Audi’s brand-new Q3 now available to lease

If you’re getting ready to lease a new car your timing couldn’t be better, especially if your boxes are ticked by the idea of a premium compact SUV. The Audi Q3 has been an established bestseller in the premium compact segment for more than 10 years. Now the next generation is poised to take that success to the next level, while setting new standards in the process.

Order books for the new Audi Q3 SUV opened in September, while the new Sportback version is set to join it sometime in October.

Compared to its predecessor, the new Audi Q3 boasts a sleeker design. The wide grille and tapered LED headlights are fully integrated into the aerodynamics, while the rear also features digital lights and, depending on the trim-level, a continuous LED light strip and illuminated Audi rings. There are 11 colour options available for the new Audi Q3, alongside a new range of alloy wheel designs in sizes from the standard 18-inch up to 20-inch.

In addition to the classic SUV advantages - easy entry, excellent visibility, and a practical interior layout - if you opt for the Sportback version you can also add the looks of a coupe. Its downward-sloping roofline is 29mm lower than the SUV, giving the Audi Q3 Sportback a suitably sporty appearance.

On the inside, a new steering wheel control unit means more storage space in the centre console, a new driver experience, and a better sense of space.

The new steering wheel control unit integrates two new steering column levers, a gear selector and the stalk for the lights and wipers, freeing up extra space around the centre console for a couple of cup holders, a 15W wireless phone charging tray, and a pair of USB-C ports. Flat door handles and a modern, uncluttered console underscore the feeling of space and comfort, while the panoramic display with an 11.9-inch instrument cluster and 12.8-inch MMI touch display creates a driver-oriented cockpit layout.

The new Audi Q3 also boasts a range of highly efficient engine options to suit a variety of requirements.

The entry-level model in the Audi Q3 family generates 150bhp from its 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology and standard seven-speed S tronic transmission. For those undertaking regular long-distance journeys there is also a 150bhp diesel option that offers similar levels of performance and emissions and an extra few miles per gallon.

A pair of 2.0-litre petrol options complete the internal combustion lineup, a 200bhp version coming later in the year, and a highly desirable 260bhp version that sends its power to all four wheels via the same seven-speed transmission and Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel drive system.

Unsurprisingly, the range-topping powertrain option features Audi’s latest plug-in hybrid technology.

The addition of an electric motor to the 1.5-litre petrol engine increases the overall power output to around 270bhp. The 25.7kWh battery is almost double the capacity of the outgoing models, increasing the electric-only range up to 72 miles. The Audi Q3 e-hybrid can charge at rates up to 50kW DC, which in real terms means a 10-80% charge should take under 30 minutes.

The new Audi Q3 SUV is launched in September, with the Q3 Sportback following in October. Trim levels will comprise of Audi’s familiar Sport, S line, and Edition 1 specifications.