Audi has taken its smallest RS model and given it a nip, a tuck, and a dash of Nürburgring black magic.

It’s still the same four-door hooligan we’ve grown to love, but now it’s angrier, pointier, and, dare I say, finally embracing its inner madman while still remembering to say “please” and “thank you” at the lights.

Facelift, Not a Face-Off

From a distance, you’d be forgiven for thinking not much has changed. The oval exhausts are still there like twin howitzers tucked neatly under its rear, and the silhouette is as taut as ever. 

Audi fiddled with the front and rear bumpers, introduced more gloss black than a K-pop comeback stage, and sharpened the lights to give it an even more aggressive snarl. There’s even a central vertical reflector now, which Audi claims is part of the new “RS DNA”. Presumably, that DNA also enjoys setting lap records.

City Slicker, Country Brawler

Around town, the RS3 is remarkably well-mannered. In Comfort mode, the adaptive suspension soaks up bumps with the sort of grace that belies its 3.8-second century sprint time.

Yes, it’s firm. Yes, it reminds you that it’s wearing sporty boots. But it never feels punishing. In fact, it’s arguably more composed than some mass-market hatches.

Out of town, though, is where it flips the switch. The Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation is immediate;  flick it into Dynamic or RS Performance mode and the RS3 becomes delightfully unhinged.

Steering sharpens, the quattro system tightens its grip, and the engine, that glorious five-pot, sings a battle hymn straight from Ingolstadt’s playbook.

The Engine That Time Forgot

Audi’s 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder is a masterpiece. It doesn’t roar so much as it howls a rasping, layered growl that feels alive in your hands. There’s character here, the kind of mechanical theatre you don’t get with four-cylinder rivals. The AMG A45 S might be faster on paper, but the RS3 feels like it’s working with you, not just beneath you.

Sure, the seven-speed S tronic can be caught napping if you surprise it. But take control with the paddles, and it responds like a well-trained sparring partner.

The torque is relentless. The confidence, reassuring. And the soundtrack? Spine-tingling.

The RS3 also comes with a torque splitter. It sounds like a Marvel villain, but it’s actually the secret sauce behind the RS3’s newfound agility. Essentially, it allows the rear axle to individually control torque to either wheel, meaning you can shift up to 50% of power side to side. Less understeer, more tail-wagging fun.

Audi’s even fitted a drift mode. In the pre-facelift RS3, this was more novelty than necessity. Now, however, the system feels more intuitive, more natural. You can coax the rear end out without summoning a flash flood of warning lights. It’s still a compact saloon, but it dances with the confidence of something wearing Italian shoes.

Grown-Up Goth

Step inside, and the RS3’s interior is largely business as usual, with a few helpful upgrades. The 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit remains the digital pièce de résistance, now offering torque split readouts, g-meters, and enough telemetry to rival an F1 garage.

Audi’s infotainment interface, while still neat and responsive, is starting to feel its age. The 10.1-inch screen does its job, but it won’t make your passenger gasp. Still, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and thankfully, Audi’s kept the physical climate controls, proof they haven’t completely lost the plot.

Materials are plush, as expected. Nappa leather comes standard, with an option for eco-conscious Dinamica microfibre or full RS bucket seats if you feel like pretending every drive is a qualifying lap.

Rear passenger space is neither palatial nor pinched. Boot space takes a 50-litre hit compared to the previous generation thanks to the torque splitter hardware, but unless you’re planning a trip to IKEA or smuggling home gym equipment, the 282 litres in the Sportback should do just fine.

Mad, But Methodical

The 2025 Audi RS3 is a car that’s finally found peace with its identity. It no longer tries to out-AMG the AMG, nor does it pretend to be a BMW M2 with four doors. It’s its own thing now, a blend of surgical German precision and just the right splash of lunacy.

It’s fast. It’s sharp. It’s clever. And most importantly, it’s fun. A confident, capable compact warrior with a soundtrack to match. More of this, please, Audi.

Technical Specifications

Audi RS3

Engine: 2.5-litre in-line 5, Turbocharged
Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive
Power: 394 bhp
Torque: 500 Nm
Gearbox: 7-Speed S Tronic
0-100km/h: 3.8 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 250 km/h
Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres 
Fuel Economy: 10.2 km/litre (claimed)
Price: S$400,999 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

Hatchbacks and liftbacks that qualify for this category need to be sold with a Category B Certificate of Entitlement (COE Cat B). Done deal.

Meet The Contenders

Representing Germany is the Volkswagen Golf R (left), flying the British flag is the Mini Cooper SE (right), and championing Japan is the Toyota Prius.

If it’s hot-hatchery you’re after, the Volkswagen Golf R needs no introduction. 315hp and 420Nm of torque make this top-shelf Golf take off like a rocket. Practicality doesn’t take a backseat either, as it has very usable back seats and boot. Strap your family in and go for a blast!

The Mini Cooper SE may be electric, but it drives and feels like a Mini should. The interior is very cheerfully appointed, there’s enough tech to keep the Mini driver happy, and it’s practical for its relatively diminutive size too!

The Toyota Prius received the title “King of Full Hybrids” in our review because that’s how brilliantly economical its hybrid system is. Add to that Toyota’s legendary reliability, straightforward interior and decent luggage space and you’ve got a family liftback that’s hard to beat.

One ICE, one pure electric and one hybrid. Interesting mix we have this year. And so, the winner is…

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Cat B Hatchback
Mini Cooper SE

The winner with 398 points is the Mini Cooper SE. Mini has absolutely nailed its traditional formula in an electric vehicle. That it is still so much fun to drive is what gave it the resounding win.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the Mini Cooper SE for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2025 Best Cat B Hatchback!

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How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

First, each contender needs to be a hatchback. Next, they need to be powered and propelled solely by electricity from battery packs. Finally, they need to be sold with a Category A Certificate of Entitlement (Cat A COE). Done.

Meet The Contenders

We have the Ora Good Cat (left) and the MG4 Trophy (right), both made in China and sold in Singapore under COE Category A. Let the duel begin!

The Ora Good Cat just cannot be beat for cute, captivating looks. Sufficient tech juxtaposes against retro touches in this EV hatchback.

Although compact, it offers sufficient space, practicality and a comfortable ride combined with decent range from its battery pack.

The party piece of the Anglo-Chinese MG4 Trophy is it’s rear-wheel drive. This allows enthusiasts to have some good fun in the twists and turns, and the MG4 is ever willing to play.

Sharp looks combine with good space and practicality. There’s sufficient tech inside, and this EV hatchback is easy to drive and park.

Although each of these Cat A hatchback EVs is unique, we had to decide on a winner. And decide we did.

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Cat A Hatchback EV
MG4 Trophy

The winner with 334 points is the MG4 Trophy. We felt that it offers a great value proposition in the Cat A Hatchback EV segment, and its practicality and spaciousness is really good. That it’s rear-wheel drive is the cherry on the cake.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the MG4 Trophy for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2025 Best Cat A Hatchback EV!

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV and on TikTok!

How Does ACOTY Define This Class?

First, each contender needs to be a hatchback. Next, they need to be powered and propelled solely by electricity from battery packs. Finally, they need to be sold with a Category A Certificate of Entitlement (Cat A COE). Simple.

Meet The Contenders

One is Korean, one is French, and two are Chinese. Clockwise from the top left, we have the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Citroën e-C4, BYD Dolphin and Ora Good Cat. Zappity zap!

This Hyundai IONIQ 5 is made in Singapore. Yep, you read that right. Looking all sci-fi and ready to time travel, the IONIQ 5 boasts lots of space for passengers and barang-barang alike. Its battery pack offers a respectable range on a single charge and can be charged up rather quickly.

Driving is easy and comfortable, and the IONIQ 5 can put in a surprising turn in corners as well.

The party piece of the Citroën e-C4 is its ride comfort, which is almost on par with that of an air suspension-equipped luxury limousine. There is much French quirkiness about the e-C4, but nothing gets in the way. It is modestly spacious and its battery pack offers decent range. Driving the e-C4 is easy and it looks like little else on the road.

The compact BYD Dolphin looks bright and cheerful and turns heads as one drives by. It offers a tech-focused interior that’s nice, comfortable and modestly spacious. Its battery pack offers good range, thanks to how efficient the Dolphin is. Comfortable on the road and easy to drive, it’s easy to see why this EV hatchback is so easily likeable.

However, for looks that captivate, the Ora Good Cat is the way to go. It doesn’t just turn heads, it snaps them. There is sufficient tech in this EV hatchback but also nods to retro touches here and there.

For its compact size, it offers sufficient space and a comfortable ride. There’s also decent range from its battery pack.

You can see why our task in the judging panel was made more difficult, for each of these four excellent Cat A hatchback EVs brings something special to the table. However, decide we did.

AutoApp Car Of The Year Best Cat A Hatchback EV
BYD Dolphin

The winner with 360 points is the BYD Dolphin. We felt that the Dolphin offers the most complete value proposition here, and that the polished tech implementation makes it that much more desirable.

More on the scoring categories used to derive points here.

Congratulations to the BYD Dolphin for winning the AutoApp Car of the Year 2024 Best Cat A Hatchback EV!

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!

There’s not much that needs to be said about the Volkswagen Golf. Now in its eighth iteration, it has been proven time and time again to be one of the best-selling hatchbacks in the world. 

The 8th-gen arrived in Singapore back in mid-2021, but astronomical COE prices have meant it didn’t sell as well as its predecessors. Thus, brands like Volkswagen have started to adapt by importing variants that are able to fly under the Cat A banner.

It took a while to get here, but the Volkswagen Golf Life has finally joined the party, and boy is it a riot.

Right, let’s get down to business

The Volkswagen Golf which debuted previously has 150bhp from its punchy 1.5-litre turbo engine. Coupled with 48-volt mild hybrid assistance, it was essentially the perfect runabout hatchback, but the ever-expensive category B COE segment cut its life short. 

So what did Volkswagen do? Well, they’ve improved on the engine, now called the 1.5-litre eTSI. Same car, same engine, but now detuned to 130bhp. Coincidentally, category A cars can only have a maximum output of 130bhp. Sneaky fellas. 

Peak torque now stands at 200Nm, a 50Nm deficit from the Cat B sibling. This drop in power translates to a slower century print timing, now taking 9.4 seconds to get up to speed. But, do these power changes affect the overall driving experience?

Absolutely not.

When I say that, you do need to adapt your driving style to fit. Gone are the days of powering your way through, instead you’ll need to employ a more momentum-based driving style.

Time your overtakes, maintain your speed in the corners when possible, and you’ll find that the Golf is still as sharp as ever.

The new engine is also a gem, with mild hybrid assistance allowing the car to coast along with the engine deactivated when it has enough charge. You save lots of fuel this way, and short expressway bursts can easily yield economy figures in the 20s.

Over my few days’ test with the Golf, I’ve managed to achieve an average of 15.5km/litre, and that’s with some enthusiastic pedal pressing and jammed traffic thrown into the mix. 

With steep petrol prices an ever-present issue, the fuel economy of the Golf is a big advantage. If you’re frugal, you can even achieve about 800km on a single tank.

Should you wish to explore some bends at hush-hush speeds, the Golf can deliver in spades too. The main structural difference between the Cat A variant is its torsion beam rear suspension setup.

On paper, it does seem like a downgrade from the fully independent rear suspension of the Cat B Golf R-Line. But, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it makes the car more predictable while coming around a bend. The car feels settled even at speed, and any bouts of understeer can be mitigated as easily as letting your foot off the throttle.

I recently took said Golf on a road trip to Desaru, and it handled some twisty B-roads as easily as Sunday morning. 

Looks you know and love

Despite its power deficit, the Volkswagen Golf Life looks virtually identical to other variants in the lineup, save for the aero bits on the Golf GTI. You still get all of that Golf goodness wrapped up in a nice little package.

Spring for the Life Plus trim instead and you get upgraded LED lights all round, plus 18-inch alloy rims. 

With the same ol’ cabin

Even in this ‘base’ model Cat A Golf, you still get a fully loaded digital cockpit experience. The 8.25-inch central infotainment screen is simple and easy to use, with ambient light customisation enabling you to doll up the cabin space.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is achieved simply by plugging in your smartphone, and you also get a wireless charging pad to juice up.

Quick menu settings and controls are dealt with a mix of touch panel operations and rotary knobs.

While I don’t prefer the haptic cluster of buttons located underneath the centre screen, the rest of the tactile buttons are a good mix and really amp up daily functionality in the Golf.

To keep the centre console flushed and neat, the gear selector lever is just a tiny toggle switch, vaguely resembling a nugget. How this size is achieved is thanks to new-fangled electronic gear selection, rather than using traditional mechanical linkages. For those who wish to row their own gears and have some fun in the corners, paddle shifters are located on the steering wheel.

It’s tried and tested, and it’s a great interior. What more could you ask for?

Safe lil’ space

It even has ample space to boot. The hatchback-esque proportions give way to ample headroom for rear occupants, and 3 adults can get cosy in the back without much debate.

Cargo space is decent for a hatchback as well, spanning 380 litres. Drop the rear seats, and this figure swells to 1237 litres. It was more than sufficient for my trip to Desaru and back with the Volkswagen crew, check it out here.

You choose it because you want to

The Volkswagen Golf Life is simply a fantastic all-in-one bit of kit. Fun to drive, practical for its size, and saves you petrol. 

This is all well and good, but the main caveat of the Golf is that Volkswagen is priced as a value-for-money, yet ‘premium brand’ in Singapore. This puts it in a price bracket with fierce competition. 

If you are looking eastbound, cars like the Kia Niro Hybrid and Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid come to mind. If you’re looking at ‘continental’ brands, you’ll find lots of friendly fire. There’s the new 1.0-litre Skoda Octavia and 1.0-litre Audi A3, both are found within the VAG group of friend companies. Given all of these attractive options, is it still wise to pick the Golf?

Well, it’s the most affordable Golf you can buy in Singapore today, and it hasn’t lost any of its world-renowned fun. There’s a simple kind of magic with the Golf, beckoning you to take your next drive as soon as possible, and making you turn back to look at it once you’ve parked. 

If driving essence is one of your primary criteria in deciding on a car, and you want something that puts a smile on your face each time you’re behind the wheel, the Volkswagen Golf is definitely something that should be on your radar.

Technical Specifications

2023 Volkswagen Golf Life 

Engine: 1,498cc in-line 4 turbocharged, mild hybrid

Power: 130bhp

Torque: 200Nm

Gearbox: 7-speed DSG

0-100km/h: 9.4 seconds (claimed)

Top Speed: 213km/h

Fuel Economy: 20.8km/L (claimed)

Price: S$173,900 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)

Contact: Volkswagen Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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Kah Motor, Singapore’s authorised distributor for Honda, has recently launched the updated Honda Jazz. This popular hatchback now includes a hybrid drivetrain, where a 105bhp 1.5-litre engine will work in tandem with two electric motors.

Total output is now rated at 121bhp, and this would allow Honda to bring the fight closer to the Jazz’s main rival, which is the e-Power propelled Nissan Note that currently pumps out 114bhp.

Should you want to spring for an even higher spec, the Jazz also has a new e:HEV variant, with a total output of 130bhp. Honda claims the new powertrain is enough for the Jazz to clinch a claimed fuel economy of 22.7km/L.

The Jazz hasn’t received any radical new design cues, but it was given loads to make it look refreshed and updated for the 2023 market. Updates include a new grille design, darker headlight inserts and updated bumpers. Fjord Mist Blue, a colour which was originally found on the Honda Freed, is a new coat that will be available for Jazz customers too.

The cabin hasn’t received any new updates, and the Jazz continues to rock the same 9.0-inch infotainment display and the 7.0-inch TFT instrument cluster. The creatively designed LTRA seats are still ever-present too.

It was bound to happen at some point, and now it finally did. The new Honda Jazz will now be available as a crossover too, aptly dubbed the Crosstar. This jacked-up variant gets a new grille design, roof rails, and black body panels dotted with chrome inserts. All of this is  intended to give the car a more macho SUV-esque look. Even though it is marginally less efficient than the regular Jazz, the Crosstar can still achieve a respectable fuel economy of 22.2km/L.

The new Jazz will be equipped with Honda Sensing, a safety feature suite which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Collision Mitigation Braking System and Lane Keeping Assist.

Five vibrant exterior colours will be offered to customers, but the Jazz Crosstar takes an additional point for offering three dual-tone colour options as well. These paint schemes will see the car’s roof finished in Crystal Black.

Should you decide to pick one up, Kah Motor will offer the new Jazz with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and a five-year battery warranty.

Catch the latest news right here on AutoApp!