The Audi RS3 does right in the moose test but is still too heavy

The moose test assesses a vehicle’s road handling capabilities in an emergency situation. It is therefore the favorite playground of compact cars, which are by far the most agile. With its sharp chassis, Quattro all-wheel drive and Pirelli PZero tyres, the latest Audi RS3 should do well in this exercise. Surprisingly, this is not really the case although the car does not disappoint either.

The German concluded the test with a top speed of 75 kph, a very good value in absolute terms, but by no means better than “non-sporty” compact cars. On its own, the RS3 has a very healthy handling with direct steering, almost no body roll and controlled understeer. It’s just not as agile as a Ford Focus or a Peugeot 308, which simply do better. This is due to its high unladen weight of 1,645 kg.

The result is the same regardless of the driving mode used. While the latter modulate various elements such as steering precision and engine response, they were not enough to change the outcome. When it comes to the slalom, however, the RS3 does much better with a time of 23.1 seconds. And all this without even using the Launch Control function, which would improve this result even further.

The changes of direction are indeed sharp with a remarkable amount of grip. In addition, the latest RS3 is much more playful than its predecessor. Its rear end is much more mobile and allows itself some slides that were previously unheard of. As a reminder, the Audi RS3 is powered by a 2.5-litre inline five developing 400 PS and 500 Nm of torque, coupled with a seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission.

It does 0-100 in 3.8 seconds, which is remarkable for a compact car. The car used for the impulse test also has the RS Plus option package, which includes carbon ceramic front brakes and a top speed of 290 kph.