Audi RS 3 Sportback Review

Introduction

The Audi RS 3 has something of a folkloric reputation among motorists, having become one of the most desirable hot hatchbacks on the market. These days, it faces challenges from some surprising corners of the car industry, including the likes of Hyundai, but with a new A3 comes a new RS 3, and Audi will be hoping the newcomer can cement its position at the head of the field.

Like the more conventional versions of the A3, the RS 3 has been revamped with a fresh design and updated cabin, and as before, customers can choose between hatchback (Sportback, in Audi parlance) or saloon bodies. And the characterful five-cylinder engine remains the same. But will the new model be able to keep the RS 3 ahead of the Honda Civic Type R, BMW M135i and Mercedes-AMG A 45?

At a Glance

The new RS 3 has inherited a number of updates from the new-look A3 hatchback, including the more aggressive front end and new lights, although it has its own styling tweaks. Flared arches, massive exhaust pipes and relatively subtle RS badges give it an identity of its own, but it still has a slight air of understatement. Unless you know what you’re looking at, you might not notice the performance.

Inside, the RS 3 has the same basic interior as the A3, which means you get the stunning Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display and the massive touchscreen infotainment system. Unlike the closely related Seat Leon and VW Golf, however, the A3 gets proper physical heater controls. Of course, the RS 3 has a few defining features, including the sports steering wheel and carbon-effect dashboard trim, but the basics are recognisable A3 fodder.

That means the RS 3 is almost as practical as the standard A3. There’s much the same amount of interior space and the boot is only slightly smaller, giving the Audi great credentials when it comes to fitting people and luggage inside.

Naturally, the engine is not standard A3 fodder. It’s a five-cylinder petrol engine with 400hp, giving the car a great soundtrack and ample performance. With a seven-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, the RS 3 can get from 0-62mph in less than four seconds.

Key Features

Unsurprisingly, one of the RS 3’s most important features is the 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine that lurks behind the gaping grille. Turbocharged to produce 400hp and paired with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, it drives all four wheels to take the RS 3 from 0-62mph in less than four seconds. And as is so often the case with fast German cars, the top speed is 155mph. But it’s the noise that really makes it feel special. Sure, the performance is addictive, but the characterful roar of the engine and the growl of the exhausts make it feel more special than, say, the four-cylinder S3.

But because the RS 3 is still an A3 at heart, it has almost as much space in the back and all the same technology, including Audi’s inspired Virtual Cockpit instrument display. The sharp, customisable display allows you to call on the information you want, be it navigation details or media settings, and have it right before your eyes. And you can tune it more subtly to put more or less emphasis on speed or engine revolutions, depending on your needs. It looks great, it’s easy to use and it works brilliantly. Put simply, it’s the best system of its kind.

Performance & Drive

Under the bonnet, the RS 3 is separated from the rest of the A3 range by its engine, which is shared with the high-performance TT RS coupe. The 2.5-litre turbocharged engine is something of an oddity, because it’s a rare five-cylinder engine with a slightly different, more guttural and more characterful sound than a four-cylinder engine.

The RS 3 engine produces a massive 400hp, which is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox. That means 0-62mph takes 3.8 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155mph.

It’s monstrous performance, even for a hot hatchback, but the RS 3 backs that up with impressive handling. The grip on offer is mountainous, and it allows the Audi to sweep through corners at speeds that would otherwise be outrageous. Unless you’re really silly, you won’t get the RS 3 to misbehave.

And for all the performance and grip, the RS 3 rides well. It isn’t a magic carpet by any stretch of the imagination, but for such a fast car, it’s surprisingly smooth. On long journeys, the car manages to iron out most of the bumps, with only a slight rumble from underneath the tyres. Around town, things aren’t so smooth, but while the RS 3 is stiff, it isn’t totally unbearable.

Running Costs & Emissions

Naturally, few customers will lease an RS 3 to save money, and that five-cylinder engine definitely has an appetite for unleaded. Officially, it’ll return 31.4mpg on the combined cycle, and it’s certainly capable of topping 30mpg on a long run without too much effort. However, if you get too greedy with the pedal on the right, you’re going to find the economy slipping into the 20s.

For those who choose their car on the basis of company car tax, the RS 3 is unlikely to appeal. With CO2 emissions of well over 200g/km, it falls into the maximum tax rate. That said, so too do most other hot hatchbacks, so the RS 3 won’t be vastly more expensive than any of its rivals.

Interior & Technology

In truth, the RS 3’s interior is not vastly different to that of the standard A3, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The A3’s cabin is well made, with some great materials and even better engineering, and it has proper physical heater controls, unlike its sister cars from Volkswagen and Seat. It’s also very stylish, with smart screens and dashes of chrome.

But the most impressive aspect of the A3 cabin is the technology on offer. Not only does the premium hatchback come with a big central touchscreen, but it’s also offered with Audi’s fantastic Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, which is one of the best digital displays on the market, even though it’s been with us for the best part of a decade now.

With lots of customisation options and simple steering-wheel-mounted controls, it can be tuned on the move to show you exactly what you want or need. Trip computer details, media displays and a gorgeous satellite navigation system are all included, and you can flick between them at will. And because this is the RS 3, this car comes with some sportier features to keep you entertained.

That system works with the touchscreen infotainment system, which is not Audi’s best effort, but it’s still more intuitive than the systems now seen in the VW Golf and Seat Leon. Perhaps it isn’t as snazzy, but the A3 touchscreen is much easier to use on the move, and it’s clean displays make it simpler to use and navigate. And the Google Earth-style satellite navigation view is neat, too.

Practicality & Boot Space

The whole point of a hot hatchback is to mix practicality and performance, and the RS 3 does just that. Yes, the boot is quite a bit smaller than that of the standard A3 on paper, but it doesn’t feel especially small, and there’s more than enough room for most drivers’ needs. Fitting a weekend’s holiday luggage in there won’t be a problem, and there’s bags of space for school bags or shopping. It’s every bit as practical as a Ford Fiesta, for example.

Inside, those sitting in the front seats will have plenty of room, with lots of seat adjustment and ample head clearance, as well as lots of shoulder room between the seats. Space in the back is at more of a premium, and it feels a bit dark thanks to the flash seats and the dark roof lining, but you can fit adults in there. Carrying four average-sized grown-ups shouldn’t be a great issue, although we wouldn’t fancy going far with three adults across the back seats.

Safety

The Audi RS 3 has not been tested by Euro NCAP’s crash-testers, but the A3 on which it’s based has an impressive five-star score. With a strong performance across the board, it’s devoid of any major safety weaknesses. No matter whether the occupants are children or adults, the A3 offered solid levels of protection.

And there’s plenty of technology to help keep you safe on the road. The RS 3 is well equipped as standard, with plenty of driver assistance technology on offer. Not only do you get parking sensors and cruise control, but you get collision avoidance technology and lane departure warning, as well as autonomous emergency braking and a system that can detect cyclists and pedestrians up ahead.

Options

It’s easy to think of the RS 3 as just one car, with its own standard equipment and its own engine, but that isn’t quite true these days. Although every RS 3 comes with the same 2.5-litre petrol engine and the same drivetrain, the Audi is available in a selection of different trim levels, as well as a choice of two body styles.

The basic option is simply called the RS 3, and that comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed heated sports seats and two-zone climate control, as well as the touchscreen, satellite navigation and the RS 3-specific Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display. It gets lots of driver assistance technology, too.

Moving up to the Carbon Black model gets you the black styling pack with black alloys and black exterior trim, plus an enhanced exhaust, while the range-topping Vorsprung provides all the Carbon Black features, plus a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a power-operated tailgate.

On top of that, customers can add RS Adaptive suspension with Drive Select technology to tune the suspension to the road and conditions, while a top speed increase can also be specified. And if you want to go even further, you can package them together with carbon-ceramic brakes and an enhanced exhaust note as part of the RS Dynamic Pack.

Other than that, your options are mainly colour-orientated, with a choice of two solid paint finishes – the bright Kyalami Green and Turbo Blue – or a marginally more restrained selection of metallic colours. There’s Tango Red and Python Yellow, both of which suit the car well, or you can choose the more subdued Kemora Grey, Glacier White or Mythos Black.

Rival Cars

The Audi RS 3 has a huge collection of rivals from a vast array of manufacturers, but some of its most obvious competitors are, predictably, built by Mercedes-AMG and BMW. The big names are the BMW M135i and the AMG A 45 S, both of which have 2.0-litre petrol engines and all-wheel drive. The BMW is the driver’s choice, with its trademark steering feel and agility, but the A 45 is also an impressively capable hatchback.

Elsewhere in the market, Volkswagen’s Golf R is a popular choice, and it shares plenty of underpinnings with the Audi, although it comes with a smaller 2.0-litre petrol engine with 300hp. Then there’s the Honda Civic Type R, with its outrageous design and outstanding chassis, or the Hyundai i30 N, with sublime handling but a little less power under the bonnet.

Other rivals include the 300hp Cupra Leon, another sibling of the S3 and Golf R, and the Ford Focus ST, which doesn’t have quite so much power but rides on an impressively capable platform. From France is the Renault Megane RS 300 Trophy model, a hardcore hot hatch that rides firmly but handles magnificently.

Verdict & Next Steps

The Audi RS 3 has a reputation to live up to, and the new model manages to uphold its end of the bargain. Incredible capability, a hugely impressive engine and ample practicality make this one of the best in the business. 

However, with a high asking price and a slight lack of drama in the cabin, this is not the most engaging or most exciting hot hatchback you can lease. Nevertheless, there’s no arguing with its sheer capability or the quality on offer.

Where to next?

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*Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top five leading independent car website reviews of the Audi RS3

**Correct as of 16/08/2022. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments or £5,655.96 Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.