Audi RS3 sedan 2017 review: road test
- Price From $83,900
- ANCAP
- Seats5
- Fuel cons.8.4L/100km (combined)
What we like
- Five cylinder beat
- Super-capable chassis
- Subtle looks
What we don't
- Pricey with options
- Super-hard ride
- Cost of ownership might sting
Key features
- 5 Star Safety
The idea of paying upwards of $80,000 for a small sedan - even if it were trimmed with the fur of baby seals - seemed laughable not that long ago. Then the Mercedes A45 and CLA45 came along with its poppy-bangy turbo four-cylinder and changed the game forever.
Audi's RS3 joined the game in 2011, to great fanfare but in Sportback form. Whether Audi is being cutesy or not we'll never know, but the five-cylinder turbo fits well between its four and six-cylinder rivals while cranking out the right amount of power and driving all the wheels.
Completing the A3 upgrade that landed late last year, we now have a new, upgraded RS3 to rejoin the fray after the second generation's debut in 2015. And for the first time, RS is slapped on the boot of a small sedan.
Verdict
The RS3 now has the most power in its class and, if you're looking for a sedan, is cheaper than the CLA45 by quite some margin, while also undercutting BMW's epic M2 (yes, that's missing a couple doors, I know). It's an absolute rocket on road and track and has that distinctive five cylinder beat.
The RS3 isn't a particularly sensible car when you look at the price but it's got a decent sized boot, fits four people and is a bit of a sleeper, something Audi is very good at. It's also a bit more fun than its Mercedes rival while offering an all-wheel drive alternative to similarly-sized BMWs.
Can you hang on for the Sportback or do you have to have an RS3 now? Or do you want neither and are looking further afield? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
Specifications
- PriceFrom $83,900
- Fuel consumption8.4L/100km (combined) Tank 55L
- Safety5-star ANCAP
- Seats5
- Warranty3 year/unlimited kilometre
- Service Interval12 months/15,000km
- Engine2.5 5-cyl PULP, 294kW/480Nm
- Transmission7-spd dual-clutch
- SpareSpace saver
- Turning circle11m diameter
- Dimensions4479mm (L), 1802mm (W), 1397mm (H)
Audi RS3 sedan 2017 review: road test
What we like
- Five cylinder beat
- Super-capable chassis
- Subtle looks
What we don't
- Pricey with options
- Super-hard ride
- Cost of ownership might sting
Key Features
- 5 Star Safety
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