AUDI makes a compelling case with its third-generation S3 Sportback quattro hot hatch, a 206kW/380Nm all-wheel-drive, small-premium offering that undercuts its predecessor by about $11k.

Yes, that’s a serious price cut, and at $59,990 plus on-road costs, this pocket rocket developed in Ingolstadt undercuts its rear-drive BMW M135i and all-paw Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG rivals by thousands, although both of those cars happen to offer more power.

But, that latter part is scarcely a problem for Audi, firstly because it has its own more hardcore RS3 around the corner, and secondly because the S3 is the answer to a different sort of question: namely, what does a buyer who wants a fast hatch without the rougher, race-honed edges choose?

They choose the car driven right here.

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