The Three Most Popular Performance Cars in Australia

Performance cars continue to grow in popularity across Australia. While electric performance vehicles are becoming more advanced every year, the Australian market still has a strong preference for high-performance petrol-powered cars. The sound, driving experience, engineering, and character of a petrol performance engine are still difficult to replace, and this is one of the main reasons why traditional performance cars continue to dominate the market.

The three most popular performance cars in Australia are the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, Audi RS3, and BMW M3. These vehicles have built an outstanding reputation after years of development and real-world testing. Their engines and powertrains have proven to be reliable, extremely capable, and able to deliver exceptional performance when maintained correctly.

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is regarded by many enthusiasts as the king of performance sedans. Developed by AMG engineers, it combines outstanding power, exceptional handling, and one of the most exciting driving experiences available.

Its engine and powertrain have been refined over many years and have proven to be exceptionally strong. Although the C63 AMG is one of the most reliable high-performance vehicles in its class, owning one comes with a price tag. Servicing, maintenance, and repairs are considerably more expensive than those of a conventional vehicle. Nevertheless, in our opinion, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG remains the best overall performance car among these three.

Audi RS3

The Audi RS3 has become one of Australia’s favourite performance cars thanks to its legendary turbocharged five-cylinder engine and quattro all-wheel-drive system. It delivers remarkable performance while remaining practical enough for everyday driving.

Its engine and drivetrain have been tested over many years and have proven to be durable and dependable. The RS3 continues to be one of the most desirable compact performance cars on the Australian market.

BMW M3

The BMW M3 has been setting the benchmark for performance sedans for decades. BMW’s M Division has developed one of the most respected performance platforms in the world, offering an exceptional balance between power, handling, comfort, and everyday usability.

Its engine and drivetrain have evolved over several generations and continue to demonstrate excellent reliability and performance when properly maintained.

Proven Performance Doesn’t Mean Zero Risk

Although these vehicles have earned an excellent reputation, every high-performance car should still be inspected before purchase.

Even a one-year-old performance vehicle can have hidden accident damage, previous repairs, modifications, tuning, excessive wear, or developing mechanical and electronic problems. As reliable as these vehicles are, random failures can still occur without much warning, and repair costs can quickly become significant.

For this reason, we always recommend a professional pre-purchase inspection before making your final decision.

Last Check Specialised Performance Car Inspection

At Last Check Vehicle Inspection, performance vehicles are inspected by specialists using an inspection process specifically developed for high-performance vehicles.

One of the biggest differences at Last Check is our ability to identify problems before they become evident. Our objective is not only to find faults that already exist, but also to detect developing issues before they trigger an engine warning light or become expensive repairs.

This is achieved through our specialised inspection methodology, which includes multiple computer scans before and after the test drive using our own diagnostic formula. We also analyse live engine and transmission data throughout the inspection, including after launching and road testing the vehicle, allowing us to identify subtle irregularities that may not yet have generated a fault code.

By carefully analysing live vehicle data and comparing multiple diagnostic results, we can often detect the smallest developing issues before they become stored fault codes or dashboard warning lights. This gives buyers valuable insight into the vehicle’s condition before committing to the purchase.

Our inspection process includes many advanced procedures, but one of the most valuable is performing multiple computer scans before and after the test drive, combined with detailed live data analysis. This approach allows us to identify developing problems that may not yet be visible through a standard diagnostic scan, helping buyers make a more informed purchasing decision before small issues become major repairs.