by Rebaneilwe Semakane
The hot hatch segment is in limbo. With many consumers moving to SUVs and the like, performance hatches are becoming quite a niche proposition. Thankfully, Audi has decided to keep the ball rolling with their all-new RS3. I had a brief (or is that quick?) run in the Sportback varient and oh man, what a car.
One cannot begin to describe how enthralling this car is, yes it looks the part and comes in an array of cool hues – but it can back it up with performance. I mean it moves at the speed of light! It is powered by a 2.5l TFSI motor that produces 294kW/500Nm. We drove from OR Tambo to Zwartkops Raceway and it’s a car that literally wants you to push it to the max (as safely as possible though). Overtaking is a breeze, the gear changes are frankly telepathic, and that exhaust note is mental. Look, it is one helluva performance whip, so I can forgive it for being a hard ride on the road – it’s underpinned by a severely performance-oriented suspension after all – bred for the track, and with an equally forgivable minimum of noise insulation. I mean it’s LOUD. And THIRSTY. We averaged about 10l/100km on the road but once you put it on track, everything changes. (We averaged 15l/100km on track and had to refuel, twice.)
The RS3 handles like a pro, cornering is seamless in that thing and it’s basically foolproof. That Quattro system has been reworked so well that it is actually planted on track and just takes on any obstacle with ease. We played around with the various driving modes before settling on Sport Plus exclusively. There was some tyre squeal during high speed cornering, but hey – that’s a fun sound and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The cabin is a highwater mark for Audi, with RS3 detailing on all the seats and red stitching throughout the interior. And then there’s the Audi MMI infotainment system that’s a pleasure to use. As a venue for some spirited driving, not much can touch the RS3. It’s a space that goads and encourages its driver.
At a price tag of R1.2million base, one would be forgiven for shying away from the RS3 ‘hatch’ – but I say it is worth it. All the units allocated to South Africa have been accounted for, so clearly there is a market for this particular breed. I have always seen the RS3 as a sophisticated performance vehicle, and not really the ‘boy racer’ type, like the A45s or a GTI. Despite all the crazy feats it can pull off, the RS3 has retained its opulence and grace in terms of styling, drive quality (pardon the firmness) and living quarters. There is a possibility that this could be the last iteration of the RS3 as we know it since there will be more focus on electric vehicles in the future.
And that’s that – the RS3 remains fairly expensive – albeit arguably good value in terms of its speed, engagement, entertainment and sheer aesthetics. Some may await the arrival of the next Golf R, but this pricier RS3 is going to be a monumentally hard act to follow.
