Audi is about to give its smallest SUV a very big moment. The third-generation Q3 launches in India tomorrow, October 16, and it is arriving with sharper looks, a thoroughly reworked cabin and an engine that finally puts quattro all-wheel drive on every variant. Bookings are already open at Rs 1 lakh, and the price is expected to land somewhere between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh, ex-showroom.
The timing is deliberate. The festive season is when India buys cars, and the Q3, assembled locally at Audi’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar plant in Maharashtra, is stepping into one of the most hotly contested corners of the luxury market. Here is everything you need to know before the covers come off.
A bold new face for Audi’s baby SUV
The new Q3 looks nothing like the understated SUV it replaces. The front gets a split-headlamp setup, with slim daytime running lamps sitting high and the main beams stacked vertically in the bumper below. The DRLs can be configured with multiple light signatures, so two Q3s can greet you with different expressions. The grille is larger and more upright, and the tail gets split LED lamps joined by a light bar with an illuminated Audi logo in the middle.
In profile, the SUV wears body-coloured cladding instead of the black plastic of old, plus 18-inch alloy wheels and a chrome window line. It looks longer and lower than before, though the biggest changes are inside.
Digital-first cabin, and it shows
The dashboard is now dominated by a dual-screen setup: a 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 11.9-inch digital driver’s display, set into a layered, driver-focused layout. There is a new four-spoke steering wheel, a gear selector moved to the steering column (which frees up the centre console), and two-tone leather upholstery.
The features list reads like a much more expensive car. A Sonos sound system, panoramic sunroof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, configurable ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera and a powered tailgate are all in. Ventilated front seats and driver assistance systems, including ADAS functions, round out a cabin that feels a generation ahead of the old car.
Same engine philosophy, more muscle
Under the bonnet is Audi’s familiar 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TFSI direct-injection turbo-petrol engine, producing 204 hp and 320 Nm of torque. Power goes through a 7-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic, and Audi’s signature quattro all-wheel drive is expected to be standard across the range, a genuine differentiator in a segment where rivals often reserve AWD for the top variant.
Performance should be brisk without being wild: expect a 0-100 km/h sprint in roughly seven and a half seconds, with the strong mid-range torque that makes these petrol Audis so easy to drive in Indian highway traffic.
Price, positioning and the rivals waiting outside
At an expected Rs 55 lakh to Rs 60 lakh, the new Q3 will cost noticeably more than the outgoing car, which topped out around Rs 53 lakh. But local assembly at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar keeps the price competitive against its natural enemies: the BMW X1, the Mercedes-Benz GLA, the Volvo XC40 and the Mini Countryman C.
- Launch: October 16, 2026, India
- Expected price: Rs 55-60 lakh, ex-showroom
- Engine: 2.0L TFSI turbo-petrol, 204 hp, 320 Nm
- Gearbox: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
- Drive: quattro AWD, expected on all variants
- Key tech: 12.8-inch infotainment, 11.9-inch driver display, Sonos audio, 360-degree camera, ADAS
- Made in: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
The Q3 has historically been Audi’s volume car in India, and the company clearly wants the new generation to reclaim that role. The formula is familiar but effective: fresher design, a tech-packed cabin, standard all-wheel drive and a price that undercuts the bigger luxury SUVs while still feeling special. Whether buyers bite will depend on the final price card, which Audi reveals tomorrow. For now, the new Q3 looks like the most serious entry-level luxury SUV of the festive season.
FAQs
When is the new Audi Q3 launching in India?
The third-generation Q3 launches on October 16, 2026. Bookings are already open at authorised dealerships for Rs 1 lakh.
What is the expected price of the new Audi Q3?
The new Q3 is expected to be priced between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh, ex-showroom, with final prices announced at launch.
What engine does the new Audi Q3 get?
A 2.0-litre TFSI turbo-petrol engine making 204 hp and 320 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic and standard quattro all-wheel drive.
Is the new Audi Q3 made in India?
Yes. Audi has commenced local assembly of the third-gen Q3 at its plant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.
What are the main rivals of the new Audi Q3?
The BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Volvo XC40 and Mini Countryman C are its direct competitors in the entry-level luxury SUV segment.
