Audi Q3 vs Lexus NX Hybrid

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid was a striking vehicle, characterized by its bold design elements. The front featured a large, dark spindle grille, flanked by squinting LED headlights and blacked-out air intakes, creating an aggressive and complex appearance. While some found this design attractive, others felt it was overly stylized. The profile was sporty yet understated, with smooth, rounded edges and body-coloured fender flares, suggesting a focus on road performance. F Sport elements like dark trim and 20-inch wheels added to its sporty appeal, while the fastback roof shape echoed coupe-like crossovers.

Inside, the NX Hybrid combined sportiness with modern technology. The digital instrument cluster and large touchscreen, though not directly connected, created a cockpit-like feel. The F Sport 3 model featured sporty touches like dark graphite aluminum trim, metal pedals, and Circuit Red synthetic leather upholstery. Lexus's NuLuxe textile convincingly mimicked real leather, adding to the upscale feel with soft-touch surfaces adorning the interior.

The 2026 Audi Q3 aimed for a more SUV-like appearance with its tall front end, elongated hood, and traditional Audi “singleframe” grille. However, the design was cluttered with elements like faux air intakes and textured plastic, which some found unattractive. The “UFO line” added a successful design element, casting shadows that made the upper body appear to float. The Q3 featured programmable headlights and OLED taillights, adding a touch of modernity. Despite using the same MQB architecture as its predecessor, the Q3 maintained a familiar yet refined look.

Audi made sportier S Line styling features standard, including a black grille and rear diffuser. The Q3 offered 18-inch wheels as standard, with options for larger sizes. Inside, leather upholstery was standard, and wood dashboard trim was available. The cabin featured padded materials and a distinct design, maintaining a quality feel despite some plastic elements.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, specifically the NX 350h F Sport 3, was not as sporty as its name suggested. It featured adaptive dampers with Normal and Sport settings and a firmer suspension, but it wasn't built for aggressive cornering. With 18.5 centimetres of ground clearance, it leaned in bends and lacked agility. The steering was weighty, firming up in Sport S and Sport S+ modes, but offered little feedback. The ride was firm yet comfortable, even with 20-inch wheels and a stiffer suspension.

The hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with three electric motors for standard all-wheel drive, producing 240 horsepower. Lexus quoted a 7.2-second 0 to 96 km/h time. Power delivery was adequate but not exhilarating, with a slushy drivetrain feel. Steering wheel paddles allowed for simulated downshifts, but they didn't mimic regular automatic transmission gear ratios. For more power, buyers could consider the Lexus NX 450h plug-in hybrid with 340 hp.

The 2026 Audi Q3 retained its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, now producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This increased output allowed the Q3 to achieve a 0 to 100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds. The eight-speed automatic transmission was replaced with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, while all-wheel drive remained standard. The Q3 was quicker than some competitors, but real-world performance might not match Audi's claims due to transmission calibration and accelerator pedal modulation challenges.

At higher speeds, the Q3 exhibited a confident and laid-back character, though it wasn't particularly fun to drive. Vague steering and indifferent suspension made spirited driving less enjoyable. New laminated acoustic front-door glass reduced wind noise, but larger 20-inch wheels occasionally caused bumps. Despite this, ride quality was good for the segment, justifying the Q3's premium positioning.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid's F Sport 3 model offered well-bolstered front seats with ample room for tall adults. Power seat and steering wheel adjustments ensured comfort, complemented by heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Heated rear seats were standard on higher trims. The centre console featured a wireless phone charger, cupholders, and a spacious console bin.

Rear seat space accommodated average-sized adults, with 950 millimetres of headroom and 917 mm of legroom. The rear cushion was comfortable for long trips, aided by a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. Cargo space was relatively low for its class, with 643 litres behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,328 litres with seats folded. The coupe-like roof shape limited cargo capacity compared to competitors.

The 2026 Audi Q3 grew slightly in size, offering a standard reclining and sliding second-row bench seat. With the bench all the way forward, cargo space increased to 707 litres, expanding to 1,414 litres with seats folded. While first-row headroom decreased, the Q3 maximized interior space effectively. However, it didn't surpass competitors in headroom or legroom.

The Q3 excelled in cargo space behind the second row, making it a practical choice over small sedans. Its 680-kilogram towing capacity was decent for the segment. The new control layout featured a bar across the steering column for shifting and signalling, freeing up space for cupholders and a cooled wireless charger. Door panels offered ample storage space.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid came standard with a 9.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility. Optional features included a head-up display, wireless phone charger, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. A three-year Remote Connect subscription provided remote starting, door lock/unlock, and vehicle status alerts.

Drivers could customize the instrument cluster display using touch-sensitive controllers on the steering wheel. The touchscreen was angled toward the driver for easy access, with quick response times. A volume dial and embedded temperature controls simplified adjustments. Navigation required a Remote Connect subscription.

The 2026 Audi Q3 featured the Digital Stage screen setup, combining an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch touchscreen in a curved housing. The MMI infotainment system, based on Android Automotive OS, included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB-C ports, and a built-in app store. Voice recognition with ChatGPT integration allowed for natural-language commands.

The Technik trim offered an optional head-up display and a standard 12-speaker Sonos audio system. The system provided various sound profiles but lacked midrange. Updated graphics improved usability, with larger icons and more contrast.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid performed well in crash tests, earning the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. It received four out of five stars in the NHTSA frontal crash test and five stars in the side crash test. The NX 350h included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, featuring blind spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Optional features included automatic parking and a surround-view camera system.

The 2026 Audi Q3 offered standard driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Nine airbags and Park Assist Plus were standard. The Technik trim added a 360-degree camera system and a more advanced Adaptive Cruise Assist system. Crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the outgoing model's mixed performance indicated room for improvement.