Audi

RS 3 Sportback

With great lines and blistering performance at your disposal, the RS 3 takes motoring to a whole new level. Not for the faint-hearted, but awesome driving capabilities.

The good

Power and performance

The bad

Watch that speed - the cameras will!

Tech Specs

Price from

£39,950

Combined Fuel up to

34.9mpg

0-62 from

4.3 seconds

max speed up to

155mph

co2 from

189g/km

Test Drive

Audi RS 3 Sportback 2.5 TFSI Quattro S tronic

Power, performance, handling and skilled craftsmanship all neatly bundled up into a stunning hot hatch – introducing the Audi RS 3 Sportback.

Powered by a mighty 2.5-litre petrol engine with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, this five-door powerhouse offers incredible driving capabilities and an engine roar to match.

The RS 3 looks great from every angle with its privacy glass, spoiler, twin chrome tailpipes, RS design bumper with widened front air intakes, flared front wheel arches, single frame grille housing the Audi circles, 19-inch alloys, LED lights and plenty more besides.

And the build quality is just as apparent when you take your seat behind the RS Sports 3-spoke, multi-function, flat-bottomed, leather steering wheel. There are touches of design flair at every turn with black fine Nappa leather seats contrasting neatly with silver stitching, piano finish black inlays, RS instrument dials, black cloth headlining, aluminium-look pedals and lots more.

Comfort levels are exceptionally good for a hot hatch thanks to the very supportive sports seats, and although there is room for rear seat passengers, leg space is a little limited.

The technical wizardry on-board cannot fail to impress with a BOSE premium sound system, plus CD player and connectivity to all today’s devices.

There is sat nav, a 6.5-inch colour monitor, dual-zone electronic climate control, Bluetooth, cruise control, light and rain sensors, rear parking sensors, electric front seats and a list that seems to go on and on and on…

So the RS 3 looks the business, is packed with class-leading technology and offers great comfort levels, but can the performance live up to expectations too?

The answer is a resounding “yes” – the RS 3 handles beautifully with seemingly limitless power at your disposal.

It can race from a standing start to 62mph in just 4.6 seconds and boasts a top speed limited to 155mph.

There is the option of paddle shifts if you want to take control of the gear changes and the Sport button changes the throttle response. Plus, the quattro four-wheel-drive means the RS 3 hugs the road even in the roughest of conditions.

The boot is a good size and split-folding rear seats mean the capacity can easily be increased.

Elsewhere, there are a number of smaller storage options scattered throughout the cabin.

The vehicle features a comprehensive list of safety features such as numerous airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability programme, electronic brakeforce distribution, Audi backguard head restraints and a brilliant alarm system to keep any uninvited guests at bay.

All in all, the RS 3 may not be the cheapest hot hatch out there (test model starts at £38.7k increasing to £43.2 with optional extras) but it is certainly guaranteed to be one of the brightest performers.