Wheels (Australia)

URBAN DWELLER

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We pick up the RS280 in central Melbourne and while the ride is on the firm side, it’s never what you’d call harsh. It torque-steers and slithers on wet tram tracks, the diff sometimes having a sly snatch at the wheel, but it rides speed bumps and cobbled laneways without having you checking your health cover for chiro extras. The four-wheel steering gives it a virtual short wheelbase, which manifests in a mere slice of the wheel to send the car through 90-degree lefts and rights.

The engine pulls well at low revs, but any aural character seems to emanate from the speakers rather than anything oilier. Pressing the RS button only shuttles between two of the six drive modes. Go for anything other than Neutral or Sport and your bouncing finger will be jabbing at a tiny tab on the portrait-oriented touchscree­n. In Comfort you also lose the digital speedo display. That’s all a bit French. On the plus side, you sit beautifull­y low in the car, with stacks of headroom even for taller drivers. And the sports seats are brilliantl­y supportive.

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