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By Ben Pulman
First Drives
17 February 2011 09:00
This is the Audi RS3 Sportback, a near-£40k hot hatch with 335bhp, four-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. It’s the smallest, cheapest RS model ever produced by Quattro GmbH, and is a final hurrah for the A3 with a new model just around the corner. Can it combine S3 Sportback practicality with TT RS attitude? Read on for CAR’s first drive review of the new Audi RS3 Sportback.
Let’s start at the front and work our way back. You’ll notice first the enormous gaping intakes in the nose. There’s RS-spec silver trim on the grille too, and then a set of swollen CFRP (carbonfibre-reinforced plastic) arches which hide a wider front track. Over and above the S3 Sportback there’s a bigger rear spoiler and extra vanes on the rear diffuser. Huge 19in alloys are standard, and the RS3 must be one of the few cars in the world with wider front tyres than rear. Overall result: one very mean looking little hatch that you’d be foolish to mess with.
Nestling under the bonnet is the same 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine that you’ll find in the TT RS, and in the RS3 it drives all four wheel via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Outputs are 335bhp and 332lb ft, and with Quattro and the S-tronic ‘box it’ll hit 62mph from rest in 4.6 seconds. That’s a whole second quicker than the S3, and it’ll achieve 31mpg and only puff out 212g/km to the 74bhp-weaker S3’s 33.6mpg and 195g/km – BMW’s 1-series M has the same engine outputs as the RS3 but is slower, dirtier and thirstier.
The price of all this is £39,900, which makes it Audi’s cheapest RS model yet, undercutting an S-tronic TT RS by over £7k; on the other hand, it’s nearly £7k more than a dual-clutch-equipped S3 Sportback. The RS3 is only available in five-door Sportback form, so it not only offers a different proposition to the 1-series M Coupe, but also dshouldn't steel sales from the more expensive TT RS.
Yes. CAR’s reaction to the RS5 has been lukewarm, but the RS3 is much better resolved. The RS3 doesn’t have the steering/suspension/gearbox-adjusting Drive Select system, but while there’s little feel from the wheel, there is clarity and linearity – it’s good. The ride, despite being firm, isn’t harsh. And the brakes aren’t over-servoed and grabby, but instead are very strong and easy to modulate. So far, so good from the RS3.
The engine is epic too. The turbo’d five-pot sounds great, whistling and warbling, and making a hard-edged growl at high revs. And it makes the RS3 seriously quick. With the added benefit of four-wheel drive there’s no torque-steer or front-wheel scrabbling antics either, just lots of grunt and go. Don’t think it’s a one-trick point-and-shoot device though: the engine gives the RS3 character that the S3 just doesn’t have, it’s keen to change direction and it all feels together and sorted in a way that the RS5 doesn’t.
Our test car didn’t have the optional buckets, just the standard seats which don’t offer quite enough lateral support. But our car did have the optional Alcantara interior, and the grippy black stuff coated the wheel, handbrake and gearlever to make the RS3 feel pretty special. Other tweaks inside the RS3 include unique dials and silver trim in a carbonfibre design, and although the base car is long in the tooth, none of the materials feels out of date or inferior. Rear parking sensors, climate control and sat-nav are all standard.
A decent majority will no doubt think that spending £39,900 on an ageing hatchback is madness, and you’d be right. For this much money there are a lot of second-hand 911s and M3s (or even RS4s) than you could have. Of course it’s bound to come off worst against the BMW 1-series M in the inevitable twin tests too, as it won’t perform lurid drifts, but the RS3 is intended to be a very different proposition. The RS3 looks good, goes very quickly, is well built, and very well resolved. Our time in the car was limited – and on cold, icy Canadian roads – but a first taste has revealed it’s a thoroughly decent car. A step in right direction for RS.
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Audi RS3 Sportback (2011) CAR review
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brakedust says
RE: Audi RS3 Sportback (2011) CAR review
Good review, Ben. Thank you. I was worried that the ride might be too firm and was disappointed by the lack of a magnetic ride option. However, it looks as if the springs they've fitted to it provide an ideal compromise between grip and comfort. I want an RS3 for the engine and gearbox and don't give a stuff about the styling. That said, my only hesitation is the fact that the new A3 appears within months. Audi really should have released the RS3 two years ago. It is interesting that you think the car is better resolved than the RS5. If that is indeed the case, then we can expect a very fine car indeed. I love 'Carmobsters' description of the RS3 being a wolf in sheep's clothing - that is exactly what all fast Audis have always been. I doubt that most bankers would have the sense to replace their 911s with such a car. They're all waiting for the new one.
Good review, Ben. Thank you.
I was worried that the ride might be too firm and was disappointed by the lack of a magnetic ride option. However, it looks as if the springs they've fitted to it provide an ideal compromise between grip and comfort.
I want an RS3 for the engine and gearbox and don't give a stuff about the styling. That said, my only hesitation is the fact that the new A3 appears within months. Audi really should have released the RS3 two years ago.
It is interesting that you think the car is better resolved than the RS5. If that is indeed the case, then we can expect a very fine car indeed. I love 'Carmobsters' description of the RS3 being a wolf in sheep's clothing - that is exactly what all fast Audis have always been. I doubt that most bankers would have the sense to replace their 911s with such a car. They're all waiting for the new one.
04 March 2011 14:11
carmobster says
It's the perfect car for the banker. Everybody will think you have traided in your Porsche because you've been hit by the crisis and receive no more bonusses. Ofcourse this is not true because you know as well as I do you are making more money than ever. But you need the world to know that you are caring to your customers, you have refused your bonuses and gave the money to some poor people. You want the image of the banker we used to trust and rather spend the money in changing the world into one big flowerfield of love and happiness. That is why you tell your friends & clients you have bought an Audi A3. You have chosen an black colour and smaller 18 inch wheels, the kind you can find on any entry level 1.6 TDI. The only thing they don't know is that you have bought yourself An RS3 with 335 bhp and a faster acceleration than the 911 you use to have. And everybody is loving and admiring you. It's the perfect car, it's the epitomy of the wolf in sheep's clothes. Like the bankers themselves.
It's the perfect car for the banker. Everybody will think you have traided in your Porsche because you've been hit by the crisis and receive no more bonusses. Ofcourse this is not true because you know as well as I do you are making more money than ever. But you need the world to know that you are caring to your customers, you have refused your bonuses and gave the money to some poor people. You want the image of the banker we used to trust and rather spend the money in changing the world into one big flowerfield of love and happiness.
That is why you tell your friends & clients you have bought an Audi A3. You have chosen an black colour and smaller 18 inch wheels, the kind you can find on any entry level 1.6 TDI.
The only thing they don't know is that you have bought yourself An RS3 with 335 bhp and a faster acceleration than the 911 you use to have. And everybody is loving and admiring you.
It's the perfect car, it's the epitomy of the wolf in sheep's clothes. Like the bankers themselves.
21 February 2011 14:33
lokinen says
As i've mentioned many times before, check out the TopGear 1 series M vs the mk5 R32 on youtube. It was assumed the 1er would wipe the floor with the Golf but in fact it was the other way round. 1 series seem to hold their crown without face to face comparison. When it finally happens these 1ers are found to be lacking in so many areas, in this particular comparo even its steering wasn't as good as the the Golfs. This Audi will kill the current 1M easily, while the fool behind the wheel of the BMW is doing childish BS pirouettes , feigning wonderment at more BS "messages through the wheel" , the Audi will be down the road and Gone. Do us a favour Car guys, how about no more tail out shots , leave it to Clarkson & co ' Road Testing ' around their virtually dis-used airfield.
21 February 2011 09:41
coverupvinyls says
This is going to sell like hot cakes. The good news is that S3's will be slightly cheaper to buy as it wont be the range topper any more.
18 February 2011 22:14
kkirkou says
39.900 GBP. If they gave it with 25% discount because next year it will be "the previous" model it would be ok.
18 February 2011 20:02
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