BMW M2 vs Audi RS3 (2017) Comparative Review Video

BMW and Audi have a rivalry that stretches back decades. Over the years these two brands have produced some legendary sportscars. However, these two machines represent a new era: the 2017 Audi RS3 is the most powerful compact sedan ever built, and the BMW M2 is the first M2 – ever. A duel was inevitable…

Of course, there are some key differences between the newcomers. The BMW is very much rear-wheel-drive while the Audi, true to its roots, is a quattro. A difference that really came into play as on the day we filmed, the heavens opened and our epic secret road was properly slippery.

The RS3 produces its peak outputs using a 5-cylinder turbopetrol motor, whereas the BMW, true to its roots, features a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six. And while most BMW M2s will likely be ordered with a dual-clutch auto, the example that we tracked down was a manual – a rare treat.

In this video, Ashley Oldfield and Ciro De Siena push these cars on a closed road outside Cape Town in a bid to decide which one they'd rather take home. It's not a very straightforward answer…