- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.5T, 5 cyl.
- Engine Power
228kW, 420Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 8.8L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
5/5 star (2012)
Audi RS Q3 Quick Spin
The car: Audi RS Q3
Price: From $81,900 plus on-road costs.
Vitals: 2.5-litre 5-cyl turbo; 228kW and 420Nm; 7-sp dual-clutch auto; 8.8L/100km and 206g/km CO2; AWD.
What is it?
Difficult to quantify. Part SUV and part performance car, the RS Q3 is a mongrel of sorts and the first soft-roader to carry the hallowed RS badge reserved for hardcore performance cars.
What isn’t it?
A conventional sports car or a four-wheel-drive. This is not a car for crossing rivers, or a track-ready weapon ready to trade its Pirellis for a set of weekend semi-slick tyres.
What does it say about me?
That you’re open to new ideas and willing to compromise, with a need for speed but a sense of practicality for the rest of the family.
What doesn’t it say about me?
That you want to stand out from the rest of the SUV crowd.
Who else is buying it?
We aren’t exactly sure, though Audi had dozens of pre-orders before bringing the car to Australia. As it's the cheapest Audi to wear an RS badge, they could be people who always wanted an Audi RS but could not justify shelling $150,000 or more.
If it were a celebrity, who would it be?
The multi-talented Jared Leto, front-man for hit rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars who also won the academy award for best supporting actor for his portrayal of transgender woman Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club.
What colours does it come in?
There are five flavours of Audi’s usual monochromes along with vivid Sepang Blue, Samoa Orange and Misano Red tones.
Best bits?
This engine is one of Audi’s best, with oodles of grunt on tap and a soundtrack so thick you can carve it. With a warbling five-cylinder symphony punctuated by the occasional turbocharged highlight, the Audi’s five-cylinder thrum is a vintage drop worth bottling.
The RS Q3 also has some of the best brakes going around, monstrous eight-piston callipers that clamp down on eye-catching wave-shaped 365mm rotors.
Worst bits?
Audi S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission can be awkward at low speed, and occasionally waited too long to change gears, leaving the car hanging on its rev limiter.
The RS Q3’s ride is on the firm side of comfortable, but that’s to be expected in a performance car.
Fuel economy is another weak point.
Does it cost too much?
That’s a question of perspective - it’s either the cheapest Audi RS or one of the most expensive compact SUVs depending on your point of view. This is a new type of car, but people will eventually get used to the notion of a compact performance SUV costing $80,000 - particularly when it’s motor has been borrowed from a $140,000 machine like Audi’s TT RS.
Will it get me noticed?
Big wheels and a body kit help the RS Q3 stand out from the SUV scene, but it’s not a showstopper like its TT cousin.
How’s the cabin ambience?
Dark and purposeful, with black headlining, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and well-bolstered seats cloaked in Nappa leather. There are also plenty of gadgets to play with, ranging from a 20GB music hard drive to Audi’s drive select system that tailors the car’s steering and drivetrain toward comfort, dynamic or standard settings.
Does it go?
It does, dispatching the 0-100km/h dash in 5.2 seconds, well less than the 6.0-seconds required by performance cars like the Subaru Impreza WRX or Holden Commodore SS.
Does it like corners?
It loves them, thanks to fat 255mm-wide tyres, all-wheel-drive and stiff suspension that keeps body roll in check. The RS Q3 is quite capable in the bends, though it does not offer the thrilling balance of a regular sports car at this price point.
What about bumps?
Suspension tuned for carving rather than comfort can jiggle more than you might expect.
Would you buy one?
I don’t have $81,900 ready to spend on a practical performance car, though I would consider buying the Audi purely for its engine.
What else should I consider?
The upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG is a very similar product that promises more speed for slightly less money at $79,990, while the diesel-drinking Audi SQ5 offers additional space and pace for $89,400 plus on-road costs.
The spin
“The RS Q3 package combines performance and practicality into a sporty and compact design that has never been possible before.”
The translation
It’s a performance car, Jim, but not as we know it.