I bear in mind driving the first-generation Audi RSQ3 and pondering, ‘this has all of the elements, however it simply doesn’t fairly really feel prefer it has been cooked sufficient’.

It was the primary ever SUV from Audi to put on the RS badge, and it made the sporty arm of the four-ring model’s line-up extra attainable than ever – at that stage, it was the primary sub-$100,000 RS to be bought in Australia.

This RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years doesn’t, nevertheless, slip below that pricing barrier – however not like the unique tackle the RSQ3, it is a well-rounded, fast and wealthy feeling small SUV.

I spent a couple of days with it, and I want I didn’t have to offer it again. Learn on to seek out out why.

How a lot does the Audi RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years value?

This celebratory mannequin will set you again $102,900 earlier than on-road prices. 

For context, right here’s the RSQ3 line-up pricing:

• Audi RSQ3: $96,100
• Audi RSQ3 Sportback: $99,100
• Audi RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years: $102,900

All costs exclude on-road prices.

This particular mannequin is proscribed to simply 555 models worldwide, and Audi Australia has confirmed our market will likely be “receiving between 10 and 20 per cent” of that complete manufacturing run.

So, it is a fairly uncommon factor, and for just some grand greater than the ‘common’ RSQ3 Sportback, it looks like a good selection…

That’s, in fact, in case you are okay with Chronos Gray metallic as the color you get – it comes at not value – or in case you are advantageous to spend $8900 on Dew Silver Matte paint, which is new to the Q3 line.

Must you select the traditional model, there’d be metallic choices like Mythos Black, Turbo Blue, Tango Crimson, Glacier White, the eye-catching Kyalami Inexperienced status paint, or Daytona Gray pearl or Nardo Gray stable paint.

What’s the Audi RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years like on the within?

It affords the everyday Audi sensibility by way of design and presentation, nevertheless, with some wonderful and considerate prospers that make this really feel a bit extra particular.

I like the microfibre steering wheel grip, and there are grippy sections on the seats to maintain you in place.

Between these components you’ll discover quilted leather-based which seems to be and feels wonderful, and whereas the entrance seats are manually adjustable (at $100,000 plus, that appears tough), they do have glorious adjustability to them.

There’s a straightforward to make use of touchscreen media system with buttons and dials under the display for local weather management settings, seat heating, fan and extra. There’s additionally a quantity knob, plus a drive choose controller and a hill descent management button – unsure I’d be utilizing that fairly often.

The motive force will get Audi’s Digital Cockpit setup with an enormous display that provides nice usability, and a humorous factor I like about this technology of Q3 embody the very chunky door handles. I additionally recognize the ambient lighting by means of this cabin – on the back and front doorways, and on the dashboard, too – which makes a little bit of a distinction to the wow issue within the cabin. 

The dearth of a sunroof may appear a little bit of a priority for patrons procuring at this stage, however you’ll be able to possibility a panoramic roof for $2700. 

With regards to storage there are huge door pockets with bottle holders, a pair of cupholders between the seats, a wi-fi cellphone charger in entrance of the shifter, and a comparatively small lined centre console.

Again seat occupant area is sort of good, regardless that the sloping roofline of the Sportback mannequin does take some area away. 

I managed to suit 4 adults on this automobile. Considered one of them was a 190cm male within the again seat, and he was shocked by how a lot area he had.

Foot room and shoulder area is sweet, and the rear seat has a little bit of sculpture to it, so it’s undoubtedly going to be extra comfy for 2 occupants than three – backing that up is a big transmission tunnel that does eat into foot area down between these seats.

In the event you plan to make use of it as a household automobile, there are ISOFIX factors within the window seats, plus three top-tether factors as nicely.

Holding back-seat riders cozy are a pair of directional air vents and two USB-C chargers, plus a 12V plug, and storage is fairly nicely sorted with bottle holders within the doorways, a flip down armrest with pop-up cupholders, however one factor you received’t discover at the back of his automobile are seat again map pockets – they aren’t on these sports activities bucket seats.

The cargo maintain is fairly beneficiant, with a claimed 530 litres of cargo capability on supply. The sweeping roofline does eat into the area to a level, however fortunately there’s a cargo cowl to stop any potential injury, and the electrical boot lid will cease itself from closing down on one thing for those who’ve squished an excessive amount of in.

There isn’t any spare wheel – you get a tyre restore equipment.

What’s below the bonnet?

No energy bump for the particular version, however tell us for those who suppose it wanted one within the feedback!

As such, it has a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, with 294kW of energy (7000rpm) and 480Nm of torque (1950-5850rpm). These outputs are outrageous as it’s, sufficient for the RSQ3 to assert a 0-100km/h time of 4.5 seconds.

To be able to be that quick, it makes use of a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission, and has quattro all-wheel drive. Naturally.

How does the Audi RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years drive?

Any time I drive a automobile with a five-cylinder engine, I come away with the identical thought: “Why aren’t there extra of those?!”

That’s actually the case for the RS five-pot within the Q3, which is an absolute delight. It’s clean, linear, and sounds terrific as nicely, particularly below exhausting throttle. The roll-on acceleration is great, and it’s partaking, enthralling and enthusiastic. 

It isn’t good, although – there’s some low-rev lag and, whereas testing out the powertrain towards that claimed 0-100 time, I noticed it get slowed down a bit bit from a standing begin when launching.

For the report, the digital timer on the dashboard that may measure your 0-100, 0-200, quarter mile and lap instances is a good speaking level. And never for the report, the perfect I noticed was 5.0sec.

The seven-speed dual-clutch automated can be superb; quick to react and really clean shifting. It affords these telltale ultra-snappy shifts below exhausting acceleration, with paddle shifters if you wish to take issues into your personal fingers. I didn’t do this, I left the automobile in auto within the RS drive mode, and it by no means left me wanting something apart from what it selected.

I did notice, although, that once I cold-started the automobile (winter, Blue Mountains, 7am, so correctly chilly), it had a bent to really feel prefer it was using the clutch in reverse and at low speeds in ahead gears. 

I like the steering on this automobile – it has a pleasant weighting and reactiveness to it, imbuing it with some wonderful dynamism. There’s only a trace of understeer in actually actually tight corners whenever you’re pushing exhausting however in most conditions, it is rather rewarding and very fulfilling.

It’s additionally simple to park and straightforward to stay with in city driving eventualities, aided by a high-quality surround-view digicam system that provides you an ideal view across the automobile, and doesn’t get all fuzzy trying whenever you’re parking it at evening, as many others can.

The experience consolation might be the factor that blew me away most from the drive expertise, as a result of it’s using on 21-inch wheels so it arguably doesn’t should be as soft or comfy as it’s. Adaptive dampers regulate the firmness of the experience however even in essentially the most assertive modes, it’s by no means too agency or too exhausting. It’s supple and managed.

It’s quiet and refined as nicely, making it a possible possibility for individuals who possibly simply need the top-spec mannequin for all the luxurious perks that it comes with, as a result of hey, who on earth is pondering “I desire a small SUV to go to the observe in!”?

So, for those who don’t want all this energy, you’re nonetheless getting a incredible and opulent small SUV that simply occurs to be a weapon as nicely.

What do you get?

For context, these are the adjustments you see on the RSQ3 version 10 years over the usual variations of the automobile.

Highlights of the particular version embody 21-inch gentle double-spoke alloys completed in black, black brake calipers, darkened inside bits on the Matrix LED headlights, and a bunch of gloss black exterior accents.

Inside, there are particular leather-Dinamica RS bucket seats (unique to this spec) with matte carbon shells, a brand new jet black upholstery end, copper top-stitching, matte-finish carbon inlays, and edition-specific illuminated door sill trims that venture a 3D Audi Sport pink diamond onto the bottom when the doorways are open.

And now, right here’s what that builds upon by way of commonplace gear for the common RSQ3:

• Audi join plus Navigation & Infotainment companies together with: On-line site visitors info with hazard alert, parking info, climate, gas costs, Google Companies
• Audi join plus Safety & Help companies together with: Automobile finder with distant sign, distant lock & unlock, emergency name, on-line roadside help
• 10.1-inch touchscreen
• Wired or wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Wi-fi cellphone charging
• 15-speaker Sonos sound system
• Progressive variable-ratio steering
• RS sport exhaust
• RS-specific Audi drive choose modes
• RS sports activities suspension with adaptive dampers
• RS-specific physique styling
• Black exterior styling package deal
• Energy tailgate
• Keyless entry and push-button begin
• Rear privateness glass
• Auto lights
• Auto wipers
• Darkish headlining
• Tri-zone local weather management

There’s much more, however try our pricing and specs story if you wish to see the lists.

Is the Audi RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years secure?

The Audi Q3 vary has a five-star score from ANCAP primarily based on Euro NCAP testing carried out in 2018 – however the score doesn’t apply to the RSQ3 mannequin.

Even so, the vary comes as commonplace with a variety of know-how, akin to: 

• Low- and high-speed autonomous emergency braking (as much as 250km/h) with pedestrian and bike owner detection (5-85km/h)
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
• Lane departure warning
• Lane conserving help
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags

There’s a normal surround-view digicam on this grade, too. Plus the RS has the most important brakes of any Audi Q3, so there’s that. 

How a lot does the Audi RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years value to run?

The official mixed cycle gas consumption determine for the RSQ3 variants is 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres, and for those who get that frequently, you’re most likely the type of one who buys the costliest automobile for the standing, quite than the velocity.

Over a brief mortgage within the version 10 years, I noticed a real-world indicated determine of 9.6L/100km, which I believed was fairly good contemplating I gave it a little bit of a tough time by means of some flexible bits and examined its acceleration on a couple of event.

It requires the costliest 98 RON premium unleaded, and has a 63-litre gas tank capability.

As for ongoing issues, Audi now backs its fashions with a five-year/limitless kilometre guarantee, on par with most luxurious and mainstream rivals.

There’s a capped-price servicing plan of kinds – a pay as you go service pack is out there for a five-year/75,000km period, and it prices $3580. That’s not too dangerous, contemplating it is a premium efficiency SUV.

There’s additionally roadside help accessible for gratis.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years

It’s exhausting to not be enamoured with a automobile just like the Audi RSQ3 version 10 years. One has to marvel how for much longer we are going to see high-performance petrol-powered vehicles like this from the model, not to mention with a five-cylinder engine.

It’s a tremendously enjoyable, purposeful, and fiendishly fancy compact SUV. Australia ought to rely itself fortunate to be in line for such an enormous share of the worldwide output of those particular fashions.

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