Audi A3 RS3 Sportback (2015 - 2016) practicality

Although not specifically crash-tested by the experts at Euro NCAP, like other members of the A3 family, Audi RS3 Sportback safety is rated highly at five stars.

We’ve not awarded it the full five stars in the Parkers rating because many of the safety features are optional, rather than standard.

Most obviously the RS3 benefits from the extra surety of grip afforded by the firm’s quattro four-wheel drive system and uprated brakes, although these can be optionally superseded by even more powerful ceramic versions at a not inconsiderable cost.

There are airbags in front at the side of the front passengers, with curtain airbags offering head protection and a knee bag for the driver, plus tyre pressure monitors.

Outside full LED lights front and rear ensure you’re clearly visible to other road users and have super night-time illumination.

Among the raft of optional safety equipment is hill hold assist, a reversing camera, cruise control (with the possibility to upgrade this to an adaptive system monitoring the speed of vehicles ahead of you), rear side airbags, lane keeping assistance, a blind spot monitor and automatic main beam function.

Think upon it as a family friendly supercar and Audi RS3 Sportback practicality would be rated as excellent. Truth is, it’s slightly compromised as a family car, the main culprit being the quattro four-wheel drive system.

Standard front-wheel drive A3 Sportbacks enjoy 380 litres of boot space but 100 litres have been lopped off that total for the RS3 to accommodate the drive system to the rear wheels and the relocated clutch assembly. Not only does it get trumped by the Mercedes A45 AMG (341 litres) and BMW M135i (360), the old RS3 also out-ranked it at 302 litres.

The split-folding rear seats can be flattened to offer 1,120 litres of carrying capacity. However, such is the deliciousness of the Audi’s interior that you’re unlikely to want to fill it to the roof lining with detritus from your garage or garden to take to the tip.

Features like a reversible boot mat and a load-through panel for longer items between the outer rear seats are useful but are optional extras, even at this price.

Elsewhere there’s a reasonable amount of oddment space, in spite of the minimalist-look interior discouraging from spoiling its elegance with unsightly clutter.

Also a safety consideration, but we’ve been impressed with the light distribution and overall illuminative qualities of the LED headlights fitted as standard to the RS3 Sportback. They’re complemented by LED units at the rear too, ensuring that you can be seen from further afield at night.