MotorTrend Picks the 2026 Audi Q3 Over the Acura ADX

[Source: Motor Trend]

The compact luxury SUV segment just got a little more interesting. Acura introduced the all-new ADX last year. The ADX aims to lure buyers looking to move up from mainstream brands without stretching their budgets too far. On paper, it looks like a worthy challenger to Audi’s completely redesigned Q3. And it is. The Acura is a fine SUV. However, after spending time with both vehicles, MotorTrend named the 2026 Audi Q3 as the winner.

While the Acura impressed with its value, generous interior space, and comfortable ride, the Q3 ultimately delivered what many first-time luxury buyers are looking for, a vehicle that actually feels luxurious.

Great First Impression

According to MotorTrend, the Audi makes a stronger first impression the moment you open the door. The redesigned cabin features Audi’s latest digital cockpit with an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen that gives the Q3 a far more modern appearance than the Acura. The magazine acknowledged that Audi’s reliance on touchscreen controls for climate functions won’t appeal to everyone, but it also noted that the Q3 simply feels more premium overall. Performance was another area where the Audi separated itself.

The Q3’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to sprint from 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds during MotorTrend’s testing. The Acura ADX, powered by a 190-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter engine paired with a CVT, needed 8.9 seconds to reach the same speed, a full three seconds slower. That’s a substantial difference when merging onto a busy highway or making a quick pass.

Q3 Isn’t Quite Perfect

MotorTrend did point out one weakness with the Audi. Its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission can occasionally feel abrupt when shifting from Park into Drive before the drivetrain has warmed up. Even so, the publication preferred the Audi’s quicker responses and sportier personality over the Acura’s softer, comfort-oriented driving dynamics. Technology also helped tip the scales in Audi’s favor.

The Q3 offers features such as animated exterior lighting, a head-up display, customizable digital gauges with full-screen navigation, and an infotainment system that feels a generation newer than Acura’s. While the ADX counters with more standard equipment including adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, and ventilated seats on upper trims, the Audi simply feels more special every time you climb behind the wheel.

Q3 Has More Premium Feel

Price is where Acura lands a few punches. The ADX starts significantly lower, and even a fully loaded A-Spec Advanced model undercuts a similarly equipped Q3 by several thousand dollars. If maximum value is your priority, the Acura makes a compelling case. But MotorTrend concluded that buyers willing to spend a little more are rewarded with a vehicle that feels like a genuine luxury SUV rather than an upgraded mainstream crossover. In the end, that’s exactly why the Audi earned the victory.

Testers praised the Q3’s stronger performance, more premium cabin, cutting-edge technology, and intangible “wow factor” that the ADX couldn’t quite match. The Acura may be the logical choice, but the Audi is the emotional one. And sometimes that’s exactly what buying a luxury vehicle should be about. For Audi fans, it’s another sign that Ingolstadt’s redesigned entry-level SUV is poised to remain one of the segment’s benchmarks.