6 July 2022
11 Mins read

Audi RS3 Overview

Audi RS3 deals

In this overview…

The third generation of Audi’s five-cylinder mega-hatch is fast, powerful and better to drive than ever.

After a short hiatus for the 2021 model year, the sportiest variant of Audi’s sedan lineup returns for 2022 and the industry is loving it. The new 2022 RS3 Sportback is, as it stands, the UK’s fastest-accelerating hot hatchback on the market. This sporty little Audi is rated above competitors such as Mercedes-AMG A45 S in the hot-hatch hierarchy.

Only a few years ago, hot hatchbacks were essentially regular family cars that came with a bit more power and stiffer suspension. But now? They’re a category of their own. With their growing popularity, there’s been an arms race in the hot hatch world and it seemed to be started by the Audi RS3. 

The new Audi RS3 is based on the four-door Audi A3 and the sportier S3 however it has been loaded with even more power and enhanced chassis tuning. Of course, it’s not illegal to place such a big engine into such a relatively small body to create an amusingly alternative driver’s car in the process. However, it doesn’t exactly line up with a whole load of Europe’s CO2-based taxation regimes. 

The new Audi RS3 challenges high-profile rivals such as the BMW M2 coupe and Mercedes-AMG CLA45 sedan. The Audi’s sharp and stylish designs, modern interior and great handling help it appeal to drivers who appreciate sportiness as much as luxuriousness. For information on the latest Audi RS3 deals as well as a gloss over the overall design, keep on reading!

The Body, Interior Layout & Finish

The first thing to say is, in typical Audi fashion, the RS3 certainly stands out in a crowd. In the latest facelift, Audi has taken the large grille of the standard A3 and has made it even bigger. The body also has bigger intakes, wider tracks and impressively boxy arches as well as some extra vents on either side. 

The car itself is marginally longer, wider and taller than the previous RS3 Sportback and is wider and lower than the regular A3. The body also gets an extremely aggressive body kit and some sporty 19-inch alloy wheels. Audi are even offering you choose from a range of bright colours to really make the sporty beast stand out. 

On both Sportback and Saloon models, there are three trim levels to choose from and drivers can choose to have your RS 3 as a four-door saloon which, to many, looks even better than the hatchback. Some models even come with configurable lights that can spell out ‘R… S… 3’ which adds a futuristic touch to the overall design. 

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Inside, Audi has done a great job of combining sportiness and style. The RS3 features bucket seats trimmed in very high-quality leather that cocoons you to help you focus on driving and maximise your comfort. 

The interior of the Audi is brilliantly high-tech and features a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen with a new RS Runway mode. This modern setup displays the engine revs and speed using two vertically-aligned bars. Along the dash, you will also find a pair of high-mounted air vents facing the driver and flanking the instrument panel binnacle that houses a set of digital gauges. Below the centre touchscreen are climate controls with physical buttons, and there’s a bin below them that’s integrated into the centre console.

The infotainment and tech setup also includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto alongside built-in navigation and even a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot.

Engine & Drive

The original RS3 may have looked like a fancy-dress version of the Audi A3 but underneath it was very different. The new RS3 uses a 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine, which produces quite a distinctive and powerful sound that is bound to give you goosebumps. 

This is the third generation of Audi’s RS3 mega hatch and, although it has less power than some of its big rivals, it’s officially quicker. Audi has announced that the RS3 can do 0-62mph in a staggering 3.8 seconds and, you can even pay a little extra to have the speed limiter removed.

But this isn’t what we want to focus on. The feature that has everyone talking is its impressive 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo petrol. Whereas the Audi S3’s 2.0-litre engine is used in nearly every VW Group performance car, the 2.5-litre is relatively rare in comparison. Across the lineup, only the Audi TT RS and the sold-out Cupra Formentor VZ5 use the setup.

The same general ingredients, such as the excellent use of a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, also include Quattro all-wheel drive. Drivers can opt for optional ceramic brakes (which save 10kg), an optional RS exhaust and a new vehicle dynamics controller which should allow for smoother and faster integration of the chassis systems. 

Despite being capable of dispatching 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, the RS3 is actually pretty amiable when you’re simply getting from point a to point b. Unlike the suspension in rivals such as the Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Type R, the RS3 is composed and as easy to drive around in as a regular A3 when you put everything in Comfort mode. The exhaust note also becomes quieter in this setting for those late-night drives and it even maintains its damping excellence even over the roughest of surfaces.

Is the Audi RS3 a Good Car?

There’s no doubt that the RS3 is a beautiful and powerful hot hatch, with layers upon layers of individualisation for every different surface, road and requirement. Buried underneath a mountain of data, adjustability, and the choice that it brings with it is an undeniably impressive car. But is this the best mega hatch on the market? Well, despite 15.8% of owners reporting a fault with their car in the first year of ownership, there are a lot of great safety features within the car. 

An Audi RS3 Sportback personal lease deal is a great way to get a brand new Audi RS3 Sportback. Simply select the right deal for you, pay a small initial outlay and a fixed monthly cost over a fixed term and away you go! Audi RS3 leases start at £595.19 per month (inc. VAT). Deals are refreshed and updated regularly so enquire today!