Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (includes wireless connectivity).Power-adjustable and heated front seats with driver's seat memory.Premium leather upholstery with diamond quilt stitching.Auto-dimming mirrors (with power-folding side mirrors).If you want something visceral, the RS 3 might not be the best choice. 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. The Audi RS 5 left us with a similar coldness. 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. Though it delivers crushing speed, the experience of getting there isn't as evocative as we'd like. ![]() 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. (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. 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. It has a unique sound and delivers stunning performance. How does the RS 3 drive? The RS 3's centerpiece is its 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. Read our test team's Expert Rating below for a deeper dive into the RS 3's capabilities and character. Beyond that you'll need to consider coupes such as the BMW 2 Series or move up in price to the likes of the Audi RS 5 and BMW M3. ![]() Its most direct rival is the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45. The RS 3 is part of an exclusive class of small high-performance sedans. Also on the options list are track-ready Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires and front carbon-ceramic brakes. Other upgrades include a sport-tuned suspension (with adaptive dampers), a more expressive exhaust system and an aerodynamic body kit. There's also a Torque Rear mode, which can shunt all torque through one rear wheel - perfect for inducing tail-happy oversteer on a racetrack. This new rear differential can vector additional torque to the outside rear wheel as you go around a turn to help the car rotate a little and make it feel more lively and nimble. To that end, the RS 3 now features what Audi calls a torque splitter as part of the standard all-wheel-drive system. Plus, the five-cylinder's distinctive, warbling sound is worlds more interesting than the typical four-cylinder's.Īudi has focused a lot on improving the RS 3's handling performance. ![]() That's admittedly a modest increase of 7 hp and 15 lb-ft compared to the previous model, but it's appropriate in scope and mission for a car like this. Its turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five, which is exclusive to the RS 3 and TT RS, pumps out 401 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. But it's the even more extreme 2022 Audi RS 3 that has us dusting off the old race helmet for a track day. The A3 and its performance-minded S3 variant make a respectable amount of power, at 201 horsepower and 306 hp, respectively.
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