The famous hot hatch is in a period of transition. A popular choice in the UK, these compact performance cars have always provided a great option for drivers seeking a little extra zip but in a package which is still usable on a day-to-day basis. Whether it’s nipping to the shops or exploring a twisty road in the back and beyond, hot hatches have always been your best choice.
The RS3 has always been one of the cars at the top of the hot-hatch tree. For this latest generation, it retains its famous 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, but that could be on the way out soon. Is this the last of a dying breed, then? We’ve been finding out.
A lot of hot hatches are turning to electrification, but not this Audi. For the time being, the RS3 uses a tried-and-tested combo of a big engine up front and drive to all four wheels through Audi’s famous quattro system. But a bit more on that later.
The bulk of the changes here reside around how the RS3 looks and feels. The outside is a little sharper than before, while inside there’s a new steering wheel, RS sport seats and a variety of new readouts for the 12.3-inch virtual cockpit system, which sits ahead of the driver. As before, you can get the RS3 in either Sportback or saloon variants, too.
As touched upon, the RS3 continues to use a heavyweight in the hot hatch engine scene. It’s a 2.5-litre, turbocharged five-cylinder unit which is far larger than any of those used to power this car’s rivals. Power is the same as before, mind you, with 395bhp and 500Nm of torque being distributed to all four wheels via a seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission.
Zero to 60mph comes in 3.6 seconds and for most cars, a top speed of 155mph lies ahead. Opt for a range-topping Carbon Vorsprung model and this top speed lifts to 174mph, too. However, a claimed fuel economy figure of just over 30mpg isn’t bad given the performance on offer and we did manage to exceed this during a longer motorway stretch.
A hot hatch needs to fit into all walks of life and the Audi RS3 does just that. It’s simple enough to drive slowly that you could feel like you’re driving a standard A3 for a little while and though the ride is relatively firm, it’s not solid enough to make you wince over every pothole. The relatively compact size means that it’s easy to park and position, too.
But give the RS3 the right amount of space and it’ll quickly change character, morphing from sedate city car into a hatchback capable of giving a supercar a scare on the right road. While the 2.5-litre engine does sound a little more muted than before – likely due to tightened emissions regulations – you can’t fault how effective it is at getting the RS3 up to speed with drama and haste. Quattro all-wheel-drive means that you’ve got excellent levels of grip, too, and you can lean on the natural traction of the car to carve through corners effortlessly.
The RS3 package has always been pretty simple, design-wise. You take the standard A3 and give it the boxy arches of a 1980s rally car, along with a drop in ride height and some larger alloy wheels for good measure. It’s a process which has worked for decades and we’d argue that it’s one which still works today.
The changes over the previous-generation RS3 are small for this generation, mind you. The headlights are a little slimmer than before, while the darker grille appears larger and more purposeful than they were on the previous car. It’s all quite modest, however; Audi has hardly ripped up its drawing pad for this one.
It’s inside the RS3 where you’ll notice more changes. The redesigned steering wheel is now a little squarer than it was before – we quite liked the traditional round-shaped one previously – and integrated into it are quick-fire ‘RS’ buttons which give you easy access to your various driving modes. They’re intuitive to use on the move and add a little bit of theatre, too. As before, however, the gearshift paddles behind them feel just a little too short to be used comfortably.
Boot space has taken a knock over the standard A3, mind you, down to 282 litres from the 380 litres you’d get on a non-RS car. But inside the cabin there’s a decent array of cubbies and storage areas, so it all still feels very usable.
Prices for the RS3 start from £62,120 and, because it sits at the very top of the A3 range, it brings all the standard equipment you could really want. Highlights include sport seats with RS embossed logos, Matrix LED headlights and clever daytime running lights with separate modules that can display different images. For instance, they can sequence to create a chequered flag pattern when you unlock the vehicle.
Top-spec Carbon Vorsprung models raise that price to £70,330 while adding in features such as adaptive suspension – a useful touch for the UK’s roads – and a panoramic sunroof, among other features. However, you’re not going to feel short-changed for choosing the standard car, as it really does bring all of the features you could need. Our car, in mid-spec Carbon Black trim, came in at £68,340.
The Audi RS3 really feels like a car at the top of its game. Sure, it may be a little muted compared to previous generations, but in terms of all-round performance in a package that slots into everyday driving like a dream, it’s hard to beat.
With a future RS3 unlikely to use this spectacular 2.5-litre petrol engine again, it’s worth savouring this Audi hot hatch while it’s still here.
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