I bear in mind driving the first-generation Audi RSQ3 and considering, ‘this has all of the elements, nevertheless 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 offered in Australia.

This RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years doesn’t, nevertheless, slip underneath that pricing barrier – however not like the unique tackle the RSQ3, this can be a well-rounded, speedy and wealthy feeling small SUV.

I spent just a few days with it, and I want I didn’t have to provide it again. Learn on to search out out why.

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

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 restricted to simply 555 items worldwide, and Audi Australia has confirmed our market shall be “receiving between 10 and 20 per cent” of that whole manufacturing run.

So, this can be a fairly uncommon factor, and for only a few grand greater than the ‘common’ RSQ3 Sportback, it looks like a sensible choice…

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

Must you select the conventional model, there’d be metallic choices like Mythos Black, Turbo Blue, Tango Pink, Glacier White, the eye-catching Kyalami Inexperienced status paint, or Daytona Gray pearl or Nardo Gray strong 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 thrives that make this really feel a bit extra particular.

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

Between these elements 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 simple to make use of touchscreen media system with buttons and dials under the display screen 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 a giant display screen that provides nice usability, and a humorous factor I really like about this technology of Q3 embrace the very chunky door handles. I additionally admire the ambient lighting by 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 shortage of a sunroof may appear a little bit of a priority for consumers procuring at this degree, however you may choice a panoramic roof for $2700. 

In terms of storage there are massive door pockets with bottle holders, a pair of cupholders between the seats, a wi-fi telephone charger in entrance of the shifter, and a comparatively small lined centre console.

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

I managed to suit 4 adults on this automobile. One in every 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 nice, and the rear seat has a little bit of sculpture to it, so it’s positively 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.

Should 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 effectively.

Holding back-seat riders comfortable are a pair of directional air vents and two USB-C chargers, plus a 12V plug, and storage is fairly effectively 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 when you’ve squished an excessive amount of in.

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

What’s underneath the bonnet?

No energy bump for the particular version, however tell us when you 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.

With the intention 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 definitely the case for the RS five-pot within the Q3, which is an absolute delight. It’s easy, linear, and sounds terrific as effectively, particularly underneath laborious throttle. The roll-on acceleration is great, and it’s partaking, enthralling and enthusiastic. 

It isn’t excellent, although – there’s some low-rev lag and, whereas testing out the powertrain in opposition to that claimed 0-100 time, I noticed it get slowed down a little 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 superb speaking level. And never for the report, one of the best I noticed was 5.0sec.

The seven-speed dual-clutch automated can also be excellent; quick to react and really easy shifting. It affords these telltale ultra-snappy shifts underneath laborious acceleration, with paddle shifters if you wish to take issues into your individual arms. 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 an inclination to really feel prefer it was driving the clutch in reverse and at low speeds in ahead gears. 

I really 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 while you’re pushing laborious however in most conditions, it is rather rewarding and very pleasurable.

It’s additionally simple to park and simple to dwell with in city driving eventualities, aided by a high-quality surround-view digital camera system that provides you an amazing view across the automobile, and doesn’t get all fuzzy trying while you’re parking it at night time, 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 driving on 21-inch wheels so it arguably doesn’t should be as comfortable or comfy as it’s. Adaptive dampers modify the firmness of the experience however even in essentially the most assertive modes, it’s by no means too agency or too laborious. It’s supple and managed.

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

So, when you don’t want all this energy, you’re nonetheless getting a improbable and splendid small SUV that simply occurs to be a weapon as effectively.

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 embrace 21-inch mild 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 mission 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 customary gear for the common RSQ3:

• Audi join plus Navigation & Infotainment providers together with: On-line visitors info with hazard alert, parking info, climate, gasoline costs, Google Providers
• Audi join plus Safety & Help providers 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 telephone 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 bundle
• 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 ranking from ANCAP based mostly on Euro NCAP testing performed in 2018 – however the ranking doesn’t apply to the RSQ3 mannequin.

Even so, the vary comes as customary with a spread of expertise, similar to: 

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

There’s an ordinary surround-view digital camera on this grade, too. Plus the RS has the largest brakes of any Audi Q3, so there’s that. 

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

The official mixed cycle gasoline consumption determine for the RSQ3 variants is 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres, and when you get that frequently, you’re most likely the kind of one that buys the most costly automobile for the standing, slightly than the pace.

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 some flexible bits and examined its acceleration on multiple event.

It requires the most costly 98 RON premium unleaded, and has a 63-litre gasoline 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 types – a pay as you go service pack is obtainable for a five-year/75,000km length, and it prices $3580. That’s not too dangerous, contemplating this can be a premium efficiency SUV.

There’s additionally roadside help obtainable without charge.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi RSQ3 Sportback version 10 years

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

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

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MORE: Every part Audi RSQ3