The new Audi RS Q3 has arrived in the market, ready to shower everyone’s ears with its characteristic five-pot burbly soundtrack and hoping to get every available customer on board.
Carfection reviews the new RS Q3, here in its much sleeker Sportback variant, trying to find out why so many people seem to like them. Perhaps it’s the current Audi design language that really works here, unlike other performance SUVs from Germany that seem to have lost their charm. Maybe it’s the five-cylinder engine, a unique offering in a sea of four- and six-cylinder powertrains.
Related: Audi RS Q3 And RS Q3 Sportback Debut With 395 HP
Audi offers its turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder unit in the new RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback models, producing 395 HP (400 PS) and 354 lb-ft (480 Nm) of torque. A seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission sends power to all four wheels and is the only option.
That’s enough firepower to send the German sports crossover from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed limited to 155 mph (250 km/h). However, tick the right option and the top speed then raises to 174 mph (280 km/h).
It’s certainly quite fast for a crossover of this size but apparently the new RS Q3 Sportback demonstrates an old-school RS feeling down the road, especially if you have driven the latest products from Audi Sport – namely the RS4 and RS6 models.
The Quattro all-wheel drive is more secure than engaging here, while it lacks that urgency during turn-in down on your favorite winding road; at least the steering wheel helps you place the car and that engine is a delight to work with.
Maybe it’s not then a class leader, but the Audi RS Q3 will certainly find its audience quite easily.