaPaganiPeugeotPininfarinaPipistrelPolestarPorscheProdriveRadicalRAMRenaultRimacRivianRolls-RoyceSeatShelbySkodaSkywellSmartSoyuzSsangyongSubaruSuzukiTeslaThe Little Car CompanyTop Gear Technology CentreToyotaVauxhallVolkswagenVolvoXpengYukonZenvoModelCONTINUECONTINUEContinue reading: DrivingAdvertisement

F1 movie sequel confirmed, 'ultra realistic' plot to follow predictable one-team domination

Country lane stand-off between two stubborn drivers enters 19th hour

Thank you wave becomes legal requirement on UK roads

US to request five-year car history for foreign tourists

Advertisement

F1 movie sequel confirmed, 'ultra realistic' plot to follow predictable one-team domination

Country lane stand-off between two stubborn drivers enters 19th hour

Thank you wave becomes legal requirement on UK roads

US to request five-year car history for foreign tourists

F1 movie sequel confirmed, 'ultra realistic' plot to follow predictable one-team domination

Country lane stand-off between two stubborn drivers enters 19th hour

Thank you wave becomes legal requirement on UK roads

US to request five-year car history for foreign tourists

1. Supercars

   Top Gear's 10/10 cars: 23 brilliant machines that got a perfect score

2. Big Reads

   Up close with the twin-turbo V8 Toyota GR GT: "a long bonneted thunderstorm"

3. Retro

   Tally ho! There’s a new retro-tastic special edition Caterham

4. Gaming

   Opinion: is iRacing’s dominance under threat?

5. First Look

   Dacia is preparing a brand new affordable estate car, and it's called 'Striker'

6. Car Review

   Mazda CX-5

Subscribe to the Top Gear Newsletter

Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.

SuccessYour Email*Country*Please select your countryUnited KingdomAfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCaribbean NetherlandsCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongo (Brazzaville)Congo (Kinshasa)Cook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHondurasHong Kong S.A.R., ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacao S.A.R., ChinaMacedoniaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNetherlands AntillesNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorth KoreaNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinian TerritoryPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarReunionRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaint BarthélemySaint HelenaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluU.S. Virgin IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited StatesUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVaticanVenezuelaVietnamWallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabwe

By clicking subscribe, you agree to receive news, promotions and offers by email from Top Gear and BBC Studios. Your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy.

Sorry, something went wrong

Please try againSubscribemagazine

Subscribe to BBC Top Gear Magazine

find out more