KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The third-gen Audi Q3's styling is very similar to the newer Q5.
- Gets a plug-in hybrid powertrain option for the first time.
- The interiors have also been completely revamped.
The Audi Q3 has entered its third-generation, and while there is still some time before the premium SUV enters the Indian market, there are many things that are worth looking into. We say that previous bit because the new-gen Q5 is also yet to arrive, and it has been quite a while since the big brother made its global debut.
Before we get into the details of the Audi Q3's top highlights, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and updates from the automotive industry.
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Audi Q3 Top Highlights
New Modern Design Language Inspired By The Q5
The new Q3 gets a design language that is heavily inspired by the bigger Q5, the electric Q4 and the Q6 e-tron, thus keeping in line with the family design. The Singleframe grille is very similar to the one on the Q5, and the split pattern headlamps feature micro-LED technology.
The car also gets a broad shoulder line, giving it a muscular stance, and the profile bears some amount of resemblance to the new Q5. The alloy wheel sizes range from 17-inches to 20-inches, and it is highly likely that the India-spec car comes with the 19-inch wheels.
The rear of the car also features modern design elements, such as a full-length light strip, and it also gets split-pattern digital OLED tail lamps. The tailgate further comes with an illuminated Audi logo; the first time that this technology is being offered on the German car maker's compact car lineup.
Audi Q3: New Powertrain Options
The new Q3 gets the option of a strong-hybrid powertrain for the first time, and you also get the usual turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel options as well. The strong-hybrid is paired to a 25.7kWh battery pack and it produces a combined 268bhp and 400Nm of torque. However, this is very unlikely to come to India.
What we are most likely to get, however, is a 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol engine producing 261bhp and 400Nm of torque, paired to a 7-speed DSG transmission. Typical of an Audi, the new Q3 comes with Quattro all-wheel drive as standard. There is also a 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol engine with mild-hybrid tech and cylinder deactivation. Last, but not the least is a 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel engine. While we would love to see the diesel in India, we know that is not going to happen.
A Futuristic Interior And Loaded Features
The interiors of the new Q3 see a huge revamp over the outgoing car, with a focus on a cleaner, minimalist look and feel. It gets a blended screen setup with a 11.9-inch instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch infotainment touch screen. The centre console has also been cleaned up, with the gear lever now going behind the steering wheel as a column-mounted unit, while functions for the lighting and wipers now accessible on the left lever.
Personally, the new setup makes the cabin look a bit too plain, especially with the knurled knob controls and tactile buttons having been replaced. That said, we are yet to see this new cabin in the flesh, and hence we will hold our comments on that front.
Audi says there are a total of nine interior upholstery options available, and other things also include an AI voice assistant, an ADAS suite, a cooled wireless charging pad, two USB C-type ports on the front and rear, an ambient lighting with patterns for various functions among other things.
Audi Q3: Suspension With Improved Damping
The new Q3 comes with a choice of either a standard steel-spring suspension, a sports suspensionn, and an adatpive twin-valve damper setup. Audi says that the standard steel-spring suspension delivers an improved driving experience suitable for everyday usage. It also says that the twin-valve damper setup calculates the ideal damping for each wheel in a matter of seconds, while the separately-controlled rebound and damper settings help optimize driving dynamics.
It remains to be seen which setup we will get to see in the Indian-spec car, but the new Q3 will also offer the option to choose from various drive modes that will help alter the nature and driving characteristics of the car.
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Verdict
The new Q3 will continue going up against the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. While the GLA is due for a global upgrade, the Q3 entering its third-generation will certainly make this rivalry much more interesting once it gets launched.
