2017-2020 8V.5 | Audi A3/S3/RS3 (2025)

FAQs

Is the RS3 worth it over the S3? ›

Yes, the new RS3 will be more powerful and will offer even more grip and sporty flavour, but it will also be more expensive. And we defy anybody to drive the S3 and say that it lacks dynamism in any single area.

The 2024 Audi A3 is built around a turbocharged four-cylinder engine capable of up to 201 horsepower and a maximum speed of 130 miles per hour. By contrast, the Audi S3 has a more powerful 306-horsepower engine that can reach up to 155 miles per hour and accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 4.5 seconds.

Reports have also revealed that the RS3's engine is known to go through oil very quickly, especially when driving an extended number of miles. The 2.5L is not an engine people consider unreliable but there are not enough R53 models on the road to properly assess whether it's reliable or not.

The RS3 loses some space compared to the regular A3 because of the performance hardware. Where the hatch can take 282 litres with all seats in place (1104L with second row stowed), the sedan can swallow 321 litres.

This means that the RS3 Saloon takes 8th place on our countdown, with 61.95% of its value retained. Plus with the facelift model soon to be approaching 3 years old for the earliest examples, expect the retained value to potentially be even higher than it is now.

If your preference is better fuel economy and electrification, the 2022 Audi A3 engine features a 48-volt mild hybrid system that helps deliver enhanced efficiency and quick starting. The 2022 Audi S3 offers more horsepower and torque for powerful, turbocharged performance.

For a time it was a diesel at the top of the power rankings in the standard A3 range, but since the introduction of the ubiquitous EA888 2-litre petrol, it's now that TFSI unit that offers the greatest urge, and the highest performance - 0-62mph is dispatched in 6.1sec in Sport quattro trim coupled to the S-tronic auto ...

One of the most significant differences between the 2022 A3 and the 2022 S3 is experienced behind the wheel. These sedans have the same TFSI 2.0-liter turbo, four-cylinder engine, but the capabilities differ. Consider that the A3's engine offers more than 228 horsepower, and the S3's engine gets up to 306 horsepower.

It's not only a brilliant daily driver, I thought, but an exceptional grand tourer, too. I expected to have to compromise a little on boot space, because this generation of the RS3 is roughly 100 litres down on the standard A3 Sportback in terms of storage capacity due to its quattro four-wheel drive system.

Is an Audi RS3 expensive to run? ›

Yearly servicing might not cost much more than any other Audi A3, but you can expect to spend far more on consumable parts, particularly if you regularly make full use of the RS3's performance. The wide, 19-inch tyres are costly and brake parts won't be cheap, either.

Because it's a small, fast Audi, the RS 3 features a front-biased all-wheel-drive system, but this generation of RS 3 now features a new torque-vectoring rear differential (in addition to a near-magic front diff) that can send as much as 50% of the engine's available torque to either of the rear wheels, the same unit ...

With supply-chain woes affecting allocation, Audi Canada chose for various reasons to leave the RS 3 out in the cold. The smallest offering in the RS range, now that the two-door TT has been discontinued, the RS 3 was simply too niche to bother with, despite the clamouring of fans.

The biggest competitor for the RS3 in terms of body style and performance is the AMG A45 S, which is outrageously fast and capable as a performance car, the fact that it has a degree of practicality thanks to four doors and a reasonably large boot is a bonus!

Audi Model Letters: What They Mean

These models range in size from the Audi A3, which is an entry-level subcompact sedan, to the Audi A8, which is a full-size sedan. Audi uses the letter S to represent sport versions of the A models and RS for its top-tier performance vehicles, while SUVs start with the letter Q.

The RS3 offers real bang for your buck. And it does this by saving money on the interior. It doesn't feel cheap at all and broadly it's all well screwed together. But it's just not all that different from the regular A3, which means it can feel a bit drab inside.

Definitely lower. And the fixed suspension FL RS3 sits lower than the mag ride option. Audi website shows 54.8" height for the S3 and 55" height for the RS3.

Mercedes-AMG A45 S

The biggest competitor for the RS3 in terms of body style and performance is the AMG A45 S, which is outrageously fast and capable as a performance car, the fact that it has a degree of practicality thanks to four doors and a reasonably large boot is a bonus!