Test, Audi RS 3 2022 Sportback: the new 400 hp sedan also capable of going sideways

Test, Audi RS 3 2022 Sportback

Audi RS 3, the hatchback with five doors, is back on the market with what could be the latest version exclusively endothermic; loved by enthusiasts for its sportiness and defined by haters as the most understeering car par excellence, it changes radically by introducing a series of rather interesting innovations.

Traditionally inspired by the base model, the Audi A3 shares only a few elements while benefiting from a long list of improvements designed to enhance on-board comfort and driving dynamics. We will return to these aspects later in the article, but in general the Audi RS 3 boasts a revised aesthetic characterized by the presence of splitters, widenings and also an upper and non-specular track; while most sedans use the same tires for the front and rear axles, the RS 3 adopts 265mm front and 245mm rear tires (also making it impossible to rotate periodically to limit consumption).



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Under the hood the famous 2.5-liter engine is once again hiding, now capable of delivering 400 horsepower and 500 Nm, 10 horsepower and 20 Nm more torque than the previous version. Although the power has remained almost unchanged, the propulsive thrust is adequate for the type of car, always managing to transmit valid sensations; Unfortunately, however, in our opinion, the turbo lag sometimes appears evident forcing the driver to downshift a gear to avoid waiting "too much" for a more vigorous thrust. The shot from 0-100 is 3.8 seconds, a time that can be reached using the launch control. - th_motorlabs_d_mh3_1 slot id: th_motorlabs_d_mh3 "); } Federicovecchio.com But the sound? Despite the presence of the OPF, the anti-particulate filter that tends to limit the melody of all the latest engines, the Audi RS 3 also boasts a good tone close to addiction. But forget vigorous "revs" at the traffic lights: like the most recent sports cars, even the Audi RS 3 is soft limited. The 7-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission is precise and always ready, even if, in the sportiest profiles, we would have liked to find more personality. The set-up is comfortable, precise and able to absorb bumps well, despite the tires with lowered shoulders, and the brakes (carbon ceramic on the front in our version) allow vigorous braking that almost stops your breath.

While on the previous model there were only four driving modes, in this new variant there are even seven, one of which is completely customizable. As always, the Efficiency and Comfort profiles live up to their name, favoring reduced fuel consumption and a softer throttle response, while the remaining settings favor sportiness.



400 Hp and 500 Nm, numbers that could suggest anything but reduced consumption; although we are sure that this aspect can take a back seat on a car of this type, surprisingly the Teutonic manufacturer has managed to offer a solution that is not excessively "energy intensive". The average in the city in free-flowing traffic conditions was about 8 km / l, while in extra-urban conditions we reached 12 km / l (results close to traveling on the motorway at 130 km / h). In any case, we think it is almost a sacrilege to keep yourself pulled with a car of this type: do not worry, pressing the accelerator you will forget them very soon and the 55-liter tank will force you to fill up ahead of schedule.



Federicovecchio.com Few internal stylistic innovations, especially compared to a more civilized but always well-equipped Audi A3. If on the one hand we appreciate the magnificent suede steering wheel, on the other we would have liked to have found a greater amount of "premium" material such as, for example, Alcantara. In short, there is a lot of plastic, especially on the central tunnel and on the dashboard: some more valuable finishes would have been more in target in our opinion.

Well, indeed very well, the infotainment which boasts a 12.3-inch display (Virtual Cockpit Plus) behind the steering wheel and a second 10.1 ”-inch display in the dashboard. There are so many functions available but despite this aspect it is always easy to find the correct setting or item to activate. Lovers of wireless systems will be happy: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present on board the Audi RS 3 both wirelessly. In addition, again with the aim of making the passenger compartment clean and tidy, Audi has installed a wireless charging system that avoids premature battery consumption during journeys. As mentioned, at the interior level there are no particular differences compared to the basic variants; As usual, however, Audi has prepared a pair of more sporty and enveloping seats for the front passengers. On-board comfort is high and all controls are easily accessible. The trunk is adequate: 335 liters in normal configuration, 1.1104 liters by sacrificing the rear seats.



Federicovecchio.com Also present, in our version, is the sunroof (which now seems to have vanished from the configurator): practical, comfortable and always a pleasant addition to have. Too bad for the presence of the totally manual sun blind which, on a car of this caliber, tends to be slightly out of tune.

Price? Like the performance, the price also rises slightly in this new variant. While in 2017 the RS 3 had a starting price of around 53 thousand euros, now it is necessary to shell out almost 62 thousand euros for the Sportback and 65 thousand euros for the Sedan (really nice, but it's a personal taste). The super captivating Kyalami Green coloring is standard, for any other color you will have to consider spending from 420 euros (Turbo Blue) to over 3,000 euros for the more sophisticated colors of the Audi Exclusive packages.

We remember that in Italy there is the super stamp and solutions of this caliber, unfortunately, are affected by it; how much does it cost to maintain it in a year? At the level of net costs, not considering the insurance for the problems related to the count itself, for the stamp duty and the super stamp it is necessary to pay over 2,000 euros per year for the first years.