Fleet Directory

Traffic information:

Audi RS3 Sportback road test

The RS2 Avant of the early ‘90s was the first ultra high performance RS Audi. Since then there have been a couple of RS4s and RS6s, a TT RS and, most recently, the RS5. Now comes the RS3 – an A3 on double-dose steroids for those who reckon that the 265-horsepower S3 doesn’t quite cut it.

image 1 image 2

Performance

As mentioned, the current S3 Sportback’s 4-cyl, 2-litre engine makes a very substantial 265PS. Pah! The RS3’s 5-cyl, 2.5-litre TFSI motor makes a whopping 340PS along with 450Nm (332lb/ft) of torque, and this is fed to all four wheels via a dual-clutch ‘s tronic’ transmission. Fortunately the RS3 is quite happy to trundle along in traffic, but anything more than the lightest touch on the throttle peddle will have you pinned to the back of your seat. This thing goes like an F16 from the deck of the USS Enterprise. The quoted figures are 0-62mph in 4.6 secs with a limited top speed of 155mph, although if you could by-pass the limiter then 170mph or more would be on the cards, conditions permitting of course.

Ride & Handling

The RS3 runs on 19-inch wheels shod with ultra low profile Continental tyres, and its ‘RS Sports’ suspension is necessarily but undeniably firm. Despite this, the ride quality is tolerable at worst, at least on the mostly well-surfaced Austrian roads where the press launch was held. The faster you go the better it gets, but unless you’re on a racetrack then I’d advise caution. Steering, handling, grip and, not least, braking, are all superb and effectively beyond criticism. The RS3 can rip through corners with ruthless efficiency, and due in part to its sophisticated quattro and ESP systems it’s easy, perhaps too easy to drive very, very quickly indeed.

Build Quality & Reliability

In common with all current Audi’s, it’s pretty much impossible to find fault after a day with the car, especially when it’s a new and immaculately prepared press demonstrator. From the 108 models in the 2011 JD Power customer satisfaction survey, the A3 and S3 models came 32nd equal with 81.3% against an industry average of 79.4%. As a brand, Audi came 8th out of 28 with 81% against an industry average of 79.4%. In the survey’s Small Family Car section the A3/S3 came 6th equal out of 18 with 81.3% and 4 out of 5 stars. All pretty good, but I’m awarding the RS3 the full 5 stars here because I’ve no reason not to.

Safety & Security

The RS3 hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP, but the A3 was tested in 1998 and 2003 where, on the pre-2009 system, it scored 4 out of 5 stars both times for adult occupant protection. Standard safety features include: driver, front passenger and front side airbags, ‘Sideguard’ airbags, ESP (including ABS, EBD, ASR and EDL), a rear acoustic parking system, ISOFIX child-seat preparation and more, although the extreme dynamic capabilities of this model should also be taken into account here. Security is handled by remote central locking and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser, although locking it in a bomb-proof bunker patrolled by armed guards might also be advisable.

Space & Practicality

There’s little difference here between the RS3 and a common-or-garden A3 Sportback. Despite its power and speed, the RS3 is still a small family 5-door hatchback, with ample space and comfort for four adults. Rear loadspace is quoted at 302 litres with rear split/fold seatbacks upright and a max of 1,032 litres with the rear seats folded. A can of foam sealant sits under the boot’s floor in place of a spare wheel, and if you opt for the full bucket front seats (excellent if you drive fast enough, but at £2,045 for the pair they aren’t cheap) then your rear seat passengers will feel a little cut off from the front. The optional bucket seats don’t make getting in and out any easier either, but the RS3 isn’t for softies.

Ownership & Value

If you fancy this hottest of hot hatches then you’ll have to wait until they appear on the second-hand market because all of the 500 RHD cars destined for the UK are already spoken for (deliveries start July 2011). An RS3 in standard trim is £39,930 OTR and this price includes a mid-level multi media system with satnav, Bluetooth, single-slot CD player and iPod connectivity, a driver’s info system and manually-adjustable heated sports seats in black nappa leather. Running costs probably won’t be a top priority, but combined fuel consumption is a respectable 31mpg with CO2 emissions at 212g/km, BIK at 32% and a 42E insurance grouping. A 47% 3yr/60,000m residual value is a definite bonus, but unless you do trackdays, hillclimbs or lap the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit in under 9 minutes, then you’ll almost certainly be spending more than you need to.

Recommended in this category