Best Performance Car - AA Car Awards 2022

Winner of Best Performance Car

BMW M3

The BMW 3 series is loved for the bit of practicality that you can have alongside the appeal of the BMW brand. But some people, want a bit of performance to go with the practicality. The ludicrously fast BMW M3 is now updated with all-wheel-drive technology. 

The M3 delivers supercar performance and specs inside the body of a practical saloon car. The 3.0litre twin-turbocharged engine delivers 510hp and will get you to 100km/h from a standstill in 3.5 seconds.

With 5 seats, four doors and a 480-litre boot, the M3 can still do the school run if needed. Granted, the suspension has been significantly stiffened for performance, but it will still get you around with a lot more ease than any supercar.

The M3 faced some stiff competition in the AA Ireland Car Awards, but as juror Philip Hederman put it, the BMW M3 is ‘top-notch across all areas and simply unbeaten in many. Outstanding design, superb handling, precise steering, savage power from the phenomenal 3.0 litre straight 6 engine and now available as an Estate.’

Runners Up

Toyota Yaris GR

The Yaris GR is Toyota’s maniacal effort at turning the car into a road-going rally car. The 1.6-litre turbo-charged engine turns out 261hp. In a car this light, you‘ll be rocketed to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds. But it’s the handling that really grabs you, with bags of grip. Juror Karl Connolly summed it up, saying that ‘the GR Yaris lives up to the hype, and ultimately is a joy to drive. Unlike many performance cars which have too much power and performance for road use, it is just as fun to drive on a tight and twisty backroad well within the speed limit, as it is on the race track.’

Audi e-tron GT RS

The e-tron GT RS brings all the performance and driveability that you would expect from a performance Audi. Based on the high-voltage J1 platform, the Audi offers some of the fastest charging speeds on the market. With more than 400km range and up to 650hp, it is surely one of the most enjoyable cars to get you around the country. Juror Neil Briscoe named it his top pick, noting its ‘spectacular acceleration mixed with impressive comfort, high quality, and genuinely agile handling. Gorgeous, too.’