Audi RS Q3 Sportback 2019

The RS Q3 Sportback represented an important first for Audi Sport: it was the first coupé-style SUV body offered with the RS badge within the Q3 family. Its five-cylinder engine also connected it to a distinctive Audi performance tradition shared with models such as the earlier RS Q3, the RS 3 and the TT RS. That combination gave the vehicle a character different from that of a conventional high-performance SUV powered by a four-cylinder engine.

Production of the RS Q3 Sportback was carried out by Audi Hungaria in Győr, Hungary. Audi Hungaria announced the start of production for both RS Q3 versions on September 30, 2019, after the Q3 Sportback had joined the plant’s model portfolio. The Hungarian factory was already building the Q3 family and subsequently added its high-performance derivatives. The public sources consulted confirm the assembly location but do not provide a model-specific worldwide production total for the 2019 RS Q3 Sportback. A precise production figure should therefore not be assigned without a dedicated official breakdown from Audi.

Automotive reviewers generally highlighted the RS Q3 Sportback’s unusual five-cylinder engine and strong performance. Autocar noted that the Sportback shared most of its mechanical specification with the regular RS Q3, while its lower roof reduced rear headroom and affected practicality. Top Gear was considerably more critical of the vehicle’s overall driving experience despite praising its grip. Other road tests appreciated the engine sound, acceleration and everyday versatility, but some also identified a nose-led balance when driven harder. The overall reception was therefore mixed rather than uniformly enthusiastic: the powertrain and straight-line pace were widely regarded as compelling, while ride quality, practicality and ultimate cornering character attracted more debate.