Item: Audi RS3
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

Abarth 595

Audi RS3

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

With close to 400bhp, the Audi RS3 is stretching the very definition of a ‘hot hatch’ to its limits, and you might say the same thing about its price tag. It costs much more than the similarly posh but far slower <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">Mercedes-AMG A35</a>, but does undercut the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m2/coupe/review/n17172">BMW M2</a>. Factor in the cost of carbon ceramic brakes and the optional adaptive dampers, and you’re looking at an A3 that’s not far off the cost of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m4/coupe/review/n17199">BMW M4</a>.

Unsurprisingly, fuelling, taxing, servicing and insuring it will cost more than if you went for one of the lesser models in the A3 range, too. At 194g/km the RS3 sits in the highest BIK <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/check-your-company-car-tax-rate/n1255">company car tax</a> bracket while its official fuel economy of 33.2mpg will seem like a distant dream if you start to enjoy yourself.

For some, however, those costs will be inconsequential. If you want the fastest and most luxurious hot hatch around, the RS3 is the one to choose.

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<h3>&nbsp;</h3>

With 354lb ft of torque available from just 1700rpm, the RS3 is seriously quick off the mark. It gets to 62mph in a claimed 4.1sec – a figure that feels entirely achievable from behind the wheel. Indeed, there are few cars on sale in any class that are capable of such effortless performance.

That said, once you're on the move the RS3 doesn’t deliver the same high rev rush that you get from a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n17153">BMW M140i</a> or a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a>. The fact the engine is so strong at low revs means there's little extra reward for revving it hard, apart from the glorious noise it emits if you've ticked the sports exhaust option.

The only gearbox available is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic labelled S tronic. With Dynamic mode engaged on Audi’s Drive Select system, gear changes are fast without being jerky, although we did find the car occasionally unwilling to downchange when in manual mode. In less aggressive drive settings, the gearbox is mostly smooth, but it’s frustratingly hesitant.

Put your foot down hard from a standstill, and the RS3 starts creeping forward then pauses, moving you slowly forward before all of the power hits. That’s annoying on a clear road, but downright scary when you’re trying to join fast moving traffic. Similarly, accelerate hard on the move and there’s a long pause before the RS3 engages a lower gear and fires itself down the road. While the gearbox could be a little bit hesitant before, the 2019 update to get it through <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">WLTP emissions testing</a> has made things far worse.

Happily, the engine is relatively light, which is good news for handling. The latest RS3 turns into corners with more zest than its predecessor –&nbsp;where that would slide wide during fast cornering, the latest car stays locked onto your chosen line. And you can even persuade the rear to step out slightly under power, although a twitch is the best you can hope for.

Such easy handling means you can get the most out of the RS3 almost immediately. Don't expect it to match the best hot hatches when it comes to driver involvement, though. It may be able to cover ground at an unbelievable rate, but its steering still offers little to no feedback and the car feels almost too capable. It doesn't challenge you in the way that the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-rs/hatchback/review/n17168">Renault Megane RS</a> does. It’s also worth pointing out that the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a> doesn’t feel much slower cross-country and is more rewarding to boot.

More positively, the RS3's standard suspension strikes a decent balance between body control and comfort. Yes, you’re always aware of bumps, but the car seems to move with the road rather than fight against it, while body roll is minimal. Tick the box for the optional adaptive dampers and you’ll find Comfort mode is significantly, well, comfier, whereas Dynamic mode is too firm for most British roads.

Aside from some road noise up at motorway speeds, the RS3 is quiet enough at the legal limit. There's very little wind noise, and switching the Drive Select system to Comfort keeps exhaust drone to a minimum.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

RS 3 TFSI Quattro

rs-3-tfsi-quattro

In an effort to remain at the pointy end of the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/hot-hatch"> hot hatch</a> horsepower pyramid, two German firms have been locked in an intense battle of numbers for more than half a decade. First, the Audi RS3 took the honour of being the most powerful hot hatchback when it was launched back in 2011, only for it to be edged out by the monstrous 355bhp<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n17170"> Mercedes-AMG A45</a> just two years later.

Audi’s response was to increase power to a whopping 394bhp from its<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/tt/sports/review/n17215"> TT RS</a>-sourced engine. Not only is it bigger in capacity than most modern hot hatch powerplants, it has an extra cylinder, too. Although it makes the engine smoother whilst remaining compact, the main upshot of the five-cylinder layout is a distinctive soundtrack that’s reminiscent of the far pricer <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/r8/coupe/review/n124">Audi R8</a>.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAMGwqGJVKM"></iframe>

Naturally, power is sent to all four wheels and there’s only one gearbox option, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. With standard fit launch control, acceleration is on par with some serious sports cars, while inclement conditions shouldn’t prove too much of an issue for this five-door missile. Of course, being the priciest A3 of all, you can also expect plenty of standard equipment, too.

Will that be enough to lift the historically straight-laced Audi above the far less expensive, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type-R</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus-rs/hatchback/review/n17148"> </a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-rs/hatchback/review/n17168">Renault Megane RS</a>? Read on over the next few pages to get our in depth impressions on all aspects of the RS3, and to see how this musclebound A3 compares with the competition.

And, before you settle on your new hot hatch, remember that What Car? can save you an awful lot of money without any painful bartering with dealers. Just head to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying pages</a> for savings on thousands of new cars.

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<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">The regular Audi A3</a> is impressive enough inside, thanks to lots of soft-touch plastics, well-damped switches and beautiful chrome accents – and you get more of the same in the RS3. The minimalist design is head and shoulders above the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Honda Civic Type R</a> and even hot versions of the Mercedes A-Class.

True, some people might find the predominantly dark grey ambience a little too restrained, but there are enough bespoke touches to highlight that you’ve forked out for an RS model. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is a lovely thing to hold, embossed RS logos on the Nappa leather seats add a touch of class and you get Audi’s Virtual Cockpit – a digital display that sits behind the steering wheel in place of conventional instrument dials – as standard.

If that’s not enough, you can add a 14-speaker Bang &amp; Olufsen stereo, diamond-quilted Super Sports seats and a wireless smartphone charger for compatible devices.

Hatchback

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

The Audi RS3 isn’t the sharpest driving machine, but few hot hatches can match its all-weather pace and high quality interior

Audi's A3 Sportback is a practical <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/family">family hatchback</a>, and this RS version is just as usable. There's generous room for two adults in the front, and the standard heated electric sports seats (with adjustable lumbar support) are surprisingly comfortable, yet also supportive when corning hard. There’s also space for up to three passengers to sit side by side in the back, but be aware that the middle passenger’s backrest isn’t as comfy and there’s a small hump in the floor that they’ll need to straddle.

The RS3's boot may not be as large as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n143">Civic Type R’s</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n17187">Octavia vRS’s,</a> but it’s still very practical and has a nice wide opening. The boot is also fitted with a height-adjustable floor that reduces the load lip and ensures there’s no step up to the rear seats when they’re folded down. The opening is a decent size and shape, too, while a through-load hatch is an option, allowing you to accommodate lengthy items, such as skis, without folding down either of the outer rear seats.

The RS3 Saloon may be more expensive, but it can’t match the Sportback’s practicality. While rear leg room is virtually identical, the roof sits lower eating into head room. Boot space also suffers; the opening is nowhere near as big as the Sportback’s and capacity takes a big hit, too. If you’re planning on lugging around bulky items, we’d definitely go for the hatch.

Carbon Black

carbon-black

Launch Edition

launch-edition

Vorsprung

vorsprung

The Audi RS3 isn’t the sharpest driving machine, but few hot hatches can match its all-weather pace and high quality interior. It’s also ridiculously rapid with an addictive exhaust note that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. The only real issue is the frustrating automatic gearbox brought about by a 2019 facelift.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Engaging handling </li> <li>Thrilling performance </li> <li>A characterful engine with an enticing soundtrack </li> <li>Reasonable running costs </li> <li>Not hard to live with day to day</li></ul>

A popular choice with UK buyers since the days of the original Volkswagen Golf GTI, the hot hatchback mixes everyday practicality with higher performance and the sort of handling and agility that’s ideally suited to British roads. A good hot hatch should be fun and, since it’s likely to be your daily drive, it should also deliver respectable running costs.

The Golf GTI remains one of the best hot hatches on the market, along with its main competitor,&nbsp;the&nbsp;equally as responsive and cheaper to buy Hyundai i30 N. But there are some terrific options for even less money than both of these cars. We're big fans of the Ford Fiesta ST, which is definitely one of the best hot hatches ever and certainly one of the most fun to drive. It's full of character and its engaging handling makes it a bit of a hoot at all speeds.&nbsp;

If you’ve got a bit more money to spare, there are even faster cars available, such as the Honda Civic Type R. This latest version is sublime to drive, either on road or on a track, as it's so sweetly balanced. It's also incredibly quick in a straight line&nbsp;and round a corner, and yet it's as practical as a regular Civic.&nbsp;

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