Audi Q3 1.5 TFSI S Line 5dr S Tronic

Ten Second Review

Audi continues to offer a second, more stylised body shape in the compact SUV sector in the form of this Q3 Sportback model. This second generation design, like its predecessor, is aimed most precisely at BMW's similarly-sized X2. And, to suit that remit, there's mild hybrid electrification, trendy media connectivity and a cool Audi cabin. Just as you'd want.

Background

Generally when it comes to a compact Audi these days, the term 'Sportback' means whatever Ingolstadt wants it to mean. The A3 Sportback is a conventional boxy family hatch with premium packaging. But when it comes to the Q3 small SUV that model shares its engineering with, 'Sportback' designates a separate, sleeker more coupe-like body style that sells at a £1,500 premium over the equivalent standard SUV version, even though it offers slightly less rear head room and a chunk less boot space. Paying more and apparently getting less has always been part and parcel of coupe ownership. It certainly was for the original F3N-era Q3 Sportback model that launched in 2019 - a body style preferred by large proportion of owners of that F3B-generation Q3 model. This replacement second generation Q3 Sportback, which went on sale here in Autumn 2025 plays to the same audience, like its predecessor most directly targeting the only other car in the segment that directly replicates is approach, BMW's X2. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

As you'd expect, the Q3 Sportback drives exactly like the SUV model. Which means you shouldn't be fooled by the slinkier outfit into thinking that this is a particularly sporting SUV - though it's certainly trying to be in the firmly-sprung top 265PS quattro form we tried. But the kind of Q3 Sportback almost all customers will actually choose will usually be a very different confection, normally powered through the front wheels by a modest 150PS engine. That'll be either the brand's usual 1.5 TFSI mild hybrid petrol unit or, less likely, the company's equally familiar 2.0 TDI diesel. Both units make 62mph from rest in about 9s en route to about 130mph, which is about as fast as most Q3 customers will want to go. That's if you select the most urgent of the mainstream drive select drive modes - dynamic (the others are balanced, comfort and efficiency). If you want your Q3 to go faster and you're not bothered about being able to plug it in (more on that in a moment), then you'll have to have it with quattro 4WD and, therefore, a considerably plumper price tag. With the quattro options (which gain an extra 'off-road' drive mode), you choose between an uprated 193PS version of the 2.0 TDI diesel unit. Or the sweet-revving 2.0 TFSI petrol powerplant we tried, offered with either 204PS or 265PS. The former petrol powerplant makes 62mph in 7.1s en route to 142mph; while the 265PS variant manages the same benchmarks in just 5.7s and 149mph. All versions of this model use a 7-speed DSG auto transmission - except the derivative we haven't yet mentioned, the e-hybrid PHEV model (which has a 6-speed DSG auto 'box). Unlike with larger 2.0-litre-based Audi e-hybrid models, this 1.5-litre set-up still can't send drive to all four wheels, but it does at least now have a much larger 25.7kWh battery offering an EV range of up to 73 miles - a huge increase over the feeble 32 mile figure of the original Q3 Sportback TFSI e. As usual in a VW Group PHEV, you can save battery charge for later in your trip when you might need it. The Q3 Sportback e-hybrid's peak power is 272PS, with 400Nm of torque. Beyond the city limits, the light, accurate steering feels good and body roll's kept well in check, though you'll certainly feel the e-hybrid version's extra 150kg of kerb weight through the turns. But if you're looking for the kind of driver engagement and more feelsome steering that you'll get in this class with a BMW X2, well that's missing here. On the highway, refinement's excellent, but if you've a 1.5-litre petrol engine in your Q3 Sportback, overtaking will usually mean working the engine quite hard. As long as you don't do that, refinement's excellent, with wind noise and tyre roar well suppressed.

Design and Build

Not for Audi rather heavy-handed aesthetics of the other small Coupe-SUV in this segment, BMW's X2. This second generation Q3 Sportback is much easier on the eye with its swept-back curves and muscular rear 'quattro blisters'. As you'd expect, differences over the ordinary Q3 start from the A-pillar backwards, from which the roof line sweeps downwards creating stance that sits 29mm lower. It isn't only the roof that's bespoke; the side windows are smaller and there's a reshaped raked-back rear screen topped by a subtle rear spoiler. Creating a faster silhouette set off by large wheels between 18 and 20-inches in size. The front-of-cabin experience is of course as with the ordinary Q3 SUV. Which means you get two screens of course - an 11.9-inch display for the driver and a 12.8-inch touchscreen in the centre. But the real talking point is a deletion of the usual steering wheel column stalks. Instead, a static wraparound panel behind the wheel houses what Audi calls a 'steering wheel control unit'. On the left end of this, you'll find rocker panels for the indicators and a scroll wheel for the wipers. The right side of that panel is the gear selector, freeing up space on the centre console. High-end materials are liberally used, with perforated ambient lighting in the doors; and the three-dimensional base for the centre screen can be specified in various different finishes. One of things we were surprised about with this model's predecessor was how little the swept-back shape affected rear headroom. Here again, though compromises over the SUV will have to be made by really tall folk, they're less than you might expect. You might be surprised by how little boot space is affected by the sporty body shape too, rated at 488-litres (87-litres less than the SUV) for conventional versions; and 375-litres for the e-hybrid. With the rear bench folded, it's 1,289-litres (97-litres less than the SUV) or 1,196-litres for the e-hybrid.

Market and Model

The Q3 Sportback commands a £1,500 price premium over the SUV version. Which meant at the time of our test in Autumn 2026 that prices were starting at £39,000 - that's for the base 1.5-litre mild hybrid TFSI petrol model. At the time of this review, Audi was asking from £41,000 to get the 2.0 TDI diesel. With these two mainstream engines, there are five trim levels 'Tecknik', 'Sport', 'S line', 'Black Edition' and 'Vorsprung'. The top four of those spec levels apply to the e-hybrid petrol PHEV model, which at the time of this review was costing from around £48,000. For a Q3 Sportback with quattro 4WD, you'll need the sportier specs and either the uprated 193PS version of the 2.0 TDI diesel (from around £46,000); or a 2.0-litre TFSI engine that's offered in two states of tune, either with 204PS (priced from around £45,000) or with 265PS (from about £52,000). As standard, every Q3 Sportback comes with LED headlights with main beam assist, aluminium roof rails, LED tail lamps, adaptive cruise control, power-folding mirrors, acoustic front glass, a powered tailgate and an alarm. There's also Adaptive Cruise Control; Progressive steering; and a 'Park assist plus' system with all-round sensors and a 360-degree camera, a set-up able to steer you into tight spaces. Inside, all models get the brand's latest panoramic curved interactive dashboard display with its 11.9-inch 'Audi virtual cockpit plus' screen. The Q3 spec also includes heated front seats with 4-way lumbar support and the sliding 'Rear seat bench plus' set-up. Along with ambient interior lighting, a reversing camera and the Audi phone box wireless charging mat. Media features are taken care of by a 12.8-inch 'MMI navigation plus and MMI touch' monitor, incorporating a 10-speaker 260-watt Audi sound system, along with Audi connect navigation and a 3 year subscription to infotainment features. If you can stretch beyond base 'Technik' spec, 'Sport' trim adds front sports seats and three-zone deluxe climate control, plus larger 18-inch wheels to replace the 'Technik' version's 17-inch rims.

Cost of Ownership

You wouldn't expect this Q3 Sportback's slightly sleeker shape to make it much more efficient than the Q3 SUV - nor does it. But you might hope that the volume 150PS 1.5-litre mild hybrid petrol Q3 Sportback would manage to be more frugal than a more powerful direct rival, BMW's X2 sDrive 20i with 170PS. That's not the case, the 46.3mpg combined cycle reading of the Audi actually slightly bettered by the 47.1mpg return of that BMW. Both cars manage a CO2 stat of about 139g/km. If you want to defy the current zeitgeist and choose the 150PS 2.0 TDI diesel, that variant is WLTP-rated at up to 52.3mpg on the combined cycle and 140g/km of CO2. As for the petrol quattro Q3 Sportbacks, well for the 2.0 TFSI 204PS petrol model, it's 35.6mpg and 180g/km. And for the 2.0 TFSI 265PS version, it's 33.1mpg and 194g/km. The latter stats for the top variant aren't particularly impressive when a much more powerful 300hp BMW X2 M35i can return up to 36.7mpg and up to 175g/km. As we told you in our 'Driving' section, the Q3 Sportback e-hybrid Plug-in petrol variant has a range of up to 73 miles (over double what the previous generation Q3 Sportback PHEV could manage) and can be charged via an AC wallbox in around 4 hours - which you can reduce to around 3 hours if you're able to AC charge using an 11kW wallbox with a three-phase supply. Unlike quite a few (mainly Chinese) PHEVs, the Q3 Sportback e-hybrid can also be DC-charged when you're out and about (in 26 minutes from 10-80% using a 50kW DC public rapid charger). Obviously, there are big savings on Benefit-in-Kind tax by going the e-hybrid route. But you'll need to work out whether these justify the substantially greater up-front purchase price. Audi quotes two combined consumption figures for the e-Hybrid, a 'weighted' one at up to 161.8mpg and a (likely more realistic) 'sustaining' one at up to 46.8mpg. The CO2 emissions figure is up to 40g/km, hence the low 7% BiK rating (compare to 33% for the 150PS petrol or 36% for the TDI diesel). As for maintenance, well servicing your Q3 Sportback should be no more taxing than is the case with one of the company's larger cars. As usual with Audi models, there's a choice of either a 'Fixed' or a 'Flexible' servicing regime, the choice between the two depending on the extent of your likely annual mileage. There's the usual unremarkable three year 60,000 mile Audi warranty. You can expect residual values, as usual with a Q3, to be very strong.

Summary

Like its predecessor, the second generation Q3 Sportback doesn't do anything fundamentally better than the standard SUV model upon which it's based, but it looks significantly more desirable. Enough to justify its price premium? We think most potential buyers will think so. These people probably won't care that there's slightly less rear seat and boot space than in a normal Q3. They may not even be bothered that, in truth, this Audi isn't quite as good to drive as a rival BMW X2. What's important is that this car comes with an added dose of that cool charisma that Ingolstadt does so well. If for you the ordinary Q3 is a bit, well, vanilla, this version serves up that confection rather differently. With a flake if you like. We can all identify with that.