Name: Audi RS 3 (2021 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Audi RS 3
Rating: 73

Summary

Now in its third generation, the Audi RS 3 is an upmarket performance model based on the regular Audi A3 range, available as both a five-door hatchback and a four-door saloon.

Arriving in late 2021, the RS 3 is the smallest member of Audi’s RS performance family. It has been warmly recieved by the UK media, with a large majority of road test reviews referring to the hatch rather than the saloon. Reviewers generally come to the conclusion that, while the RS 3 is an impressive performance package, its price is rather steep for a hot hatch of this size.

“It isn’t cheap and some rivals are more playful through the corners”, What Car? concludes, “but otherwise tough to fault.” The cheapest version of the Audi RS 3 starts at nearly £50,000, which is significantly more expensive than other hyper-hatches of the same size, such as the Hyundai i30 N and Ford Focus ST.

However, the RS 3 provides speed and acceleration that can rival some sports cars; performance that the i30 N and Focus ST simply cannot match. Powered by the same five-cylinder 400hp engine used by the Audi TT RS, the RS 3 accelerates from rest to 60mph in 3.8 seconds. This pace means that, from a performance standpoint, the only strong rival the Audi RS 3 faces is the Mercedes-AMG A 45.

Reviewers also point to how well the car performs through corners too, compared to older iterations of the RS 3, and both the hatch and saloon versions have earned praise for their ‘engaging’ exterior styling.

Finally, reviewers also comment that, while this is a class-leading performance model, it is still an Audi A3 at heart, being just as comfortable to drive as the wholesale model. Carwow explains: “The RS 3 isn’t hardcore all of the time, and can in fact settle down very nicely when you want it to. On the motorway, it feels comfortable and smooth – and you have that massive power on tap whenever you need it.”

As of November 2022, the Audi RS 3 holds an Expert Rating of 73%, based on 12 reviews published by the UK motoring media.

RS 3 highlights

Quality interior trim
Class-leading hot hatch performance
Comfort that other hot hatches can’t match
Five-cylinder engine sounds great

RS 3 lowlights

Less storage space than the regular A3
Expensive base price, trims and options
Cheaper alternatives are more agile
So-so fuel economy

Key specifications

Body style: Medium five-door hot hatch and sports saloon
Engines: petrol
Price: From £49,415 on-road

Launched: Winter 2021/22
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Autocar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Audi mega-hatch takes sizable strides on handling balance and driver engagement but remains every bit as outlandish for its price as its stonking performance.”
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Audi RS3 is more engaging than ever. If the principle reason for buying an RS3 used to be its engine and its image, it now has far more to recommend it from a handling and engagement point of view, too.”
Read review

Car Keys+

Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“Audi is really on to a winner with this latest RS3. It combines all the elements we’ve loved from previous cars – the engine, performance and quality – and combines that with added agility and fun.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Audi RS 3 is fearsomely quick but can be just as easy to drive as the regular A3.”
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The RS3 is faster and more fun than ever before thanks to a series of tweaks. It also looks pretty mean, making it a proper hyper-hatch.”
Read review

Evo+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s taken a while, too long we would argue, but finally, Audi has delivered an RS3 worthy of its badge.”
Read review

Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Take any ordinary family car, give it a little more power and cooler styling than standard, and fine-tune the handling to make it a smidgen more fun to drive. The Audi RS3 takes this basic concept and stretches it to breaking point – with sports-car rivalling pace and a price to match.”
Read review

Honest John+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“A proper hot hatch powered by 400PS 2.5-litre TFSI engine.”
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed: RS 3 Sportback
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The new Audi RS 3 has a larger-than-life character, not least due to its aggressive styling but also thanks to its charismatic five-cylinder engine. It’s as fast as you’d expect, and as grippy too given its all-wheel-drive system and wide tyres. However, it’s also very engaging and agile.”
Read review

The Sunday Times+

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
” It may be the smallest car in Audi’s RS line-up, but its performance punch is as devastating as its visual impact.”
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The third generation of Audi’s five-cylinder megahatch – and the best one yet. Although you’ll need to spend some time getting the best out of it.”
Read review

What Car?+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Staggering performance and grip, and the five-cylinder engine sounds wonderful. It isn’t cheap and some rivals are more playful through the corners, but otherwise tough to fault.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: December 2020
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 89%
Child protection: 81%
Vulnerable road users: 68%
Safety assist: 73%

The Audi RS 3 has not specifically been assessed by Euro NCAP, but it shares its safety rating with the regular Audi A3 range, which was awarded a five-star rating in December 2020.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

The Audi RS 3 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. If it happens, we’ll publish the results here.

Reliability rating

As it was only launched at the very end of 2021, we don’t have enough warranty data on the Audi RS 3 to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusive from extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the RS 3, we’ll publish the score here.