Audi RS Q3 Sportback

Audi’s 25 cars in the Dream Car Garage catalogue create a broad view of the German marque, but the RS Q3 Sportback earns attention through what it adds to that group. It is one of only 10 cars in the entire 600-car collection to use an inline-5 engine layout, and only 8 cars combine that layout with AWD. That unusual pairing gives this 2019 SUV a distinct place among a catalogue where many performance cars follow more familiar formulas.

The RS Q3 Sportback sits in the top 72% of the catalogue for power, with its 395 bhp output, yet its appeal comes from the balance of its format rather than a single headline figure. Its turbocharged 2.5-litre inline-5 produces 480 Nm of torque, sending power through AWD to achieve 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. That acceleration ranks 390th among 600 cars, meaning it is faster than 210 cars in the collection, while its 250 km/h top speed places it 414th. The numbers position it as a performance SUV that brings pace into a practical body style.

The RS Q3 Sportback also occupies a particular financial space within the catalogue. With a used price of £48,000, it ranks 454th for cost, making it more expensive than 146 cars in the collection. Its cost per bhp stands at £122, a measure that highlights the combination of everyday SUV proportions and high-output engineering. The 4/5 seater SUV body style adds another dimension to a garage built around more specialised shapes.

Germany contributes 197 cars to the 600-car catalogue, and Audi’s presence within that group is represented by 25 entries. Founded in 1909 in Germany, the marque’s RS Q3 Sportback brings a specific character to those choices: a turbocharged inline-5 SUV with AWD, a combination shared by just 8 cars in the full catalogue. It is not defined by being the most powerful or the fastest entry available, but by occupying a narrow space between practicality, performance and mechanical individuality.

This car suits the collector who wants a garage with a performance SUV that does not simply repeat familiar ideas. The RS Q3 Sportback provides a distinctive Audi presence through its rare inline-5 configuration and its ability to combine five-seat utility with serious performance figures. For a collection that already contains many ways to chase speed, this is the car that brings a different shape to the same pursuit.