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Review: Audi RS Q3

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Author: | Updated: 19 Apr 2016 16:51

An SUV that gets to 62mph in just 4.8 seconds? Forget thoughts about school runs and chelsea tractors; the Audi RS Q3 is more hot hatch than load lugger.

Hot hatches are popular and SUVs are popular, so why not combine the two? That seems to have been Audi’s thinking when it launched the RS Q3.

The standard car is a well sorted premium mini-SUV, going head to head with the Range Rover Evoque, BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA, but this 335bhp version ups the ante a bit, taking on the lesser-spotted GLA 45 AMG.

The logic just about makes sense, but does the car?

Audi RS Q3

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Styling

Recently having a bit of a nip and a tuck, the Q3 doesn’t have the ultra-modern styling of its Q7 big brother, but it does have an understated kerbside presence that belies its size.

It’s smaller than you might think, with a gently sloped rear door that stands out from the boxy SUVs elsewhere, making it closer to a crossover than its rivals. It’s none the worse for that, offering a more subtle take on a niche that is getting more crowded.

Being the RS variant of the Q3, that subtlety is stretched a tad by the addition of gaping air intakes at the front, a slightly odd extension to the grille that merges it with the sleek headlights, lowered suspension, and a spoiler mounted at the top of the tailgate. Bigger wheels also hint at the power available under the bonnet.

Audi RS Q3

Interior

There is a bit of a hint inside, too. Heavily sculpted seats hug you supportively as you guide the RS Q3 with its flat-bottomed steering wheel. Behind that lies a traditional set of dials, something of a disappointment following the introduction of Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit to the TT, A4 and R8. However, so far ahead of the crowd is Audi when it comes to interior design that this now four-year-old dashboard is still a match for any of its contemporaries.

It’s not perfect though. The climate controls are tricky to use, sitting way down low in the cabin and lacking tactile feedback that allows you to use them without glancing from the road. The infotainment screen that pops from the top of the dashboard looks a little like an afterthought too, but there’s no doubting any of the quality.

Audi RS Q3

Up front, there is plenty of space for even the sturdiest of passengers, but things get a little tighter in the back. Go all the way to the boot and the promised 356 litres of space feels a lot smaller thanks to a high floor and that sloping tailgate.

But if you’re looking at the Q3 and considering adding the RS badge to the name, then you’re probably not hugely concerned by practicalities. So yes, the RS Q3 will suffice for most in terms of space, style and quality.

Power

What really matters is what’s powering the car, and that’s a soulful 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged unit that punches out an impressive 335bhp. That translates to a sub-five-second 0-62mph time, pitching it against serious supercars, before going on to 155mph.

There’s more to it than raw numbers though; that engine, the last five-cylinder in the range, makes a wonderfully intoxicating noise, urging you use the more of its capabilities. That extra cylinder provides more torque lower down the rev range, so you’re rarely left without some reserve to propel you forwards, while the Quattro four-wheel-drive system keeps all that power going to the road. Reassuringly manic.

Audi RS Q3

A seven-speed automatic gearbox, with de rigueur flappy paddles, changes gear quickly and smoothly. Switch the Drive Select system to Sport and the box gets quicker, the throttle gets snappier and the steering gains weight, making it a blast to hurl around B-roads. Choose comfort and it relaxes a little, making it a comfortable car to cruise in.

Comfortable, perhaps, but hardly economical. That old-fashioned engine hasn’t had the same eco-friendly work done to it that the latest small capacity three- and four-cylinder units have. A shocking 18mpg average shows how we were driving, but 30mpg would be tricky even on a gentle drive. CO2 emissions the wrong side of 200g/km also means car tax and BIK rates are a tad rich.

Potential RS customers, though, are unlikely to be too concerned about a slightly increased tax bill.

The verdict

The RSQ3 is a thoroughly capable SUV that entertains and pleases in virtually all circumstances, but there is a catch.

Despite being an SUV, the Q3 only offers a little additional practicality over the RS3. That shares the same sonorous five-cylinder engine, but tuned to offer more power and that translates to stronger performance. It’s cheaper too, and the combination of lower weight and better aerodynamics also means it’s more economical and costs less to tax.

If you need that increased ride height and that commanding view from the driver's seat, though, the RS Q3 is as good as it gets right now.

Audi RS Q3 at a glance

Length: 4,411mm
Width: 1,841mm
Height: 1,580mm
Wheelbase: 2,603mm
Boot space: 356 litres
Kerb weight: 1,655kg

Engine: 2.5-litre 5-cyl turbocharged petrol (335bhp)
Transmission: 7-spd automatic, 4WD

0-62mph: 4.8s
Top speed: 155mph
Fuel economy: 32.8mpg
CO2 emissions: 203g/km

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