Third-gen Audi Q3 Luxury SUV Confirmed For India: Launching Next Year
Audi will bring the third-generation Q3 to India in 2026. The SUV has already been unveiled internationally, and the timeline suggests that Audi India is waiting to align its launch with the global production cycle. This means the Indian version will come with the same platform, technology and powertrain options already confirmed abroad.
Built On MQB EVO
The new Q3 is based on Volkswagen Group’s MQB EVO platform, which is shared with the latest Volkswagen and Skoda models in Europe. MQB evo brings improvements in crash safety, weight management, rigidity, and electronics.
The architecture supports the newest driver-assistance systems and allows software-based updates over the car’s lifecycle. For Indian buyers, this means a model that arrives fully up to date, not an older-generation hand-me-down.
Design Updates From The Previous Q3
Visually, the third-gen Q3 looks sharper and more athletic than the model it replaces. The single-frame grille is wider and flatter, with a new angular mesh pattern. Slimmer LED headlights with updated signatures sit on either side, while the bumpers have deeper sculpting.
Along the profile, a crisper shoulder line and slightly more tapered glasshouse give it a sportier stance. At the rear, slimmer tail-lamps linked by a strong horizontal element emphasise width. Compared to the outgoing Q3, this one appears cleaner, more modern, and more in line with Audi’s current design language.
Petrol And Mild-Hybrid Focus
Globally, the Q3 uses a petrol-only engine line-up, offered with 48V mild-hybrid technology for better efficiency. The India-spec car is expected to follow the same route. Diesel will not return, as Audi phased it out from its Indian portfolio after BS6 regulations.
A 2.0-litre turbo-petrol with dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive is already part of the global line-up and will likely form the backbone of the Indian range.
Entry versions abroad use front-wheel drive, which may also be retained here for competitive pricing. A plug-in hybrid version exists overseas, but Audi has not confirmed if that will be part of the India plan.
Technology And Features
The new Q3 gets a fully digital cockpit, a large touchscreen with wireless smartphone connectivity, and improved voice command functionality. Cabin ergonomics remain straightforward, with practical storage and clear sightlines. Internationally, the model is offered with multiple upholstery choices, LED lighting, and advanced air-conditioning. These are expected to be carried forward when the SUV comes to India.
Safety Equipment
The third-gen Q3 is equipped with six airbags as standard in Europe, along with electronic stability control, tyre-pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.
Depending on trim, it also offers lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The same package is likely for India, though exact variant splits will depend on pricing.
Rivals And Positioning
In India, the Q3 sits in the compact luxury SUV segment, competing with the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40. The new generation brings the Q3 back in line with these rivals on platform and technology. Each competitor has its own strengths, but Audi’s positioning typically emphasises a planted driving feel, clean design, and everyday usability.
Start of a new chapter, soon!
The third-generation Audi Q3 is already on sale overseas and will arrive in India in 2026. Built on MQB evo, it brings sharper styling, petrol-only engines with mild-hybrid tech, more connected features, and updated safety equipment. The strategy is clear: align India with the global cycle and give buyers a fully current product rather than an extended older model.