All-New 2026 Audi Q3 Looks Like a Premium Cupra in Undisguised Spy Shots

3 months, 1 week ago - 12 September 2024, autoevolution

Do you consider the second-generation Q3 to be aging? Regardless of your answer, Audi does, so it is preparing its successor. We've seen the upcoming Audi Q3 multiple times, yet the latest set of scoops is also the most revealing, as it puts the spotlight on an almost-naked prototype.

From certain angles, especially up front, the 2026 Audi Q3 kind of looks like a premium Cupra that was born in Germany. However, once you start noticing the grille, it's clearly an Audi, and we dig the cleaner and more youthful spec.

Compared to the outgoing iteration, the all-new one has a wider and shorter grille. Since this component was reimagined for the new generation, it left plenty of room below it for a more generously sized central air intake. The four-ring brand went for a split-headlamp design with the main clusters sitting below the sharp-looking LED DRLs.

The premium subcompact crossover has a flatter nose, body-colored lower trim, discreet roof rails, and larger three-quarter windows. It still sports traditional door handles instead of the flush-mounted ones of multiple modern-day vehicles. The rear camouflage may trick some into thinking the headlights are an evolution, but they're entirely new, and chances are a thin light strip links them in the middle of the tailgate, between the rear license plate and corporate logo.

The rear bumper seems to have been inspired by the A3, and the diffuser is sporty. This tester also had a roof-mounted spoiler, a shark-fin antenna, multi-spoke alloys with an intricate pattern, and a black overall look with only a few strips of camouflage here and there, thus giving us our best look yet into the upcoming all-new Audi Q3.

Besides the regular crossover, the 2026 Audi Q3 family will likely comprise a coupe variant, targeting those who favor style over substance. This version will get a sloping roofline, which will inevitably eat into the cargo area and the headroom of backseat occupants. Elsewhere, the two will share the same chassis setups (more or less), technology, safety systems, and powertrain lineup.

Its MQB siblings, the Cupra Terramar and Volkswagen Tiguan, are offered with a wide selection of powertrains, including plug-in hybrids, gasoline, and diesel units. Therefore, it’s probably safe to assume that the upcoming Q3 will mirror some of these assemblies. In North America, this model will likely launch with gasoline power solely with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, joined by the SQ3 and hopefully the range-topping RS Q3 with a five-pot.

Audi should uncover the new Q3 in a few months, and it should arrive in the New World for the 2026 model year, likely with a small price bump. The outgoing 2024 Audi Q3 starts at $37,400 before destination and dealer fees. The rivaling BMW X1 starts at $40,950, whereas Mercedes' GLA and GLB kick off from $43,000 and $45,800, respectively.