Item: Audi RS Q3
Rating: 2
Author: Steve Huntingford

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio

Aston Martin DBX

Audi RS Q3

Audi RS Q8

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Audi SQ8

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

All RS Q3s have a price that starts with at least a five, with top spec Vorsprung models starting with a six. Now, that is far cheaper than similarly speedy rivals like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan Turbo</a>, but this is still a relatively small SUV for the money.&nbsp;

Equipment levels are good, so we suspect most buyers would be happy with the ‘basic’ RS Q3 with maybe a couple of choice options. That’s because you get niceties such as dual-zone climate control, heated front sports seats, ambient lighting and keyless entry as standard.

As standard, the Audi Q3 Sportback gets <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking</a> (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring, which Audi calls Side Assist. The latter helps in traffic by lighting a small indicator in your mirror to make you aware of any cars in your blind spot.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a>&nbsp;has yet to crash test the Sportback, but the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n43">Audi Q3</a> received the organisation’s full five stars for protecting its occupants. As for reliability, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">Audi</a> could only manage 20th out of 31 manufacturers in the 2019 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>.

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You might expect the RS Q3’s driving experience to be dominated by the powerhouse under its bonnet, but it’s actually the gearbox that dictates proceedings the most – and not in a good way. Stamp on the accelerator pedal for a burst of acceleration and there’s a long pause before the gearbox shuffles down a gear or two and actually engages the cog you’re after.

Now, that’s frustrating enough in a regular Q3, but can be downright worrying in the RS Q3; all of that 395bhp suddenly chimes in well after you’ve put your request in to the engine room. That makes leaping into a gap in traffic far more fraught than it ought to be. It’s all the more disappointing given that gear changes are dealt with smoothly in normal use, and the ‘box isn’t as jerky when maneuvering at low speeds than is the case with some other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">Audis</a>. Sport mode makes the gearbox more decisive, but you’re best to use the steering wheel paddles if you need to make a swift overtake.&nbsp;

So, what of that mighty engine? It feels flexible below 2000rpm and builds power strongly yet smoothly all the way to the 7000rpm redline, with no peaks or troughs in the delivery. It’s enough to make the RS Q3 very fast, too, piling on speed every bit as quickly as the 395bhp power output would suggest. When you’re really intent on making your passengers feel sick, launch control simply hurls the car off the line with no fuss or drama, even in damp conditions. Impressively, it’s about as quick as the far pricier <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan Turbo</a>.

Thanks to its five-cylinder design, the engine also sounds very distinctive, with an offbeat growl that’ll trigger memories of Audi Quattro rally cars, if you’re into that kind of thing. However, while the exhaust of the old RS Q3, and its lower, hatchback cousin, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/rs3/hatchback/review/n175">Audi RS3</a>, would pop and crackle when the car was set in its sportiest Dynamic mode, new emissions equipment has muffled the new version somewhat, so there’s no fireworks. A sports exhaust is available, but we’re yet to try it.

So, the RS Q3 is fast and sounds rather throaty, but how does it handle? Well, all versions get a steering system that gets faster the farther you turn the steering wheel. That means it’s easy to get around tight turns and manoeuvre&nbsp;without your arms flailing everywhere, but a downside is that there’s very little sense of connection between the steering wheel and the front tyres when cornering.&nbsp;

Stiff suspension helps to contain body lean, and the RS Q3 feels reasonably agile during fast direction changes, but it isn't that&nbsp;much fun. The front end is always the first to release its grip on the road, so the car never feels as playful or involving as a Porsche Macan S or even the far cheaper <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n20444">VW T-Roc R</a>.

It’s also worth pointing out that its firm springs cause the RS Q3 to fidget over even smooth-looking road surfaces, and it&nbsp;thuds through potholes and over lumps’ so you really do get the worst of both worlds when it comes to ride comfort. Hopefully the smaller 20in wheels that come as standard on lesser models or the adjustable suspension fitted to posher models will help smooth things out. At least road and wind noise are well contained while suspension noise is minimal.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

RS Q3 TFSI Quattro

rs-q3-tfsi-quattro

RS Q3 TFSI Quattro Audi Sport Ed

rs-q3-tfsi-quattro-audi-sport-ed

The Audi RS Q3 is what you get when you feed the German brand’s Q3&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-family-suvs-2023/n17116">family SUV</a> nothing but red meat and protein shakes, then force it to live in a gym.

As with the first-generation RS Q3, muscle is provided by a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine, which sends 395bhp to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Thanks to launch control, that’s enough power to slingshot the RS Q3 from 0-62mph in a mere 4.5sec and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. For the first time, there’s a choice of two body styles: you can either have the regular RS Q3 or the more rakish, if slightly less practical RS Q3 Sportback.

Although you could argue the RS Q3 is frighteningly&nbsp;expensive for an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n43">Audi Q3</a> – even the cheapest version has a price that starts with a five – it’s worth pointing out that its performance is very closely matched to the far more expensive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan</a>&nbsp;Turbo and not far behind the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-pace/estate/review/n19273">Jaguar F-Pace SVR</a>. Of course, you’ll still get rapid acceleration in the far cheaper <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n20444">VW T-Roc R</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x2/hatchback/review/n19418">BMW X2 M35i</a>, it’s just that, in these, your passenger’s necks won’t take quite so much of a beating.

So, read on to find out if there’s more to the RS Q3’s driving experience than just its rapid acceleration, as well as what it’s like inside, what it's like to live with and how it compares with rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-suvs-2023/n20200">sports SUVs</a>.

And remember, next time you buy a car or SUV, make sure you get it for the lowest price available by searching our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>. They have lots of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/sports-suv">new sports SUV deals</a>.

Sit inside the RS Q3 and you’ll be impressed by its overall build quality and the premium-feeling clicks that its switches make. You also get fancy metal or carbon trim inserts, Nappa leather seats and even illuminated door sill trims. However, at this price, rivals like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3 M40i</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan</a> have far more luxurious-feeling interiors with higher-grade plastics and the option of even more hide.

All RS Q3’s come with Audi’s 12.3in Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel, taking the place of conventional analogue dials. These let you view a much wider range of information than conventional instruments would, as well as enabling a full-screen navigation map to be displayed. It also offers RS-specific display layouts that look racier and include items like a G-meter that illustrates how much cornering force the car generates in the bends.

There’s a good range of adjustment to the steering wheel and the electrically adjustable front seats, while movable lumbar support is also standard. You don’t sit quite as high as you do in an X3 M40i, but you still get a good view of the road ahead, further helped by fairly slim front pillars. The rear view depends on whether you’ve gone for a regular RS Q3, where it’s absolutely fine, or the Sportback, which is harder to see out of due to having a much smaller rear screen.&nbsp;

Thankfully, front and rear parking sensors are standard across the range, and a rear-view camera is an option. Standard LED headlights provide good vision at night, and can be upgraded to ‘Matrix’ adaptive LED headlights that automatically shape their light pattern to avoid dazzling other road users, even when on high-beam.

All RS Q3s get a 10.1in touchscreen infotainment system, but using it on the move can be fiddly and frustrating because of the numerous menus and icons there are to navigate, and the difficulty of accurately touching them while on the move. We prefer the rotary controller used by the BMW’s iDrive system, which is much less distracting. That said, the Q3 does have Amazon Alexa, so rather than prodding the screen, you can make verbal commands instead. We found it a bit hit and miss, though. Other highlights include <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone screen mirroring, which come as standard.

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

RS Q3

Sports SUV is exceedingly fast in a straight line, but it just isn’t that much fun

There’s plenty of space up front in either version of the RS Q3. There’s generous head room and the seats slide back far enough that even those with particularly long legs can get comfortable. The interior is also wide enough that you won’t be rubbing shoulders with your front passengers, but the armrest is a tad narrow, so there might be some elbow bashing if both front occupants try to share it.&nbsp;

In the rear, things are less positive in the Sportback version we tried. Its sloping roofline means that, if you’re approaching six feet tall, your head will be brushing the roof lining – and that’s without the optional panoramic sunroof fitted. In this regard, the non-Sportback RS Q3 is significantly better, if still not class-leading. There is a good amount of rear leg room, but larger (albeit slower) rivals like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3 M40i</a> are a better bet if you regularly carry adults in the back.&nbsp;

A nifty feature that the RS Q3 has, but the X3 M40i and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/macan/4x4/review/n52">Porsche Macan</a> don’t, are sliding and reclining rear seats. As well as helping your passengers to kick back and relax, these allow you to prioritise between rear legroom or extra boot space. Speaking of which, the Sportback’s rakish roof line means it won’t accommodate as much luggage as a regular RS Q3, and naturally larger rivals like the X3 are more spacious still. If you need more, folding the 40/20/40 split seatbacks down creates a relatively large, flat load area.

We are yet to try out this variant

rs-q3

OUR PICK

There’s no such thing as a badly equipped RS Q3, with even this ‘entry-level’ model getting dual-zone climate control, heated front sports seats, ambient lighting, a 12.3in digital instrument cluster, a 10.1in infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 20in alloy wheels, a rear bench that slides and reclines, and keyless entry as standard. 

rs-q8

Audi Sport Edition

audi-sport-edition

This sportier-looking trim gets 21in wheels, a panoramic sunroof, sports exhaust and lots of black highlights. Given how the panoramic roof doesn’t do head room any favours, we’d avoid.

Vorsprung

vorsprung

The RS Q3 might be exceedingly fast in a straight line, but it just isn’t that much fun. Numb steering and a tendency to wash wide at the front count against it, while many will find its ride a bit too firm for their liking. For this money, the Porsche Macan S feels plusher and is more enjoyable to drive, even if it isn’t as fast.


<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Precise, feelsome steering</li> <li>Agile, entertaining handling</li> <li>Reasonable ride comfort</li> <li>Smart and practical interior</li></ul>

Needing a&nbsp;practical load-lugger doesn't mean you need to scrimp on power and sporting prowess. In fact, most sporty manufacturers now have dedicated sports SUVs in their line-up with 0-62mph times to rival cars half their size.&nbsp;

Porsche, for example, offers two:&nbsp;the Macan and the Cayenne, both of which offer rapid performance and seriously impressive handling, as well as providing enough space for five people and a boot capable of fitting more than seven carry-on suitcases.&nbsp;

But even&nbsp;manufacturers not usually focused on track times are getting involved in this market. The Volkswagen T-Roc R is one of our favourites, too, with a 0-62mph time of 4.8sec&nbsp;and&nbsp;fuel economy of 31.5mpg. A sports SUV&nbsp;should satisfy anyone who doesn't want to trade speed for space.&nbsp;

Sports SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

&nbsp;

Family SUV

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Entertainingly agile handling</li> <li>Eye-widening acceleration</li> <li>Fruity exhaust note</li> <li>Punchy and characterful engine</li> <li>Great driving position</li> <li>Everyday usability</li></ul>

The best performance cars combine sports car-rivalling acceleration with&nbsp;engaging handling. However, they also retain the&nbsp;impressive everyday usability of the conventional saloons and estates on which they're based.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio currently sets the standard. However, the models from BMW's M division and Mercedes-AMG also tend to impress.

Performance car

Audi RS Q3 review

Why the overall winner won

Best small SUV

Best family car

Best small electric car

Best luxury car

Car of the Year Awards 2023 >>

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The Audi RS Q3 is what you get when you feed the German brand’s Q3 family SUV nothing but red meat and protein shakes, then force it to live in a gym.,As with the first-generation RS Q3, muscle is provided by a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine, which sends 395bhp to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.,Thanks to launch control, that’s enough power to slingshot the RS Q3 from 0-62mph in a mere 4.5sec and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. For the first time, there’s a choice of two body styles: you can either have the regular RS Q3 or the more rakish, if slightly less practical RS Q3 Sportback.Although you could argue the RS Q3 is frighteningly expensive for an Audi Q3 – even the cheapest version has a price that starts with a five – it’s worth pointing out that its performance is very closely matched to the far more expensive Porsche Macan Turbo and not far behind the Jaguar F-Pace SVR. Of course, you’ll still get rapid acceleration in the far cheaper VW T-Roc R or BMW X2 M35i, it’s just that, in these, your passenger’s necks won’t take quite so much of a beating.,So, read on to find out if there’s more to the RS Q3’s driving experience than just its rapid acceleration, as well as what it’s like inside, what it's like to live with and how it compares with rival sports SUVs.,And remember, next time you buy a car or SUV, make sure you get it for the lowest price available by searching our free What Car? New Car Deals pages. They have lots of the best new sports SUV deals.

Read the definitive Audi RS Q3 2023 review from the expert What Car? team. Check specs, prices, performance and compare with similar cars.

RRP price range	£56,260 - £65,905
Number of trims (see all)	6
Number of engines (see all)	2
Available fuel types (which is best for you?)	petrol
MPG range across all versions	28.2 - 29.4
Available doors options	5
Warranty	3 years / 60000 miles
Company car tax at 20% (min/max)	£4,054 / £4,724
Company car tax at 40% (min/max)	£8,108 / £9,448
Available colours

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Audi RS Q3 review

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