2024 Audi RS Q3 Sportback Edition 10 Years Review

It’s been 10 years since the first Audi RS Q3 hit the roads as the fastest and most potent version of the Q3 Sportback range. Much has happened in automotive landscape in the last decade, most apparent was the rapid transition from internal combustion engine power to electric propulsion. Today some of the fastest accelerating cars are electric vehicles. But cars like the RS Q3 is still and will always remain relevant for it’s got the RS badge, a symbol of high performance and exhilarating driver oriented motoring which EVs cannot deliver quite the same, yet.

What’s better to celebrate this 10-year milestone than with a limited-edition model. With only 555 examples globally, this is the Audi RS Q3 Edition 10 Years. Priced at $102,900 plus on-road costs and available exclusively in the Sportback body style, it’s a four grand premium over the ‘regular’ RS Q3. Scarcity is in the bag but what more do you get for the extra coins?

On the outside there are black badges all around including the the four rings of the Audi logo, complemented with bespoke 21-inch alloy wheels behind which tucked black brake calipers. There isn’t any ’10-Year’ badging which is just fine, with the biggest giveaway of its special edition status being the exclusive Chronos Grey metallic exterior paint. It’s subtle but not that subtle, something Audi is pretty good at doing.

We have always liked the design and proportion of the Q3 Sportback and the RS version, especially this Edition 10 Years, adds the stance and attitude for a properly sporty look.

The interior adopts the same discrete treatment as the exterior, with the highlight being the suede/leather front bucket seats which not only look gorgeous with their red accent and carbon-fibre seat back but are also ultra supportive. Those seats are exclusive to the Edition 10 Years for now but we won’t be surprised if they are filtered down to other Audi RS models in the future. The other eye candy is the Alcantara wrapped steering wheel, with the premium fabric also applied to the dashboard and door trim.

Audi’s usual fare of modern tech and Germanic sensibility are featured throughout the cabin. There’s the intuitive 10.1-inch centre touchscreen running the latest Audi multimedia interface and 12.3-inch digital instrumentation cluster which is still one of the best in the business. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto connectivity is supported and there’s a wireless phone charger for convenience. A surround view camera is also equipped but there’s no standard sunroof which is a bit of a let down at this price point. A panoramic roof is a $2700 option.

Interior build quality is superb as you’d expect from this brand with a premium feel throughout. Cabin ambience is further lifted with cool strip lighting on the dashboard as well as on the front and back door cards.

Cabin space is not too bad, with both driver and front passenger treated to good leg and headroom. Where things get a bit tight is in the back, and it’s a compromise for having that sleek, sloping roof line. Rear passengers, especially lofty ones, will find headroom lacking. The rear seats aren’t that wide either so three adults seated in the back will be an intimate affair, but at least the leg and toe room is decent.

Boot space, meanwhile, is listed at 530 litres, which isn’t bad at all for this class. With the 40/20/40 split rear seats folded, the space expands to a voluminous 1400 litres.

Onto the stuff that matters – the oily bits, the RS Q3 Edition 10 Years uses the same powertrain as the standard RS Q3. While it’d be nice to have a power boost, the 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo petrol engine is already quite a beast. Packing 294kW and 480Nm, the latter on tap from just 1950rpm and hangs on til 5850rpm, the iconic five-pot can propel the SUV from 0 to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 250km/h.

The engine is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission with drive sent to all four corners via Audi’s renown Quattro all-wheel drive system. The gearbox has been fine tuned over the years and all clunkiness has been ironed out in this latest iteration, but don’t for a second think it’s being too civilised. Switch the drive mode to Dynamic and it’s still as raw as ever, dishing out lightning quick gear changes that are felt through the seats for heightened engagement.

It’s not just the gearbox that’s hyper active, the engine is feisty when prodded and Quattro is always on guard to send power to the right places. It’s all made even better with the raspy exhaust note that never ceases to entertain. That’s the RS thrills we remember from the RS 3 and they’re all served up here in the RS Q3 – undiluted.

On a stretch of good back roads there’s certainly a lot of fun to be had with the RS Q3. The steering is sharp and precise, the grip is phenomenal and the brakes are strong. It’s a very easy car to drive fast, one that pushes through corners with remarkable athleticism and poise.

A car this quick and capable usually suffers in ride quality, but we’re surprised by how unassuming it rides on the road. The standard adaptive dampers do a damn good job in taming the ride that even on rougher roads it’s never too firm or harsh. One will easily forget that it’s riding on 21-inch wheels with thin rubber.

It’s an RS that you can use daily for sure. And with the practicality of four doors and the space afforded by the SUV body, why not?

Audi claims the RS Q3 Edition 10 Years consumes 8.9L/100km of premium RON98 unleaded fuel on the combined cycle. At the end of our weeklong test the trip computer returned a reading of 10.5L/100km, which admittedly involved a few stints of heavy-footed driving. For a high-powered RS-badged SUV that’s not too shabby.

The RS Q3 Edition 10 Years is covered by a factory 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty. Servicing interval is set at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

Verdict

2024 Audi RS Q3 Sportback Edition 10 Years Price and Specification