2018 Audi RS 3 Road Test and Review

2018 Audi RS 3 sedan front three quarter hero ・ Photo by Audi

Audi Sport is the German automaker's in-house tuner shop. Its engineers build hot rods. Luxurious all-wheel drive hot rods. The team not only created the R8 supercar but also injects performance into Audi's humbler models. Their creations include the 605-horsepower RS 7, the TT RS, and RS 5, which are some of the quickest, fastest and best-handling machines in the world.

The RS 3 is the most affordable Audi Sport model, but the 400-hp compact sedan is also the most expensive and most powerful member of Audi’s extensive A3 lineup. The RS 3 competes with the two-door BMW M2 coupe, the four-door Mercedes AMG CLA 45, and the larger and more expensive BMW M3, Cadillac ATS-V, and Mercedes AMG C43 and AMG C 63 sedans.

Tuned on the Racetrack

Although based on the Audi A3, the high-performance RS 3 is a standalone model and like all Audi Sport products, it was developed and tuned on the world’s most challenging racetracks, including the legendary north loop of Germany’s Nurburgring, a track widely considered the most dangerous in the world. According to Audi Sport, every mile on the Nurburgring equals nine miles of street driving, that’s how hard it is on the machine.

It’s under those severe high-speed conditions that a special team of engineers created the RS 3’s performance-tuned suspension, larger brakes, all-wheel-drive system, and turbocharged five-cylinder engine — a 2.5-liter shared with the TT RS that makes 400 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. It’s backed by a standard seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters that Audi only uses in its RS cars. The combination gets the RS 3 to 60 mph in less than four seconds. An optional Dynamic Plus Package adds front ceramic brake rotors and a special fixed RS sport suspension, and it also dials up the top speed from 155 mph to 174 mph.

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Small But Not Cheap

Audi builds the RS 3 in Hungary, and pricing starts at $55,850, including $950 for destination. That’s over $20,000 more than the already potent Audi S3, which packs 292 hp, but it’s only a few hundred dollars more than a rear-wheel drive BMW M2. Standard features include heated power front sport seats, Bluetooth, a tilting and telescopic steering wheel, Nappa leather, LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, and 19-inch wheels and tires.

Our loaded RS 3 test vehicle included a few pricey option packages and other extras, which drove its sticker price up to $67,175. Bringing navigation, a more advanced infotainment system with MMI Touch, a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system, and Audi’s configurable gauge cluster, the RS 3’s Technology Package cost $3,900. Our test car also had the $4,800 Dynamic Plus Package and the Dynamic Package, which for $1,450 adds red brake calipers and a sport exhaust system with black tips. The car's Catalunya Red paint, named for Spain’s legendary racetrack, cost an extra $575 and its carbon fiber interior trim added $600.

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My mom didn’t like its looks.

My 72-year-old mother took one look at the 2018 Audi RS 3 in my driveway, made a disapproving facial expression, and said, “What is that?” Surprised by her dislike of the little sedan I said, “It’s an Audi,” thinking the fancy brand might change her mind. Nope. “That’s an Audi?” she said. “Looks generic.” Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. I was getting compliments on the Audi all week in swanky and trendy Southern California locales like Santa Monica, Venice, and Manhattan Beach. But it was young men and women drawn to the RS 3’s taut lines and hunkered-down stance, not folks from my mother’s generation.

It’s true the RS 3 lacks the aggressively bulging bodywork of the BMW M2 and M3. The RS 3 shares most of its body panels with the lower-range A3, but there are a few changes to add attitude and improve aerodynamics. There’s a more sinister-looking front bumper, rocker extensions, and a rear bumper with a diffuser. It also says QUATTRO in big black letters under its sinister black grille, and all RS models get huge oval tailpipes. Generic? Come on, Mom — really?

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Comfortable and Quick

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but one thing’s for sure: There’s nothing generic about the way the RS 3 drives. This is one of those special cars that does everything well, and it puts a smile on your face every time you get behind its leather-and-suede-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel. Its suspension is firm, but it’s not overly aggressive even with the standard 19-inch wheels. You feel the road, but you won’t arrive at the office needing a nap and some Icy Hot for your back. I did a 300-mile day in the RS 3 and emerged feeling like I could drive some more.

From behind the wheel, it feels small, light, responsive, and easy to drive. It has quick reflexes and plenty of steering feel, and it’s wonderfully balanced on a twisty back road. The big Pirelli PZero tires and all-wheel-drive system suction-cup it to the pavement. The turbocharged inline five-cylinder is extremely smooth, even at its 6,750-rpm redline, sounding like a race car without being obnoxious. The seven-speed automatic is smooth and responds quickly when you use the paddle shifters.

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Launch Control and Fuel Economy

The RS 3 offers four driving modes that tune the car for the driver’s mood and the environment. There’s Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and Individual, which collects your favorite settings for the throttle and transmission response as well as the all-wheel-drive system and steering. The RS 3 feels and sounds the most like a sports car in Dynamic mode, but it’s extremely rewarding to drive in Comfort mode as well.

The RS 3 also has Launch Control, which improves its acceleration from a dead stop. It lets you hold the car with the brake pedal and floor the gas, which revs the engine to 3,500 rpm. Take your left foot off the brake and enjoy the g-forces of 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. That’s quicker than a BMW M3. Keep your right foot down and the Audi blasts through the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds at 117 mph, making it one of the quickest sedans in the world at any price. Fuel economy ratings are also good for this hot-rod class: 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. I averaged 22.6 mpg in a week of spirited mixed driving around Los Angeles and 29.5 mpg on my 300-mile highway run.

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An Overall Feeling of Quality

Audi hasn’t botched an interior in about 40 years, and cabin of the 2018 RS 3 is one of its best. There are beautiful materials and precise panel fitment, and all the controls are well placed. Everything feels expensive, and the infotainment screen dramatically deploys from the dashboard when you start the car. Its firm, well-bolstered sport seats are extremely comfortable.

Visibility is very good, and the RS 3 can seat five if the ride is short. Its standard automatic climate controls are simple and easy to use, and the latest version of Audi’s MMI system, which controls all of the car’s infotainment system, is easily navigated. I also like Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which allows you to configure the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster to your taste. Its readouts even include tire temperature and g-forces.

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Small Cargo and Cupholders

Despite the interior's quality in the 2018 Audi RS 3, the storage options it provides are disappointing. The center console bin is small and the door pockets are tiny. The two front-seat cupholders are well-sized, but they’re questionably placed ahead of the shifter, where tall drinks can interfere with the dash and climate controls.

Trunk space is also tight. The RS 3 offers just 10.0 cubic feet of trunk space, which is the same as a BMW M3 but less than the Mercedes-Benz CLA. And the Audi's rear seat does not fold to expand that capacity.

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Few Advanced Safety Systems

Despite its significant price tag, the 2018 Audi RS 3 is not overflowing with high-tech safety systems. A backup camera is standard, along with Audi "pre sense basic" system which can prepare the vehicle for an impact by closing the windows and sunroof, and tightening the front safety belts. A blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic assist is part of the optional Tech Package.  

But many other driver aids that have become commonplace on less expensive sedans are not available on the RS 3. We're talking about features like active cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist.

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Final Thoughts

Quicker and more powerful than its two main rivals, the all-wheel-drive 2018 Audi RS 3 sedan is the new benchmark for small high-performance luxury cars. It’s also more practical and more foul-weather-friendly than the BMW M2, which is only available as a coupe with rear-wheel drive, and it’s more comfortable than the Mercedes AMG CLA 45.

We do wish Audi would add a few more advanced driver aids to its options list. But that said, if you’re an enthusiast looking for a small high-performance luxury sedan, the RS 3 is a very desirable choice.

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