Audi RS Q3 - The Best Car In Its Class

Verdict as storming 306bhp SUV hits British roads

Before even driving it, we can say with confidence that the Audi RS Q3 is the best car in its class. Why? Because until the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG hits showrooms next year, the Q3 has the high-performance compact SUV market all to itself.

That may seem like a niche within a niche – and Audi agrees, as the $69,122 model is only expected to account for three per cent of Q3 sales in the UK. But the RS still has plenty of charm.

                                              Unlike the RS7, the Q3 rides really well

For a start, it’s powered by Audi’s warbling 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo engine. It’s detuned from 335bhp in the RS3 to 306bhp, and its torque also drops from 450Nm to 420Nm, but the engine still has meaty power delivery. The addictive growl makes it difficult not to pretend you’re driving an eighties Group B rally car, too.

The twin-clutch gearbox is slick, but could respond faster to manual shifts when you’re driving hard, and struggles a bit with the engine’s power off the line – it briefly limits the revs to prevent the clutches being destroyed.

Unlike the RS7, the Q3 rides really well. There’s supple damping in Comfort mode, despite the fact that it’s lowered by 25mm on sports suspension, and precious little body roll in Dynamic mode.

Flat-bottomed wheel adds sporty look, while the finish is as good as you expect.

Grip is impressive, and the chassis is quite playful on the right road – especially if you keep the car in Comfort, to allow the body to mode around. The beefed-up brakes are really powerful, if a little grabby, while the steering is a touch too light in all but Dynamic mode.

As the Q3 is the first SUV to get the performance makeover, it feels weird to climb up into an Audi with the trademark flat-bottomed RS steering wheel. However, it doesn’t take long to realize that the potent engine and well-tuned chassis make the RS Q3 good fun, and you soon appreciate the extra visibility that the lofty driving position affords.

We can say with confidence that the Audi RS Q3 is the best car in its class.

Despite the fact that it has no rivals yet, the RS has a specific niche appeal – for those who need pace and practicality, with a bit of character thrown in from that excellent engine.

Verdict

The RS Q3 answers a question no one’s ever really asked, but slotting a thundering engine under the bonnet of a Q3 has created a car with real appeal. The chassis is well sorted, too, while the SUV’s practical side is carried over unchanged. Add in some of the best residual values on the market, and the RS Q3 could be the car you never knew you needed.