(2020) AUDI RS Q3 vs AUDI QUATTRO (1980)

Climbing the rising heights of Audi’s quattro offerings

IS THIS WHAT 40 YEARS OF PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE?

Back in 1980, a usable performance car meant a 5cyl turbo coupe with seating for five (ish) and the sort of refinement that shrinks continents to the size of a supermarket car park. Now, it equates to shoehorning a similar engine into an SUV before stiffening the suspension and making its quilted leather seats bucket-shaped.

ANOTHER SUV SULK, HUH...

Actually, allow me to confront an awkward truth: there’s more in common between the old quattro and new RS models like this Q3 than you may think. RS products usually feel a little soft and aloof beside rivals from M and AMG, making them easier to live with on the crappy roads and in the crappy weather life tends to consist of. Just five minutes in the classic, ’81 vintage quattro proves that’s always been the fast Audi way. Despite its cable-operated diff locks and rally refugee styling, this is no scary, homologation special. Attempt to channel your inner Mikkola on dry tarmac and you’ll be left a wee bit let down. It just grips, grips, grips, this thing.

I’M ASSUMING THE RS Q3 DOES THAT TOO?

Yup, just with more speed. It too uses a 5cyl turbo, and despite its engine being a mere 336cc larger in size, it’s capable of twice the power, a 394bhp peak trouncing this early 10v quattro’s 197bhp. The SUV’s 4.5secs 0–62mph time is three seconds quicker than the sportier looking coupe, and with the fancy active dampers fitted, its ride is tolerable and brings an effortless, ruthless swagger to the performance on offer. While it’s deeply uncool to compliment fast SUVs, there’s no doubt their extra ride height countenances more vision (and hence speed) on a tricky piece of tarmac.

SO WHAT’S DIFFERENT?

The added complexity over the quattro is perhaps the biggest character step change, with two configurable ‘RS’ modes added to the regular Q3’s Comfort/Auto/Dynamic options. There’s also an unexpected keenness to rev compared with the older car, as well as more audible 5cyl noise for the occupants thanks to augmented sound. Blasphemous that may be, but the quattro seems muted alongside it.

BUT THE OLD CAR IS AN ICON...

Don’t worry. There may be shared DNA between the way these two swallow complex roads with barely a hiccup, but the older car has way more depth. One blat in the RS Q3 kinda makes you shrug your shoulders, admire its abilities, and resume a calmer pace. Potentially for the rest of your lease deal. But drive its 40-year-old ancestor with similar vigour and you’ll have long since descended into a Special Stage daydream, imaginary crowds in Eighties attire dispersing as you propel through the scenery.