What is the best Audi sports car?
Audi cars come in all shapes and sizes, but what is the best sporty Audi model available to buy today? Take a look at our guide
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If you’re after a fun, reliable and affordable sports car, then you’ve come to the right place because buying one of these Audi models ticks all of those boxes.
Once you come to terms with the fact that many used Audi models have a sporty S variant and an even quicker RS version, understanding the differences should be easy.
However, that doesn’t make it any easier to pick which one is most suitable for you. We’ve rounded up the best of the bunch below.
Audi S3
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Because Audi no longer sells the sporty S1 version of its A1, the S3 is the smallest performance car you can get from Audi unless you’re willing to consider a previous-generation. used S1.
The S3 uses the same 2.0-litre petrol engine as you’d find in the Volkswagen Golf R, although the VW gets an extra 10hp, which leaves the S3 with 310hp. Audi quotes a 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds for the S3, which means it’s much quicker than regular versions of the A3.
As well as the five-door hatchback, which Audi calls ‘Sportback’, there’s a saloon version of the S3.
What makes an S3 one of the best used Audi sports cars?
Although it’s the smallest performance Audi, it still packs a punch. It’s as practical as any other family hatchback, and you can generally find good deals when buying used.
Audi RS 3
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If you fancy something even quicker, a used RS 3 may appeal. It uses a much more powerful 2.5-litre, five-cylinder petrol engine, which sounds incredible.
It’s good for 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds thanks to the engine’s 400hp, but strangely, it’s only available in saloon format.
There have been Sportback versions available over the years, including the latest-generation version, so looking for a used model will unlock your search to include more practical hatchback versions.
What features does an Audi RS 3 offer?
The performance versions of the A3 are based on top-spec S Line models, so they get all the car tech you’d expect in a top-notch premium car. They also get subtle differences like lowered suspension, sportier designs, and additional performance-oriented displays on the digital dash.
Audi TT
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If you’re after a sporty-looking coupé, there’s plenty to pick from in Audi’s lineup, but the TT arguably carries the most heritage – it’s 25 years old.
Because it shares many of its parts with the A3 and Golf, it uses the same 2.0-litre engine in TTS form to produce 320hp, and the bonkers 400hp 2.5-litre engine for the TT RS.
There are also more sensible engines on offer, including popular 2.0-litre petrol and diesel models, for those wanting sports cars looks without sports car running costs.
The rear seats in the coupé model are best kept for small children or luggage. The convertible model, badged ‘Roadster’, makes do with just the two front seats.
Should I buy an Audi TT sports car?
Audi confirmed that production of the TT would end in 2023, so it’s well worth looking into one of these if you want something that’s more rare than other sports cars.
Audi SQ5
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The Q5 SUV continues to sell well for Audi, but the German car manufacturer decided several years ago to only sell 2.0-litre versions in the name of fuel economy.
Fortunately, there’s a 341hp 3.0-litre diesel version available in the form of the SQ5, and because it’s diesel, it should be more economical than most petrol-powered sports cars.
You can even buy a Sportback version, though boot space does take a hit because of the sloping rear roofline.
Who is an Audi SQ5 interior good for?
Because the Q5 is a mid-size SUV that’s similar in size to the Mercedes GLC and BMW X3, there’s plenty of room for three adults to sit side-by-side in the back, and the 550-litre boot is more than sufficient for a couple of suitcases or the kids’ after-school sports club kit.
Audi e-tron
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There are, confusingly, two types of e-tron car. Put simply, an Audi e-tron is an electric SUV similar in size to the Q5, while the Audi e-tron GT is a sporty four-door electric coupé. To save confusion, Audi rebadged its e-tron SUV models to Q8 e-tron in late 2022.
For the e-tron SUV, you can find 503hp S models that are capable of 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds. There are sporty-looking Sportback models, too.
The standard e-tron GT is a much more sporty affair. There’s 530hp on tap, which is good for 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, but RS e-tron GT models can do the sprint in a mind-boggling and Tesla-rivalling 3.3 seconds thanks to 646hp.
E-tron: an Audi electric sports car
Whether you’re looking at the SUV or the sports car – or any of Audi’s electric models – you’ll notice the extra pace compared with a petrol- or diesel-powered car thanks to the instant response of the electric motors.
Audi R8
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Audi seemingly has tens of models available to buy online, but there’s only one that stands out as a performance-only model. The R8 isn’t a sporty version of a regular car – it was built from the ground up to be fast and look good.
V8 and V10 versions have been available, but more recently, Audi has cut the lineup to just include the 5.2-litre V10, which produces up to 620hp.
You can get rear- and all-wheel-drive versions, and if you’re looking to buy used, there are also convertible models available.
Is an R8 the fastest Audi sports car model?
With a 0-62mph time of 3.1 seconds, the R8 V10 Performance is the quickest Audi you can buy, though it only beats the RS e-tron GT by 0.2 seconds.
It’s worth weighing up whether you can live with the claimed 22mpg (which is likely to be considerably lower in the real world), along with the insurance and maintenance costs.