Girl of the Week: October 14th-20th 2019 – Denise & Audi RS3

Audi RS3, which landed in North America just two years ago despite being available overseas since 2013, is nearing the end of its current generation with an updated version for 2019. With a 400-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder under the hood, this sports sedan has the muscle to back up its menacing appearance. It boasts a redline of 6900 rpm, and the rip of its distinctive exhaust note sounds amazing the whole way there. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission routes torque to all four wheels; in our testing, the RS3 hit 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Audi’s most direct competitor is the Mercedes-AMG CLA45—a similarly nimble four-door with almost the same footprint—but managed a slightly slower 3.8-second run to 60 mph. The BMW M2, although only offered as a two-door coupe, is also a decent analogue to the RS3, but it needed 4.0 seconds to reach 60 mph in our testing. The RS3 feels razor-sharp, with responsive steering and an agile suspension. Its ride can be rough over pockmarked pavement—especially with the optional sport suspension—but if you’re looking to maximize the RS3’s fun potential, it tightens things up so you can really throw down.
The RS3’s interior is borrowed from the lower-powered S3 and the entry-level A3—which isn’t a bad thing. It’s a well-built cabin with plenty of tech features and more than a few surprises, such as the infotainment screen that rises out of the center of the dash upon startup or the optional digital gauge cluster with integrated Google Maps. Front sport seats are stylish, comfortable, and supportive and adults will easily find enough room in the first row. Back-seat occupants are treated to well-cushioned chairs but passenger space is tight.
The RS3’s turbocharged five-cylinder engine will happily blast it from 0-62mph in a searing 4.1 seconds and on to a top speed of (if you pay extra to remove the limiter) 174mph – that’s serious sports car pace in a fairly practical five-door family car.
Even more impressive is just how easy the Audi is to drive quickly. It soaks up bumps and potholes extremely well (especially with Audi’s optional adaptive suspension fitted), feels even more agile in tight corners and has seemingly endless grip thanks to its quattro four-wheel-drive system.
Sure, it might not be quite as engaging as the no-holds-barred BMW M2 Competition on a racetrack, but the Audi’s still a real hoot to drive and mature enough to live with every day. It isn’t the most frugal five-door car on sale (even with a gentle touch on the accelerator you’ll struggle to better 25mpg) but it’s a doddle to drive, fairly relaxing at motorway speeds and safe – it’s based on the solid A3 Sportback, after all.
Sadly, the RS3 still has one inescapable flaw – its price. It’s one of the quickest hot hatches on sale but it’ll set you back more than the M2 Competition, let alone cars like the Volkswagen Golf R and Honda Civic Type R. Still, head over to our deals pages to see how much you can save on one.