Audi Q3 Interior: LEDs, SONOS and Fabric That Used to Be a Bottle

The new Audi Q3 cabin shows just how seamlessly touchscreens, hidden gear selectors and recycled textiles can coexist—at least for buyers who don’t mind if nearly every surface glows, blinks or reacts to their fingertips.

The dominant visual statement comes from a curved digital panel combining an 11.9-inch Audi virtual cockpit and a 12.8-inch MMI touchscreen. A head-up display is optional below the screens. The praised visual clarity really just means even fewer physical buttons remain.

The illusion of more space is credited to the removal of the gear lever from the centre console—it’s now mounted on the steering column. In its place: cupholders, an adjustable armrest, and a 15-watt cooled wireless charging pad. Two USB-C ports sit beside it. Two more are in the rear. Technically correct, but far from revolutionary.

Lighting enters a new phase: LED strips with 30 configurable colours, 300 laser-etched diamond patterns on the door panels, and a lighting sequence that starts when the car is locked or unlocked. This creates what Audi calls a “progressive light choreography.” Whether anyone actually asked for it remains unclear.

On the audio side, there’s an optional 12-speaker SONOS system with 420 watts and virtual surround sound. Individual acoustic profiling for each seat sounds impressive on paper, though the real experience depends on the music quality and interior noise levels. Even more sound features—like bass enhancement, volume levelling and compressed audio "revival"—can be unlocked via Functions on Demand.

Materials, as required by modern luxury, are sustainably sourced: seat upholstery is made from 100% recycled polyester, while the carpets are Econyl, crafted from old fishing nets and carpet waste. All textiles are single-material to ensure future recyclability—not just a promise, but a design choice.

In the end, the Q3 interior feels like a premium lab where everything can be tuned, lit, synced or optionally added. Does that really make for a better driving experience? Perhaps. But it’s definitely more visually and acoustically intense than ever—and maybe that’s the Q3’s true promise for this era: luxury no longer means silence, but a perfectly simulated soundscape.