Bucket Seat: Audi S3

The Audi S3 Sportback has always been the thinking person’s hot hatch understated, fast, and clinically competent. This latest update doesn’t reinvent the formula, but it refines it in all the right places and, finally, injects a bit of emotion into the drive. While many may think this is just a minor face-lift, I soon discover during my time with it that it is much more than that. Of recent, Audi have been bringing out a mixed bag in-terms of their models, especially when it comes to the interior and technology but I see it's slowly converging into one across all models. This new S3 offers a dynamic package to all sorts of drivers, not only the speed fanatics, I spent a week with it and these are my thoughts. 

DESIGN

Audi has evolved the S3 rather than redesigned it, but the changes are meaningful. Up front, the wider Singleframe grille now sits lower and flatter, giving the car a more planted, purposeful stance. The new front bumper design, with larger air intakes and sharper detailing, adds visual drama without tipping into boy-racer territory. The lighting is a big talking point those Matrix LED headlights now come with selectable daytime running light signatures, which sounds gimmicky until you see them in traffic. It gives the car a subtle layer of identity that most rivals don’t offer. Along the sides, the S3 keeps its tight, muscular proportions. The shoulder line is crisp, the wheel arches are pronounced, and those larger alloy wheels fill them out properly. It looks compact, but not small aggressive, but not loud. At the rear, the quad exhaust tips (a proper S signature) sit within a more sculpted diffuser, and the updated taillights tie everything together. It’s a clean, cohesive design that will age well important if you’re spending this kind of money in South Africa where resale value matters.

PERFORMANCE

This is where the biggest evolution happens. The familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged engine has been pushed to 245 kW and 420 Nm, and it feels properly urgent from the moment you get on the throttle. The power delivery is linear but punchy, with peak torque coming in early, which makes it incredibly usable in everyday driving whether you’re overtaking on the highway or darting through city traffic. 0–100 km/h comes up in around 4.7 seconds, but numbers don’t fully capture how quick it feels. The S tronic gearbox deserves credit here shifts are rapid and smooth, whether you’re cruising or pushing hard. Now, the real game changer: the torque splitter. This transforms the S3 from a grip-and-go machine into something far more engaging. It actively distributes torque between the rear wheels, which means you can actually feel the car rotate into corners instead of just pulling itself through them. On a twisty road  think KZN Midlands or a quiet stretch of Notties the S3 now feels alive. It’s still incredibly composed, but there’s a newfound willingness to play, especially in Dynamic or Dynamic Plus modes. Grip levels remain immense thanks to quattro all-wheel drive, but now there’s balance and adjustability to go with it. It’s no longer just efficient  it’s entertaining.

COMFORT

This is where the S3 quietly dominates a lot of its rivals. It’s fast, yes, but it’s also incredibly easy to live with. The sport seats strike a great balance supportive enough when you’re pushing on, but still comfortable for longer drives. Cabin insulation is excellent, with minimal road and wind noise, which makes highway cruising relaxed rather than tiring. The ride quality deserves a mention, especially for South African conditions. Even on larger wheels, it manages to absorb bumps and imperfect road surfaces without feeling crashy. It’s firm, no doubt, but controlled exactly what you want in a performance hatch you’ll use daily. Space is another win. The Sportback layout gives you a practical boot and usable rear seats, making it viable for small families or anyone who needs more than just a weekend toy. It’s one of those cars you can drive to a client meeting in Umhlanga during the week and take on a road trip over the weekend without compromise. 

TECHNOLOGY

Audi’s interiors are still among the best in the business, and the S3 benefits from that. The layout is clean and driver-focused, with everything angled slightly toward you. The Virtual Cockpit remains a standout — crisp, configurable, and genuinely useful rather than just flashy. You can prioritise navigation, performance data, or keep it clean depending on your mood. The central 10.1-inch touchscreen is responsive and easy to use, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto making connectivity seamless. Importantly, Audi hasn’t buried everything in menus key functions are still accessible without frustration. You also get premium touches like the SONOS 3D sound system, ambient lighting with multiple colour options, and optional extras like a head-up display. Safety and driver assistance tech is comprehensive too adaptive cruise control, lane assist, park assist all working in the background without being intrusive. It’s a tech suite that enhances the experience rather than overwhelming it.

VERDICT

For South African buyers, the Audi S3 Sportback hits a very sweet spot. Yes, it’s expensive, sitting just north of the R1 million mark, but what you’re getting is a genuinely well-rounded package with a name that's been around for ages. Many compare it to Audi's version of the Golf R but its so much more than that. It may not have the outright madness of something like an A45, but it doesn’t need to. The S3 is about balance and it absolutely nails it. If you want one car that can do everything in the South African context  handle traffic, deal with our roads, carry people comfortably, and still deliver proper performance when you want it  the S3 Sportback makes a very compelling case. It’s no longer just the sensible choice. It’s now got just enough edge to make you choose it with your heart too.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0-liter Turbo
Gear Box	S-Tronic Automatic
Power	245kW
Torque	420Nm
0-100km/h	4.7 seconds
Price	R1,091,100

Bucket Seat: 2027 Audi RS5 Avant

Audi have lifted the covers off its all-new RS5 Avant which takes over from the outgoing RS4 Avant and it has the motoring world doing cart-wheels. All motor heads love station wagons and when its a performance station wagon we going nuts! And with good reason too. This new RS5 which is also offered in a sedan as well but nobody is paying much attention to that as the Avant is the one featuring all the headlines. 

This new RS5 is taking cues from its competitors as its a plug-in hybrid, featuring a  2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine upfront which is mated to a single electric motor at the rear, giving you a combined power output of 470kW and 825Nm of torque. 130kW is thanks to the electric motor to boost performance and that is instant power with lower emissions. 

The car also features a brand new RS suspension setup, a new quattro drivetrain and Audi Sport has done some magic with the engine mapping by introducing an electromechanical torque vectoring at the rear, allowing the RS5 a pure electric range of 85km with the battery capacity rated at 22 kWh. 

The design of the Audi RS5 is nothing short of menacing, its everything we expect from Audi and more with plenty of aggression in the body work, large black air-intakes, massive wheels and a bloated rear that would make Shakira jealous of its hips. The twin exhaust system looks like it comes straight out of the Porsche factory and it looks like the car is equipped with afterburners. With all that power you need some good stopping power, Audi is offering customers the option of carbon-ceramic brakes or steel which will come fitted as standard. 

Audi never disappoints when it comes to the theatrics, their lighting specialist are showing off again with some extremely detailed designs with their matrix LED setup for both front and rear lights. The animations and light greetings are really something that must be admired, giving individuality to every car of theirs. The rear lights feature a checkered pattern which is also on the rear center break light. 

The RS5 has picked up a lot of weight thanks to its electric power unit, that has added an addition 600kg's from its predecessor giving the car a total weight of 2,355kg's. Now a lot was said about the new M5 when it came out, that however is still 100kgs more than this RS5. No one is seems to care about the RS5's extra kilo's though, we all waiting to see what it can do on the road and track. The car is scheduled for arrival in 2027 which means we have to sit and wait to hear if it will be coming to South African and if it does, how much it will be costing us but for not we can sit and admire how pretty she is.  

Bucket Seat: Audi Q7 55 TFSI Black Edition

Earlier this year Audi South Africa launched specific models to enhance their Q7 and Q8 range, I was there to attend it and drove around in some special models, namely the RSQ8 and the SQ7. Both of these cars powered by that 4.0L V8 but in different performance specs gave a good experience in terms of the versatility of that engine, though the journey was short it was still rather enjoyable as long as I didn't have to fit the bill for the fuel. So it got me thinking, which would be the perfect engine for a big SUV? I normally tend to sway for the diesel powered engines, seeing that it gives you longer range but when it comes to performance, you still can't be the petrol engines. Looking at the engine line-up, the 55 TFSI engine looked like the sweet spot but unfortunately I didn't get a chance to drive one at the launch but as lady luck would have it, Audi South Africa sent a Q7 packing this engine to Durban for me to test and this is how it went. 

DESIGN

The overall design of the Q7 still remains the same with some modifications to the front and rear bumper and making the grille more pronounced. The matrix LED headlights are the star of the show, both front and back and with the various designs for the daytime running lights, one can chance the look of the car whenever you feel like. The Black Edition treatment gives the Q7 a darker, more assertive look without becoming showy. Rear treatment is clean and horizontal, a good match for the large, three-row silhouette. The Black Edition typically adds gloss-black trim, larger wheel options and darker badges that suit buyers who want a sportier executive look rather than chrome-heavy bling. Local dealers list the Black Edition as a top visually distinct trim in the Q7 lineup and it includes quite a bit of extras as part of the package, so instead of individually specifying them when buying the car, the Black Edition package offers most of the practical extras at a discounted rate. 

PERFORMANCE

Now it was time to find out if the 55 TFSI V6 motor is the sweet spot from the line-up, the engine is a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 producing about 250 kW and 500 Nm, routed through a Tiptronic/automatic gearbox and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive. That combination gives brisk real-world acceleration 0–100 km/h in roughly 5.6 s claimed and confident overtaking, traits that make long highway runs or hilly passes around the Cape or KwaZulu-Natal feel effortless. Fuel consumption is advertised in the high single-digit to low double-digits at around 9–10 L/100 km , so expect premium petrol bills if you drive it hard. The car has plenty power on demand and shifting through the various driving modes aids the cars agility and response time. The Q7 steers with predictable, composed weight and the adaptive air suspension giving a comfortable balance all while keeping the car composed in twisty passes, but when give an open highway, it really can deliver some grunt. The Black Edition’s sporty visual cues don’t translate into a hardcore ride; this is a fast, comfortable cruiser rather than a track tool. 

COMFORT

Like the Q8, the Q7 shares the same interior, while the interior quality is Audi-typical, that is high-grade materials, tight build, clear ergonomics and good insulation from road and wind noise, it's hard to ignore that it still has the old MMI user interface. The 7-seat layout is one of the Q7’s strongest selling points for South African families, the third row can seat adults for short trips and children for longer journeys, and the second row slides/tilts to aid access. Like all 7-seater SUV's, the luggage space with all seats up is limited, but folding the third row down gives you plenty of space to load. Comfort features you get in the Q7 are power front seats with memory, multi-zone climate control, high-quality leather or leather-look upholstery depending on options, and a generally quiet cabin that makes long Gauteng-to-Cape Town highway runs less fatiguing. The car has a generous amount of tech to showcase, such as dual touchscreen/virtual cockpit packaging: a digital instrument cluster  with Audi's virtual cockpit, a main infotainment screen with MMI touch response, and integrated connectivity features (navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto depending on spec). Driver assists include adaptive cruise, lane assist, front/rear parking sensors and a suite of active safety electronics — in short, a modern set that’ll help in heavy city traffic and long highway driving. Higher option packs or the Black Edition’s available packages can add premium audio, reverse camera and upgraded driver assistance. 

VERDICT

Overall the Q7 still remains a very attractive offering from the brand and the 55 TFSI engine provides plenty of power to lug this big frame around but did it answer my question of being the best engine for the Q7? It's a tough one because while the performance was on the money, one couldn't ignore that high fuel consumption. While the engine does have mild hybrid tech, it still remains quite a thirsty girl, so maybe it's worth considering the 4-cylinder derivatives if you're quite conscious on how many times you visit the fuel station. Other than that, it still is a beautiful SUV that is damn comfortable and dream to drive, despite its size it is easy to maneuver  and with the PDC and cameras to assist, not too difficult to park as well. 

SPECIFICATION

Engine	3.0L V6 Turbo Petrol
Gear Box	8-Speed Tip Tronic
Torque	500Nm
Power	250kW
Top Speed	250km/h electronically limited
Price	R1,968,592*

*Price as standard

 

Bucket Seat: Audi Q8 45 TDI Quattro Black Edition

The Audi Q8, also known as the "Baby Urus" is probably one of the most aesthetically pleasing SUV Coupes to look at in the motoring world. The design hasn't changed much from its introduction in 2018 and I don't see any reason for it since it looks so damn good,.There has been minor enhancements that saw the additions of the latest Audi tech into it and some facelifts to the exterior, while the interior remains mostly the same. The Black Edition package includes features to enhance the look of the car by giving it a darker look and feel. 

DESIGN

The Q8 keeps Audi’s modern coupé-SUV silhouette: broad shoulders, a wide Singleframe grille that visually pulls the front into a single plane, and a sloping roofline that gives the car a sporty stance rather than an upright, boxy SUV look. The Black Edition pushes that theme further — black badging and a “black styling” package, darker trim pieces and Audi Sport wheel choices give the Q8 a stealthy, road-commanding presence that reads as premium and purposeful on South African roads. Audi’s facelifted Q8 also brings updated Matrix/HD Matrix LED headlight options and OLED rear-light graphics on higher spec cars, which both improve night visibility and add visual theatre when you lock/unlock the car.  

PERFORMANCE

The 45 TDI uses Audi’s 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel in 45 TDI tune — about 183 kW  and a hefty 600 N·m of torque sent through an 8-speed Tiptronic to quattro all-wheel drive. On paper that translates to a 0–100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and a limited top speed of 250 km/h — numbers that match the Q8’s size and mass while delivering real-world flexibility: strong mid-range pull and low-end shove make highway overtakes and hill climbs effortless. For buyers doing long runs (Joburg–Cape Town, or alternating city and freeway use), the diesel remains convincing thanks to that broad torque curve. Fuel consumption for the 45 TDI is competitive for a large premium SUV: Audi claim a combined fuel economy figure of 7.8 L/100 km range, which for many South African owners will be more economical than an equivalently powerful petrol variant — important when local fuel pricing and long distance travels are considered.  On the move, the Q8 feels composed: steering is weighty and predictable, body control is good for a big SUV and adaptive suspension neatly balances comfort with roll control. If you prioritise sharp, sports-car handling you’ll prefer rivals with firmer chassis or an SQ/RS model, but for everyday driving the 45 TDI is refined and assured. Independent local test drives describe the diesel as “magnificent” and a sweet spot in the range. 

COMFORT

Inside, the Q8 presents as a modern Audi flagship: layered dash, large touchscreen surfaces (MMI), full digital instrument cluster (Virtual Cockpit), premium leather/trim choices and a panoramic roof option that opens up the cabin. The Black Edition builds on the Platinum/Vorsprung mid/high trims with the darker styling details and typically larger alloy wheels; you’ll also find high-quality seat cushioning and good ergonomics for driver and front passenger. Rear seats are comfortably carpeting for two adults; the sloping roofline trims some headspace but legroom and seat comfort remain class competitive. The coupé-like roofline looks great but slightly reduces rear headroom compared with more upright seven-seat SUVs (Q8 is a five-seater), and larger wheel options common on Black Edition cars can make ride firmer over rough suburban roads. Tech and safety highlights in the Q8 that are worthwhile noting at the HD Matrix LED (laser high-beam available), extensive driver assistance suites, advanced infotainment with navigation and premium audio options, in this particular model it came fitted with Bang & Olufsen speaker system. 

VERDICT

The Q8 remains the pinnacle of SUV Coupe's on the market, while other brands have more powerful offerings, I feel like this model hits the sweet spot in terms of performance, fuel efficiency and comfort. When it comes to diesel engines, no one does it better than Audi which is what makes this Q8 stand out more from the rest. The 3.0L V6 Diesel engine is sublime more than what you need, the interior is spacious and well laid out and as mentioned before, it does have the older layout but still feels modern. Driving on long distances or short trips are both pleasurable, while the car might be big and bulky, the aid of park distance controls and the surround camera view make parking this beast as simple as doing grade one mathematics.Overall — for South African buyers who value long-distance comfort, real-world torque and a premium image, the Q8 45 TDI Black Edition is a very strong contender: it blends presence, refined diesel performance and high-level tech/equipment. The main tradeoffs are price and the coupe-style practicality limits; if those are acceptable the Q8 is an excellent luxury SUV choice

SPECIFICATION

Engine	3.0L Turbo Diesel
Gear Box	8-Speed Tip Tronic
Torque	600Nm
Power	183kW
Top Speed	250km/h electronically limited
Price	R2,011,700*

*Price as standard

 

Bucket Seat: Audi RS3 Sportback

Audi's RS stable has a formidable line up with very powerful weaponry in their arsenal, powered by some legendary motors ranging from 5-pots to V8's that deliver enough power to knock the wind out of you on launch. While many do live by the age old Jeremy Clarkson analogy "More Power", sometimes the ones with the lesser power deliver more fun. The latest edition of the Audi RS3 reached our shores earlier this year, still powered by the 5-cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine but now delivers slightly more punch than the launch edition which was first reviewed by us in 2023. Funny enough, the test unit I had back then was in Kyalami Green and this new unit was the same colour. Even though it is the baby of the RS stable, does the RS3 still deliver a thrilling drive like the rest of its companions or does it fall short? Having spent a week with it, here are my thoughts. 

DESIGN

I'm not going to be like the generic influencers by saying "Audi cooked" or "Audi knocked this one out of the park" or anything to that effect but in all honesty, this car looks stunning. I had my reservations of the exact spec I got as I feel the colour deserved a darker colour rim but it grew on me. The way Audi transformed this car from a regular A3 to something so muscular and aggressive, feels like they took a regular A3, filled it up with Red Bull and creatine, sent it to the gym for a weight session and it came out bulked up ready for competition. When you delve deeper into the design, you can see it's not just a body kit they slapped on but paid intricate detail into the aerodynamics and ventilation of the car. Sharpened proportions and a lower in stance, gives the car a more pronounced presence, the car is wider and squared off in areas that not only add character but also serves a purpose in terms of cooling or ventilation. There are some faux details for added visual effects but most of it is functional. Major new styling cues include the new headlights which feature a new matrix LED design that is customisable from the infotainment screen, a new rhombus grille with honeycomb pattern, angular side pods which flow onto the flared wheel arch. The rear features a twin style spoiler and the rear bumper is a thing of beauty with a pronounced difuser that is finished off in black that houses the twin RS performance exhaust pipes and a reflector dead center gives the RS3 that iconic rally style look. Not much significant changes are on the interior, the racing seats receive some new styling and the steering wheel design has changed. 

PERFORMANCE

Now, for a 5-cylinder motor, this one sure is throaty, the vocals are enhanced by those massive performance exhausts, the soft-limiter does fade away once the car has warmed up but the noise in the cabin when going full tilt is just intoxicating. The power which is drawn from the 2.5-litre motor is astounding, with it delivering 294kW and 500Nm of torque. Audi's claimed 0-100km time is 3.8 seconds, my best attempt was 3.9 seconds multiple times, I attribute the extra 0.1 second to my spare tyre I carry around but still, it's mind blowingly fast for such a small car. The on road feel with the various driving modes dependent on your mood add to the versatility of the RS3, if you just want a chilled drive to the shops, Eco mode would do it for you, comfort is for everyday driving that has a chilled mode but the devil within can be woken up at any time. Dynamic mode is where things start to get interesting with the car becoming more vocal and you can feel things start to tension up. Audi have added two performance buttons to the steering wheel cluster for easy access to RS mode and track mode, both of these can be customised in the cars menu settings depending on your driving preference. The Quattro all-wheel drive with RS Torque Splitter distributes power between the front axel and individual wheels on the rear axel as required, it's this function that allows you to drift an all-wheel drive car, having done this on track at the launch was tonnes of fun, unfortunately finding a decent spot to test it out proved to be impossible but I'm glad I got to do it at least once. The balance of the car is just superb and I think this is why I prefer this smaller RS model to its bigger bruts, It's got a tonne of power but its so easy to control, thanks to the Quattro system, it assists to such a great extent that you don't feel like you have to exorcise demons to get it do what you want it to do. 

COMFORT

It's a sports car, that means lowered ride height, stiff suspension, low profile tyres mean a very hard and bumpy on-the-road feel but with the RS3, while it did have all of the above, it was quite comfortable. The racing bucket seats were super comfy and not restrictive even for someone my size. I had 4 full size adults in the car and all of them praised how comfy the car was. Audi packed the RS3 with all the regular creature comforts and more, the car is also laden with the latest tech, as mentioned it has the new designed steering wheel with flat top and bottom that has multi-function controls, the MMI interface gotten an upgrade too with so much going on in the various menus, I didn't dabble too much into that as I usually had my phone projected onto the screen. dual-zone climate control, seat heating for the front seats and a panoramic sunroof were just some of the items worth a mention. Heads-up display, which is optional also helps the driver keep their eyes on the road, the RS configurator on ton the in screen menu lets you calibrate the cars settings for your optimal driving preference. The sporty details of the interior really make the car stand out from the normal A3, a mixture of alcantara and leather make up the materials of the interior with robust but great quality plastics serving the rest. The LED Matrix headlights from Audi just keep getting better and better, these ones have various different patterns for your day-time running lights so you can choose to change it whenever the need arises. The sound system has received a nice upgrade with the RS3 coming with a SONOS 3D sound experience system featuring 15-speakers including subwoofers to give you an ultra-premium sound experience, even though the orchestra from the exhausts sounds great, sometimes you want to kick back with some good tunes. 

VERDICT

While the RS3 is the baby in the Audi RS line-up, it still remains one of the most fun cars to drive, only rivaled by the TTRS which shares the same power-plant. The car is legend in street racing in our paths and this new one is sure to carry on that status with not only the looks but also the power to prove it. Audi have taken an already great car and tweaked to become even better. When I first drove the new gen RS3 on launch I thought they had a winner, this face-lift just goes to show you what German engineering is all about, the strive for perfection never stops and its justified given how much different this car feels that its predecessor. I love how Audi have integrated some of the new design philosophy into this model by including this like the new steering wheel which is in the all-new A5 which just was recently launched and the MMI interface ensuring that customers who are buying this car are getting the best that they have to offer. My time with the RS3 was short but oh was it sweet. 

SPECIFICATION

Engine	2.5L Turbo Petrol
Gear Box	S Tronic
Torque	500Nm
Power	294kW
Top Speed	250km/h electronically limited
Price	R1,498,200