2025 Audi RS 3

Name: 2025 Audi RS 3 Review
Brand: Audi

Release Date: Fall 2024

Estimated Price: Starting around $64,000

The 2025 Audi RS 3's all-wheel-drive system means traction is ever present, even in slippery conditions, and the vibrant turbocharged five-cylinder engine means you're never wanting for power or drama. But just as it can barnstorm a back road, it can also be a civilized counterpart on the day-to-day. The RS 3 is a compelling pick for a hot compact.Read full review

Contact your local dealers about upcoming availability and pricing details.

Other years for sale

2017

Audi RS 3 for Sale

2025 Audi RS 3 Review

by the Edmunds Experts

Pros

Strong and characterful engine
Excellent grip and stability around corners
Comfortable front seats and ride for a performance car

Cons

Driving experience is a bit lacking in character
Some interior materials seem low-rent given the RS 3's price

What's new

The Audi RS 3 gets a light face-lift for 2025
It brings tweaks to its looks and its chassis along with small interior updates
No word on price, but it likely won't be too much more than the current car's $63,395 base MSRP

Overview

Audi is planning a blitz of new, redesigned and refreshed models for 2025. Some of those will be electric but you can rest assured that the 2025 Audi RS 3 will remain unabashedly high octane. Audi has brought a host of upgrades to its smallest RS model with a face-lift for the new model year. New styling, performance tweaks, and even a new standard tire make up just part of this midlife refresher.

Edmunds spotlight: Changes are small, but they make you go faster

Audi made a few meaningful tweaks to the RS 3's performance, starting with the software that rules the car's chassis dynamics. The brake torque vectoring is now more finessed, and as a result, drivers will be able to attack corners more aggressively, carry a higher speed throughout a corner, and power out sooner. Audi also says that it's refined the RS 3's oversteer characteristics so that steering adjustments are all you need to kick out the rear (though we're quite sure a big dose of throttle will do it, too). There is also a new standard tire, but a set of super-sticky Pirelli P Zero Trofeo Rs are still available as an option. You can read our 2025 Audi RS 3 first drive article for more details.

Competitors to consider

The 2025 Audi RS 3 compresses muscle-car power into its micro-sedan frame, leaving only a few rivals doing anything similar. The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S generates slightly more power in a same-size package, but with less overall flair than the RS 3. If you can get by with two doors, the BMW M2 is a formidable competitor. The slightly larger Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing merits a look for its 472-hp turbo four-cylinder, although it's less refined than the Audi. Make sure to check out our test team's in-depth review in the Edmunds Expert Rating below.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict

^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Great

8.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the RS 3 drive? The RS 3's centerpiece is its 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. It has a unique sound and delivers stunning performance. In our testing we recorded a 3.9-second 0-60 mph run on California's 91 octane fuel, making it quicker than Mercedes' AMG CLA 45. (Edmunds is based in Los Angeles.) But the RS 3 doesn't deliver full thrust until you feed it 93 octane fuel, and once we added an octane booster the RS 3 chipped 0.3 second off its 0-60 time. That's exceptional, but residents in states that can't get 93 will wish the RS 3 could make that happen without having to add a bottle of octane booster with each tank.

Though it delivers crushing speed, the experience of getting there isn't as evocative as we'd like. It's not that it doesn't drive well; it's that the way the RS 3 goes about delivering its almost bewildering performance is anodyne. The Audi RS 5 left us with a similar coldness. It feels like the RS 3 keeps the driver an arm's reach away from the experience thanks to nearly lifeless steering and electronic aids that filter your inputs. If you want something visceral, the RS 3 might not be the best choice.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the RS 3? Audi's RS-badged cars have historically done a good job of balancing comfort and performance and the RS 3 is no different. Even in the suspension's stiffest mode, lumps and bumps from the road surface only rarely make their way into the cabin, a rare trait from a car with such high performance aspirations. You will notice plenty of road noise thrumming its way through the cabin due to the RS 3's 19-inch wheels and high-performance Pirelli tires. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's worth mentioning.

The RS 3's specialized sport front seats only add to the cabin's comfort level. They're covered in soft leather and uniquely supple. They aren't as firm and don't hold on as tightly as the seats from some competitors, but we'll take that trade-off for a bit of added everyday usability.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? The RS 3 has an almost identical interior to the A3 and S3. That's both good and bad. It's great thanks to exceptional usability. The rear seat is roomy enough for two 6-foot-tall passengers to be reasonably comfortable. We also like that the climate controls are a cinch to use, and Audi's infotainment setup is significantly easier to learn than iDrive in BMWs and MBUX in Mercedes' small cars. Thanks to the Audi's small dimensions, visibility is also good from all angles and getting in and out of the plush bucket seats is no problem at all.

The biggest downside to this cabin is that, for an RS-badged machine, it doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from its more pedestrian siblings. The RS-specific bucket seats are the only major differentiator between this vehicle and an A3, and while we appreciate how comfortable and supportive they are, the rest of the cabin doesn't quite feel as special as it should.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? The RS 3's infotainment system isn't as flashy as Mercedes' MBUX system, but it works just as well and is even easier to navigate. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration is supported, and the interior features four USB ports to make sure everyone's device is fully charged up.

Every safety aid that Audi makes available on its small cars is standard on the RS 3. That means adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot warning system, and lane keeping assistance are all here at no extra cost. To our surprise, Audi's adaptive cruise control has been massively improved in the RS 3. Previous Audis, performance models or not, suffered from adaptive cruise systems that were too quick to panic brake or randomly disengaged altogether. Not so in the RS 3, and this improvement makes using the system a much more confidence-inspiring experience.

Storage

7.5/10

How’s the storage? Though it's a small car, the RS 3 offers plenty of storage space. Generously sized door bins and well-placed cupholders in the center console swallow cups and other small items with ease. The center console is too small, however, and not deep enough to be considered a real storage option. It also relies on the armrest to act as its lid, and if you plan on supporting your arm at all, the center console is technically never shut.

The truck opening is large enough to make loading and unloading relatively easy. The truck is also a decent size for a small car, offering 8.3 cubic feet of free air to work with. Things are opened up further thanks to 60/40-split folding rear seats that help make way for larger items.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA says the RS 3 should get 23 mpg in combined city/highway driving, but on our mixed-driving evaluation route, our test RS 3 managed 20.9 mpg, and we aren't surprised. Spirited driving will always gulp fuel at a quicker rate than simply commuting, and we aren't surprised that the RS 3 struggled to match its EPA estimate.

Value

7.5/10

Is the RS 3 a good value? Know that you're paying for performance here, not exceptional cabin quality. The plastics are akin to what you'd find in a base A3, and there is a vast amount of piano black plastic that will snag your fingerprints immediately, giving the screens and parts of the center console a grimy look. That said, we have to give credit to how well the RS 3 is screwed together. Our test car had no errant squeaks or rattles, and all of the buttons, knobs and switches felt very high-quality.

Wildcard

8/10

It's safe to say you won't see many RS 3s around, but we're willing to bet this car will be more popular than the RS 3 that came before it. It's a more well-rounded package and looks more like an RS-badged Audi should, with a more aggressive front end and lower stance than before. We like the Audi's looks. It's also devilishly fast, and if it did a better job of connecting us to the driving experience, it would score higher here. We just wish the RS 3 was a bit less serious and a bit more fun, but there's no denying how effective it is.

Which RS 3 does Edmunds recommend?

Audi hasn't released complete information on the 2025 RS 3 as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's RS 3, you only have a choice of one well-equipped model. For additional tech features, you can add the RS Technology package, which includes a Bang & Olufsen audio system and a head-up display. If you like dark exterior trim and wheels, the Black Optic Plus package is a must, and there's a black roof stand-alone option as well.

2025 Audi RS 3

2025 Audi RS 3 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds spotlight: Changes are small, but they make you go faster

Competitors to consider

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which RS 3 does Edmunds recommend?

Related 2025 Audi RS 3 info

Similar Vehicles

Research more upcoming vehicles

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Vehicle rankings by type

Other Audi models to consider

Other models

Join Edmunds