I tested Audi’s new single stalk. When Audi unveiled its new 2026 Q3, the reactions were generally positive. This model is modern, elegant, and offers good value for money. But one particular feature sparked a wave of dissatisfaction: its new single steering stalk.
Change is difficult and, most of the time, poorly received. I understand. Comments were flying: “Wow, that looks awful,” “That seems horrible,” and “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.” Many claimed it would be dangerous to use, while others complained about over-engineering. Although the latter criticism isn’t entirely unfounded, no one really asked: “Is it really different from what we already have?” The answer is no.
Listen, even though I don’t like relearning a concept I’ve mastered for years, especially without a good reason, I have to keep an open mind. Otherwise, I couldn’t offer you an honest and impartial opinion about a car or its components. I was also puzzled by this new stalk and the point of reinventing it. So, when I was offered to attend the global presentation of Audi’s Q3, I immediately looked forward to experiencing this little controversial piece in person.
How It Works
On the right side of the stalk is the Q3’s gear selector. That’s it. You only use this side to shift into drive or reverse, much like at Mercedes-Benz. A fairly simple concept, to be honest.
On the left side of the stalk, you have some lighting controls like high beams and turn signals, as well as the front and rear wiper controls. I know what you’re thinking: the left side of the stalk looks really complicated, but I assure you, that’s all there is.
To use the gear selector side, simply click the stalk up or down to engage reverse or drive, and perform a half-click up to select neutral. It’s essentially the same concept as in many other cars, including the Porsche 911 GTS I’m currently driving; only the shape and location of the selector are different. When you’re ready to park and leave the car, press the button at the end of the stalk to engage park, and that’s it!
Now, let’s move on to the lighting and wiper side. Need to activate your high beams? Pull the stalk, as you would in most cars. Want to keep them on longer? Push the stalk away from you, and the high beams will stay on until you pull it back. And the turn signals? Easy, click up for the right turn signal and down for the left. So far, so good.
The only element that requires a bit more attention – attention that most buyers need to devote to learning their new car anyway – is the wiper part of the stalk. Now, all you really have to do is memorize the buttons, but despite their appearance, most people’s muscle memory will still apply here. To activate a single wipe of the front wiper, press the button located at the end of the stalk. To spray washer fluid on the windshield, hold that same button down for a few seconds. There’s a separate button for the rear wiper, located right next to it, which uses the same controls for the same actions.
That leaves us with one additional function, which is the small clickable wheel that activates the automatic wiper function and allows you to choose the frequency at which the wipers activate in automatic mode. That’s all!
Experiencing the Future of the Stalk in the Real World
If you read my review of the 2026 Audi Q3, you know it took place in Scotland. And as is often the case in Scotland, it rained – it rained a lot. Although this was annoying for some reasons, it was great for others, like experiencing The Stalk.
Right after adjusting my seat position and mirrors, my left hand sought out the left side of the stalk and set the clickable wheel to Auto. Then, I set it to a medium speed, as I didn’t want it to be annoying and wipe too fast, but I also wanted a clear view of the unfamiliar roads I was about to drive on. I did the same for the rear wiper, although in this case, I only had to click the button once for it to wipe at a steady pace.
And I hate to tell you, but that’s really all there is to it. I had to adjust the speed of the automatic setting occasionally, especially when driving behind traffic, but that was it. As for the gear selector side, there was really nothing new to learn there.
What’s the Problem?
The most significant change Audi is introducing here is simply the design of the stalk. We’ve gotten used to traditional separate stalks in most cars, from Honda Civics to Rolls-Royces; they’re all pretty much the same. Of course, some don’t have a gear selector sticking out from the steering column, but aside from that variation, they all look the same and do the same things.
Audi’s one-piece solution is really elegant, and I must say it fits exceptionally well with the Q3’s tech-oriented interior. It adds to the overall atmosphere of sobriety and simplicity. I imagine that once someone gets used to seeing the stalk on their steering wheel for a while, they would probably think the traditional two-stalk setup is strange and ugly.
So yes, change isn’t fun, and most of the time, it’s overrated. But in this case, aside from switching from two stalks to one, nothing really changes.