2018 Audi RSQ3

VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Audi RSQ3

Audi’s RS Q3 lives in a tight corner of the South African market—fast, compact, and not pretending to be anything but a quick family hauler for those who crave something a little less obvious than a Macan GTS or GLA 45. It’s got that 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo up front, a rare beast these days, hooked exclusively to a dual-clutch auto, and you won’t find a manual anywhere near it. Right now, the used scene is a desert: only one RS Q3 pops up, a 2024 Sportback going for R1,199,995. You’re not exactly spoiled for choice, because the regular body shape is nowhere to be seen locally—if you want an RS Q3, it’s this or nothing. That lone Sportback has 29,044 km under its belt, which is peanuts for a 2024 model—probably a lease return or an owner with itchy feet. What sets it apart, and what buyers chase, is that unmistakable five-cylinder warble. The GLA 45’s four-pot just doesn’t stir the same emotions, no matter how hard it tries. And the Sportback’s sloping roofline? It’s got presence, and for this money, that matters more than you’d think. If you’re not sold on this specific car’s price or condition, you’re out of luck for now. New stock is missing in action, so the RS Q3 sits as a sort of unicorn on our classifieds—more grey import oddity than mainstream pick, and honestly, it’s what the RS Q3 should have been from the start.