Audi RS3

Musclebound A3 guns for hot hatch honours, with clever tech to boost thrills on road and track On sale Autumn 2021 Price from £50,900

- Claire Evans

THE RS3 IS the smallest model in Audi’s sport-focused RS line-up, but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. Offered as a hatchback and a saloon, it combines rip-snorting performance with a great deal of practicality.

Power comes from Audi’s highly regarded turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine, tuned for 395bhp. That’s enough for 0-62mph in just 3.8sec – two-tenths of a second quicker than the previous RS3 and one-tenth swifter than the rival Mercedes-AMG A45.

Although the top speed of the standard RS3 is limited to 155mph, the Launch and Vorsprung editions will reach 174mph, and an optional RS Dynamic Pack can enable them to hit 180mph if you can find a road where it’s safe and legal to do so.