F1 coverage allows us, journalists, to gain access to the behind-the-scenes, getting to know more closely the atmosphere of the world’s premier category of motorsport. Because it is contested in more than 20 countries, it also lets us travel and take advantage of the trips to understand more about the culture at each Grand Prix venue and also to evaluate new car models on some of the most spectacular roads in the world.
It was with this in mind that we left Munich at the end of June aboard the new Audi Q3 heading to the Red Bull Ring in Austria, embarking on a round-trip journey of about 1,000 kilometers along the roads of southern Germany and the Austrian region of Styria. From autobahns where there is no speed limit to small rural byways where the best approach is to go very slowly to enjoy the stunning mountain and lake scenery in this tourist area of Europe.
The new Audi Q3 and Q3 Sportback, by the way, have just arrived in Brazil in their third generation with several new features. With more than 2.5 million units sold worldwide, the new SUV is a lot of fun to drive both in the city and on the highway, as we could also assess during Audi’s launch event in Brazil on a trip from São Paulo to Nova Odessa.
This time, however, we were able to enjoy the Q3’s sportiness much more intensely, thanks to the power increase of the 2.0 TFSI engine, now with 258 hp, 27 more than the previous version. On the Austrian rural roads, where the speed limit commonly sits at 100 km/h and you literally encounter tractors and other rural vehicles ahead, this brings a lot of confidence when overtaking.
It was also a highlight of our trip to notice the smooth effect of the new seven-speed dual-clutch S Tronic automated transmission, paired with the permanent all-wheel-drive system quattro. It ensures there are no jolts during gear changes, something common on roads with many inclines and declines, as is the case in this Austrian region where the Red Bull Ring is located, in the small town of Spielberg.
The urban stretch evaluation focused mainly on the Munich area, where the Q3’s strong launch showed excellent performance, going from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds, a time on par with a natural-born sports car.
The roar as we left the racetrack every day—toward Judenburg, where we stayed for the coverage of the Austrian F1 Grand Prix—caught the attention of the fans, who imagined that the Q3 might be taking some driver away; perhaps next time we’ll invite Gabriel Bortoleto for a ride and delight the fans?
But in any case, the car certainly draws attention for its design, starting with the Singleframe grille, which appears integrated with the Full LED Plus headlights and wraps around the hood. Because it is integrated into the car’s styling, the front reveals a great deal of elegance, along with the raised waistline on the sides. At the rear, the standout features are the connected taillights and the brand’s rings illuminated in red.
The dimensions of Audi’s SUV are also well-suited for a 1,000 km journey, as we did during five days in Germany and Austria, but they also offer excellent size for parking in the centers of the small towns where we stayed. The Audi Q3 measures 4,531 mm in length, 2,087 mm in width, 1,601 mm in height, and 2,681 mm wheelbase. In the Sportback body, the dimensions are: 4,531 mm length; 2,087 mm width; 1,559 mm height; and 2,681 mm wheelbase. Since I traveled with little luggage, I could not fully take advantage of the good trunk space, with capacity ranging from 488 to 575 liters (for the two body styles), but it’s great news for anyone planning this trip to the Red Bull Ring with a group of friends—one of the best travel options on the F1 calendar, by the way.
In Brazil, the SUV arrives with prices starting at R$ 389,990, available in the colors Malpelo Blue, Navarra Blue; Glacier White, Tambora Gray; Myth Black, Sage Green, and Progressive Red, all metallic; Arrow Gray, pearlescent, and Arkona White, solid. The cabin can be upholstered in black or beige.
Upon returning the car at Munich airport, after more than 1,000 kilometers driven between Germany and Austria, the feeling was gratitude for an excellent travel companion during these five days of F1 coverage at the Red Bull Ring. We even visited charming towns that attract thousands of tourists, such as Hallstatt in Austria, where the scenery of a centuries-old village and a large lake resembles a real fairytale (it is even said that the scenery inspired the creation of the movie Frozen, whose story actually takes place in Norway).
And the car really assists as a “copilot” thanks to the excellent tech package, including adaptive cruise control (ACC) with lane keeping assist, parking assist, emergency braking assist, driver attention and drowsiness detector – an extra safety on journeys like our return, made on Sunday night in the rain after several hot days in Austria.
The final verdict is that the Audi Q3 earns high marks for blending sportiness, comfort, and driving pleasure with a car that features the best technology available to the driver. A highly efficient package, as one would expect even more from the four-ring brand now in 2026, with the start of its historic journey as an official factory team in F1.
