SANTA ROSA, Calif. – There have been three doable routes forward of me. One headed again within the course I got here, alongside the slow-moving coastal freeway previous a heavy building zone the place I already sat not shifting for seemingly ever. No thanks. Choice 2 stored going up the coast till turning inland towards a fairly enjoyable highway I not too long ago sampled, however we wish to make it to Coppola Vineyard by 3 p.m. and we’d be about 45 minutes late if we took that. Choice 3 was seemingly a straight shot from Sea Ranch on the coast to Coppola in Sonoma County that will theoretically get us there on time, based on Google. Nice! Factor is, this route involving “Skaggs Springs Highway” seemed extraordinarily squiggly and undoubtedly not a serious thoroughfare. Google can’t at all times inform the distinction. Visions of being eaten by a bear after a tire blows on some unmaintained logging highway flash in my head.
Ah, what the hell, not less than I’d have some enjoyable earlier than changing into lunch.
The 2023 Audi RS 3 is a firecracker of slightly automotive dripping in character, and when you’re going to search out your self on a good, technical, one-and-a-halfish-lane highway via a coastal redwood forest, there truly aren’t many that will be higher. Let’s begin with its measurement, which can be small by immediately’s normal, however most dimensions are just about equivalent to the primary Audi A4 (B5). That automotive nonetheless turns my head after 25 years and sprang from an period earlier than sport sedans ballooned in measurement because of focus teams wishing for palatial again seats. In different phrases, the RS 3 feels good behind the wheel. There’s no fats. It’s sensible sufficient as a sedan, however it’s additionally not attempting to be a Camry.
It fortunately danced round large chunks of lacking asphalt and whipped itself round slender hairpins bookended by redwood trunks. Aiding in that whipping is the RS Torque Splitter: two electronically managed multi-plate clutches, one for every of the rear driveshafts, which permits for absolutely variable torque distribution between the rear wheels. There are two settings for this. One which reduces understeer by sending torque to the surface wheel, in any other case generally known as torque vectoring, that we’re already aware of in numerous Acuras and elsewhere. The opposite is dubbed RS Torque Rear, which sends extra energy rearward to induce managed oversteer, in any other case generally known as a drift mode. My spouse was within the automotive, I didn’t use that. The scary, slender highway via the empty forest was sufficient of an ask.
But, when the pavement proved sound sufficient, including torque vectoring to such compact dimensions was a revelation. It feels way more pure and cohesive with the remainder of the chassis, versus utilizing it to counteract some inherent flaw. This automotive is simply definitively tossable.
A part of that’s the RS-specific work carried out to that chassis, together with springs, adaptive dampers, sway bar and a journey peak lowered by 25 mm versus the usual A3. Summer time tires wrap round 19-inch wheels. The ensuing journey is effectively north of “agency,” and whereas completely acceptable to that time within the drive, the damaged pavement on the earliest portion of Skaggs Springs Highway was sending the needle previous agency towards crashy after which comical.
“What have I carried out?” I began to ponder, trying down on the automotive’s navigation system, realizing it may truly worsen from right here. Apart from jarring impacts, I additionally needed to fear concerning the tires. There hadn’t been cell service for a lot of miles (therefore the in-car nav versus Google Maps), however there have been, I assume, bears.
Fortunately, although, the highway improved. The pavement turned contiguous, and the highway widened after encountering the primary truck coming in the wrong way. Ultimately, the greenery began to clear sufficient to see we have been on the head of a valley; one the place the west wall is dense rainforest and the east wall is typical Californian beige brush dotted by bushy inexperienced oaks. It’s like we reached a climatic border. The highway modified once more, too, with faster-sweeping turns and longer straightaways, which means the RS 3’s little monster underneath the hood may get out and stretch its legs.
The two.5-liter has 5 cylinders, which is at all times superior, resulting from each rarity and the uniquely growly engine word that’s fairly clearly neither an inline-four nor inline-six. It pumps out 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, which (checks my notes) is certainly only a wee bit greater than an A4/S4 from 25 years in the past. It’ll hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, and other than the swift boot to the chest it’ll dole out while you lay into it, the snarling exhaust is addictive. It simply sounds so cool, if a tad indignant. The RS 3 is the automotive equal of a small canine on the finish of a rope.
It is extra pug than poochon, although, as a result of I can’t say this newest RS 3 is a very handsome automotive. I simply don’t perceive the all-black entrance finish Audi prospects maintain fawning over (their eagerness to dole out extra cash for black plastic look packages is why Audi designers begrudgingly maintain pushing the envelope on this course), and the RS-specific physique package appears to be like awfully tacked on and makes the automotive look backside heavy. Frankly, the previous RS3 was the extra good-looking automotive in and out, however then once more, this one is extra distinctive and maybe all these sharp angles and the large, indignant, blacked-out face are extra in line with the automotive’s character.
Even when the aesthetics aren’t to my style, I’m finally impressed by the cabin’s high quality. There are some cheaper plastics on the middle console, however in any other case, this can be a junior Audi cabin, not a reduction one. The Digital Cockpit instrument panel is similar unit discovered within the 2024 RS 6 Avant I drove two days prior, and whereas the RS 3 lacks that automotive’s second touchscreen for the local weather controls and different capabilities, the bodily buttons of their place are arguably higher. Or, on the very least, no loss.
The seats offered plentiful adjustment and flawless consolation all through this drive and the times that adopted round Sonoma County and Napa Valley. House is ideal for a pair on trip. There’s a shortage of legroom behind my seat (I’m 6-foot-3), however to be clear, that’s not a grievance. It’s a actuality I’m completely effective with. Once more, please don’t make this automotive greater. My 3-year-old may nonetheless have come alongside if we had invited him, making the RS 3 a viable enjoyable selection in a household’s two-car storage. The trunk is actually on the small aspect, making me yearn fruitlessly for the RS 3 Sportback bought in Europe, however I did recognize the cargo web included with this take a look at automotive that prevented our baggage from Plinko-ing round via all these rainforest hairpins.
All informed, the RS 3 was a extra comfy automotive than I used to be anticipating, even on the questionably paved parts of the journey. It was additionally simply as enjoyable as I used to be anticipating, and the journey on Skaggs Springs Highway was precisely what was wanted to showcase its abilities. I’d say the highway wasn’t that unhealthy, however then once more, it positive looks as if I additionally had the right automotive for it. OK, so perhaps some extra sidewall would’ve been good, however finally, it seems that typically essentially the most direct route could be essentially the most enjoyable one. And hey, I didn’t get eaten.