SHARP Drives: Testing the Audi Q3 Along Scotland’s Winding B-roads
Scotland in September had the potential for decent weather. What it delivered, however, was exactly what you probably imagined: wet, misty, dark, cloudy, foggy, and bleak. There were plenty of hot, dry, lovely climates just a few hours south of us in the rest of Europe, but, perversely, this soggy September day was likely exactly what Audi was hoping for.
Making matters worse, B-roads in Scotland are narrow, undulating ribbons with unforgiving granite curbs, and overgrown, paint-scratching hedges. You may catch the occasional unsuspecting goat or, more likely, a giant lorry on a blind corner consuming half of the half-lane you had in the first place.
So, depressing weather and stress-inducing driving — why drag SHARP here to drive the all-new 2026 Audi Q3? Because this is exactly what an Audi is engineered for: all roads in all conditions. Audi’s advanced technology and engineering can make this drive stress-free, if not sunny.
While the new Q3 is roomier, more luxurious, better built, and better finished with materials and colourways from a class above, it is the chassis that really sets it apart and makes it an Audi.
Those tight, twisty, nausea-inducing Scottish roads with their wet, undulating, surprise-laden blind corners are like a rally stage — a rally stage that Audi would surely dominate. (Before joining Formula 1, the ultimate motorsport pursuit, Audi took home multiple championships in rally racing as well as at Le Mans.)
Amongst car cognoscenti, you may hear an ideal road car’s suspension described as one that “breathes.” And roads like these require a car whose suspension does just that; deep breaths, slight pauses, quicker exhalations when necessary… are you starting to imagine it? How the rising and dropping, twisting and turning, acceleration and deceleration are like the variability of human breath. In, out, slow, fast, hold, breathe as the chassis absorbs the ribbon of inputs effortlessly, smoothly, fluidly.
It’s a bit of magic, mechanical alchemy to get a chassis to breathe. Springs and dampers perfectly judged, controlling but compliant. A sophisticated suspension can’t operate in isolation; it’s mounted to a stronger unibody and guided by more direct steering. All this channels the Q3’s 255 hp to all four 20-inch wheels via Audi’s famous, race-winning quattro AWD system and allows the driver to pour it down a road no matter how demanding.
For all its advances in user interface, software, lighting tech, interior design, space, and luxury features, it’s the way it drives that truly sets the new Q3 apart. Though you may not have a Scottish B-road to navigate, the principles and engineering that allow it to handle here with aplomb can be felt and appreciated on every drive on any road. Nimbleness with comfort and compliance, directness but with stability, and security are attributes that make for enjoyable and stress-free motoring that delivers performance without compromise.
Learn more about the all-new 2026 Audi Q3.
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