Audi RS Q3 review

Besides the flat-bottomed steering wheel and sports seats, it’s standard Q3 in here. Which means in the front you get a largely solid-feeling dashboard with Audi’s latest 10.1-inch hi-res touchscreen infotainment system (but physical climate controls) paired with the Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster. Both screens are easy to use (far as touchscreens go - we’d still like the option of a click-wheel) have sharp, good-looking interfaces and happily are standard fit. The Virtual Cockpit gets an RS-specific mode that’s activated when you stick the engine into Dynamic mode, and grants access to 0-62mph timers, a G-meter and other such toys. 

Quality is mostly on-point, though there are a few materials here and there that let the side down. This is disappointing enough in a normal Q3, and even more so in a car that starts at well over £50,000. 

Quite practical, though. Both the normal RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback get 530 litres of boot space - it’s only when you fold the rear seats that the Sportback suffers for its faster silhouette. It loses 125 litres of boot space to the standard car, and a wee bit of headroom. Both cars have a sliding rear bench, so you can prioritise rear-seat or luggage space as necessary, that folds in a 40/20/40 split. 

The RS-specific seats are pretty good - supportive and comfy over long distances.