Audi RS3 review

Are you struggling to get excited about your next new car because they all seem a bit, well, samey? Then how about something with a USP – like the Audi RS3 we're reviewing here? And what is its USP, you might ask? Its rather wonderful 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine.

The RS3 is currently the only car on the market boasting five cylinders. And why’s that something to get excited about? Well, noise. Glorious noise to be precise. The RS3’s engine sounds unique and distinct from all the other hot hatches out there. When you rev it out you just can’t help but smile. 

It’ll make you smile in other ways too. For one thing, it produces 394bhp – and that’s a heck of a lot. Flared arches make the RS3 look beefier than your Sunday joint, and quattro four-wheel drive helps make the mighty performance all the more deployable, even in tricky conditions.

Audi RS3 video review

Last year Audi gave the RS3 a mid-life refresh, with styling tweaks inside and out, plus – more importantly – updated torque-splitter settings to make this latest version even better to drive.

So is the new Audi RS3 better than its chief rival – the similarly maniacal Mercedes AMG A45? Read on to find out as we put it to the test against the best hot hatch rivals...

The Audi RS3's 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged engine is the same basic engine as its predecessors used, and that's great news because it's a belter.

Its peak power output of 394bhp isn’t quite a match for the Mercedes AMG A45 but that doesn’t matter. Firstly, that’s still a huge amount of power for a car of this size, which is why the RS3 delivers phenomenal pace. And secondly, the RS3 is as quick as the A45 in a straight line.

Indeed, the RS3 is faster than a BMW M2 and not far behind a BMW M3. In our tests, it managed to hit 60mph in a staggering 3.8 seconds.

The beauty of the RS3 is that any driver can match that time thanks to its standard launch-control system. It allows you to make the perfect getaway every time, and the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox pings up the gears quickly – and far more consistently than anyone could hope to with a clutch and manual gearbox.

The gearbox isn’t perfect, mind. While it changes smoothly and speedily in auto mode, if you use the paddles behind the steering wheel to change down the gears manually – say, when you’re approaching a corner hard on the brakes – it doesn’t always give you the gear you want, when you want it. That tardiness on downshifts can be frustrating.

What isn’t frustrating is the standard-fit switchable RS Sports Exhaust. When it’s set to Quiet it sounds fabulous, but in its louder setting it’s, well… wowsers. The tone and aural drama is right up there with the best in modern motoring. The Mercedes AMG A45 sounds great too, but its four-cylinder soundtrack isn’t as evocative, and neither is the sound of a Volkswagen Golf R.

The RS Torque Splitter technology means there are two electronic clutches on the rear axle. They allow drive to be sent to each rear wheel completely independently depending on what the car’s electronic "brain" thinks is best. For example, more power can be sent to the outside rear wheel when you’re entering a corner hard, helping the RS3 turn in to bends quicker and keeping the front wheels gripping for longer.

That allows you to carry more cornering speed in RS Performance mode, which is the most purposeful driving mode, but there’s also a mode called RS Torque Rear. Think of that as the fun mode – with a capital F. It makes the RS3 more playful so you can do rear-wheel drifts. It makes the new RS3 so much more fun than the previous versions.

When you drive the RS3 at a moderate pace in the most relaxed setting (Comfort mode), the steering is light and naturally weighted. Dynamic mode adds more steering heft if you want it.

The problem with the RS3’s steering is you don’t get a huge amount of feedback streaming to your fingertips. It doesn’t rob you of confidence as such – the steering is always very accurate – but it makes the RS3 slightly less rewarding to drive than a Mercedes AMG A45 along a twisting road.

The braking is great though. The pedal feels a little soft but the brakes really bite hard when you need them to and they’re very progressive.

The entry-level RS3 and the Carbon Black trim version have passive dampers and a ride that’s firm but not harsh. The top-spec Carbon Vorsprung trim has adaptive suspension as standard, allowing you to make the car softer or firmer at the touch of a button.

The ride is remarkably supple in Comfort mode – in fact, the RS3 is barely any less forgiving over potholes than regular versions of the Audi A3. There’s a slight shimmy on less-than-perfect motorway surfaces but it’s not overly annoying. There’s very little wind or road noise at 70mph.

"The Audi RS3’s grip and poise make it both enjoyable and forgiving to drive quickly on road or track. I find its ability to resist understeer (when the front wheels want to push wide) remarkable.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

The Audi RS3 has a great overall driving position. There’s lots of manual adjustment for the steering wheel and seat, plus four-way electric lumbar adjustment (Carbon Vorsprung trim adds full electric seat adjustment).

The standard front sports seats are comfortable on long trips but also offer decent side support in corners. If you fancy the kind of full-on bucket seats you get in some hot hatches and performance cars, they’re available on the RS3 and are really enveloping. The only issue is that they’re pricey.

You get some RS-specific touches to differentiate the RS3 from a regular Audi A3. For example, there’s a new RS steering wheel as part of the mid-life update, which has a flat top and bottom section and two red buttons to access the driving modes quickly.

However, if you’re the proud owner of a 2015-2022 RS3, you might be a little underwhelmed by the quality of this generation RS3's interior. It’s pleasant enough and broadly on a par with the Mercedes AMG A45 but doesn't have the high-grade materials you'd find in older Audi car models.

You get faux-suede trim on the dashboard, RS embossed in the part-nappa-leather seats and contrasting seat stitching. Another RS touch is the bespoke graphics for the 12.3in digital driver's display, including a G meter, lap timer and flashing lights to indicate that it's time to change gear.

The infotainment system is controlled using a 10.1in touchscreen and is quite easy to operate. The screen itself is within easier reach than the Mercedes AMG A45’s, while the menu layout is more intuitive to use than the one in a VW Golf R. 

However, what gives the RS3 the edge on usability is the row of physical switches for the climate controls, which makes them much easier to adjust than the touch-sensitive pads in the Golf and the touchscreen-based controls in the A45 and BMW M2.

A 15-speaker Sonos stereo is standard, although the sound isn’t particularly punchy or immersive.

"The interior of the latest RS3 has just enough touches to make it feel bespoke compared with a regular Audi A3. It’s just a shame the quality doesn’t quite match the car’s high price." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

The Audi RS3 is based on the A3 so if you want lots of detail about how much space there is for passengers in each body style, visit our detailed reviews of the Audi A3 Sportback (hatchback) or Audi A3 Saloon.

In short, you get rear doors on all RS3s, making it easier for people to get into the back than a BMW M2. Once inside, those passengers will find a similar amount of room as in a Mercedes AMG A45.

If you're planning to put tall people in the back, it's worth noting that the RS3 Sportback has slightly more head room than the Saloon. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the optional bucket seats have a thicker backrest than the standard seats, reducing rear leg room.

There is one big compromise over the regular Audi A3 though: boot space. The RS3's complex four-wheel-drive system raises the height of the boot floor and makes the load bay very shallow. We managed to fit just four carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf, compared with five in an AMG A45.

Mind you, all RS3s come with 40/20/40 split folding rear seats as standard, so you can carry more clobber when you need to.

“I find the RS3 pretty practical for a hot hatch. There’s enough room for four tall adults in the Sportback, although rear head room in the Saloon is a wee bit tight.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

If you’re someone who thinks hot hatches should be about cheap thrills, the Audi RS3 isn’t for you. It starts at more than twice the price of an entry-level Audi A3 and you can spend a lot more than that if you go for range-topping Carbon Vorsprung trim or add a few options.

Then again, the RS3’s main rival, the Mercedes AMG A45 is priced roughly in line with a mid-level Carbon Black RS3, while the BMW M2 costs about the same as a Carbon Vorsprung model.

The entry-level trim is reasonably well-equipped, giving you RS-specific features including 19in alloy wheels and an RS sports exhaust, plus Nappa leather upholstery, heated front seats, three-zone climate control, a head-up display and adaptive cruise control.

Options include bucket front seats and the Technology Pack Pro, which adds extras such as a panoramic sunroof, matrix LED headlights, electrically operated front seats and a more advanced adaptive cruise control system.

Carbon Black trim includes the matrix LEDs and carbon exterior details, including a front and rear spoiler, side skirts, door mirror casings and rear bumper diffuser.

The top-spec Carbon Vorsprung trim is expensive but the one that we'd go for. You see, not only is it well kitted out, but it's also the only version with adaptive suspension, helping to increase ride comfort and make the RS3 really easy to live with.

The RS3's fuel economy isn’t terrible for something this fast – you can expect a little more than 30mpg on a gentle motorway cruise. That said, don’t expect parsimonious running costs because new tyres won’t be cheap, and the RS3 is in the highest (37%) company car tax bracket.

Audi finished 24th out of 31 manufacturers in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. Not a brilliant showing, then, although Mercedes only finished slightly higher up in 22nd spot. BMW had a much better showing in eighth place.

“The Audi RS3 does look very expensive as a hot hatch but it’s all relative. Its closest rival, the Mercedes AMG A45, is similarly priced, while performance cars like the BMW M3 are even more expensive.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

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