Introduction

This latest golden age of the hot hatchback has yielded more than just a flurry of fast hatches, it has given birth to a new breed of hot hatch. Equipped with all-wheel drive and enough power to put many performance cars to shame, the hyper hatch is a real and present danger to anything that calls itself a sports car. With almost 400bhp, the Audi RS3 is one of the most potent, taking on the likes of other hyper hatches like the Mercedes-AMG A45, Ford Focus RS AND Volkswagen Golf R.

Did you know? You can now get the Audi RS3 as a saloon.

Verdict | Design | Interior | Technology | Performance | Safety | Specs | Running Costs | Pricing

The Audi RS3 is a mighty impressive car that combines big power with the most competent all-wheel drive chassis in its segment. No matter the road conditions, this car can deploy its performance with confidence.

However, it comes at a price. An RS3 is considerably more costly than a VW Golf R and Focus RS, both of which offer comparable performance and – in the Golf’s case – a more comfortable everyday ride, too. The RS3 is an intense, quite unyielding car by hot hatch standards, and even an A45 AMG will ride with a touch more forgiveness.

Mind you, that ferocity will be in its favour for many buyers, and anybody af...