New Second-Gen Audi Q3 Sportback Bows In

Audi has completed the lineup of the new Q3 SUV by unveiling the all-new, second-gen Audi Q3 Sportback.

Following the recent debut of the third-gen Audi Q3, Audi has now introduced the new, second-gen Audi Q3 Sportback. This new subcompact coupe SUV now completes the German automaker’s Sportback lineup, featuring several improvements and upgrades across the board.

As expected, the new Q3 Sportback shares many similarities with the standard Q3, with the front half of the car remaining identical to its SUV twin. Up front, the new Q3 Sportback gets the same front face as its twin, featuring new LED headlights with optional digital OLED graphics and a new front grille design with hexagonal inserts.

While the Q3 Sportback gets a sportier coupe roofline with a rakish rear windscreen, the coupe SUV uses the same rear bumper unit as the regular Q3, featuring faux intakes and a large rear diffuser to give it a sportier look.

Despite sharing many similar body panels, Audi says the new Q3 Sportback is actually 29 mm shorter than the regular Q3, thus making it the de facto sportier choice of the two.

The similarities with the regular Q3 continue as we get inside the new Q3 Sportback’s cabin, where it gets the same modern cockpit setup seen on newer Audi models of late. Crowning above the front dash is the new curved display setup featuring a 12.8-inch central infotainment unit and a smaller 11.9-inch digital metre cluster.

Other new bits primed here include a floating central console with cup holders and a wireless charging tray, a new three-spoke Audi steering wheel with redesigned stalks and a column-mounted gear selector, sporty front seats, dedicated rear A/C vents, and many more.

Predictably, the Q3 Sportback’s coupe roofline makes it a less practical option of the two, with its maximum cargo bay measuring 97 litres smaller than the regular Q3 at 1,298 litres with the rear seats folded. That said, Audi has yet to unveil its exact boot volume with all five seats in place, although we assume it’ll be slightly smaller than the standard Q3’s 488-litre cargo bay.

To no one’s surprise, the second-gen Q3 Sportback shares the same powertrain lineup as the regular Q3, and both models also underpin the same MQB Evo platform. The full combustion (ICE) powertrain lineup starts with the entry-level 1.5-litre 4-cyl TFSI petrol engine that outputs 148 hp, followed by the peppier 2.0-litre 4-cyl TFSI with up to 262 hp.

Both variants share the same 7-speed DCT automatic gearbox that sends power either to the front (FWD) or all wheels (AWD), depending on the trim level.

2026 Audi Q3 Sportback e-Hybrid PHEV

Not to forget, the new Q3 Sportback also comes with a new e-Hybrid plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option, featuring a 1.5-litre 4-cyl petrol mill as its core. Combined with an e-motor and a 25.7-kWh battery pack, the Q3 Sportback e-Hybrid boasts a combined system output of 268 hp, while its EV-only range is capped at 118 km (WLTP), which is 1 km less than the regular Q3, despite having a supposed silkier silhouette.

Rounding off the mechanical bits for the new Q3 Sportback is the optional sport suspension system, and you can also expect to find almost all the latest ADAS functions primed in this coupe crossover.

Orders for the all-new, second-gen Audi Q3 Sportback have already been opened in Europe, with first deliveries set to begin from Nov 2025 onwards. Prices start from €46,450 (RM228,487) for the entry-level 1.5 TFSI in Germany, with the e-Hybrid PHEV capping off the lineup at €51,150 (RM251,606).