2025 Audi RS3 Review – Hell Hath No Fury!

In a world where cars are turning silent, sensible, and powered by glorified AA batteries…there’s one small sedan that’s still making the kind of noise that frightens wildlife and alarms your neighbors. This is the 2025 Audi RS3, and it’s here to remind everyone that being mature is hugely overrated.

The 2025 RS3 doesn’t reinvent the wheel; it polishes it, it gets what you might call a mild facelift. At first glance, the new RS3 looks like an A3 that’s been on a steady diet of steroids and Monster energy drinks.

Subtle Exterior Changes

The headlights now have updated running-light designs, and the front bumper features bigger air inlets. At the back, the diffuser is larger and more aggressive, showcasing vertical reflectors as a fresh RS signature. Plus, there are new paint colors and wheel designs that take inspiration from the RS3 LMS race car.

Under the skin

From a mechanical standpoint, the major updates are found in the torque-vectoring rear differential, which has received algorithm adjustments for better integration with ESC, damping, and more. Additionally, it features new “C-compound” tires that serve as a middle ground between regular summer tires and those designed for the track. My test vehicle was equipped with 19-inch wheels fitted with 265/30 Bridgestone Potenza Sport summer tires. All these enhancements are intended to enhance turn-in responsiveness, boost corner exit speeds, and allow the driver to initiate oversteer with greater ease.

Under the hood

This engine is an absolute gem! Audi’s turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five cranks out 394 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque in the U.S. It sends power through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic to an all-wheel-drive system, which evenly distributes torque between the axles. Plus, it has a torque-vectoring rear differential that can direct all the rear axle power to either side. The new RS3 has set a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7 minutes and 33 seconds—over seven seconds faster than the previous version and a new record for the compact segment, even without any power increase. Audi claims it can go from 0-60 in just 3.6 seconds; we’ll see if we can hit that mark.

Driving

That glorious five-cylinder still goes about its business like a caffeinated opera singer, full of drama, boost, and the sort of noise that makes small children point and grown men question their life choices. It hurls the RS3 down the road with a soundtrack that could’ve been borrowed from a Lamborghini V10 after a particularly good espresso. Unlike the manic, slightly neurotic four-pot in the AMG A45 S, this one’s got manners, muscular torque from idle, a fat mid-range punch, and a sense of occasion every time you prod the throttle. It’s the kind of engine that makes even the dullest commute feel like a qualifying lap.

The gearbox, though… well, it’s not quite as sharp as the rest of the show. The seven-speed S-tronic occasionally takes a coffee break between gears, especially in Comfort mode. D setting, however, it does liven up if you flick the gear selector to S. Drive the RS3 hard, and it’s like strapping yourself to a guided missile. The new torque-splitting rear differential can send all the power to one wheel, which means you can now drift an Audi RS3.

The steering feels sharper, the suspension is firm but not tooth-rattling, and the brakes could stop time itself. Every turn, every throttle blip feels engineered to make you grin like an idiot. It’s violent, yet precise. It’s chaos, but in a very German, well-organized way.

And yet, when you calm down, it’s oddly civilized. Select Comfort mode and it becomes quiet, composed, almost dull. Almost. Because even at a crawl, you can feel that pent-up aggression simmering under the surface, like a wolf forced to wear a leash.

Interior

Inside, it’s typical Audi brilliance, minimalist but of a high quality except for some odd spots of hard, scratchy plastic, mostly in the back. There’s digital everything; the Virtual Cockpit display with RS graphics looks like a fighter jet HUD. The seats are sculpted to hug you like a carbon-fiber teddy bear, and the steering wheel feels like it belongs in a supercar. There are a few playful RS touches: red stitching, special drive mode toggles, and enough ambient lighting to make it feel like a nightclub for accountants. But overall, it’s classic Audi, logical, beautiful, and just a little bit smug about how well-built it is.

The infotainment works seamlessly, and there’s even space in the back for humans. Small humans, granted, but still. You can technically call this a “family car,” though your children will probably need helmets. Once seated in the excellent seats, you’ll notice the new “squircle” steering wheel that incorporates a flat top and bottom to its rim, which seems to be a trend these days.

Price

Starting around $63,400, the price is pretty good for what you get: supercar acceleration, impeccable build quality, and that soundtrack. It’s hard to argue with that. The Dynamic Plus Package for $5,600 gives you a 180mph top speed, a carbon-trimmed engine cover, ceramic front brakes, and those summer tires. The Carbon Package for $2,750 adds those 19-inch wheels, carbon mirror caps, carbon rear spoiler, carbon sills, and front inlets. The RS Tech Package for $2,000 gives you Audi Connect and NAV Plus, a head-up display, and traffic sign recognition. At the back, we get the sports exhaust with black tips for $1,000.

The RS design Package for $700 gives you this Dinamica-covered steering wheel, this central air vent is red, the seat shoulders are in Express Red Dinamica, Red edging on the seat belts, and RS logo floor mats, none of which make it go any faster, but your passengers might be impressed. Finally, a black roof for $300. Total price is $77,640.

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Verdict

What’s truly impressive is how usable it is. The RS3 can do the mundane stuff — traffic jams, grocery runs, awkward school pickups — without complaint. The ride is firm but not punishing, the cabin is quiet when you need it to be, and the adaptive dampers make it feel composed even on battered pavement.

It’s a car that will happily demolish a mountain road on Sunday and take you to Starbucks on Monday. And yet, even while sipping your flat white, you’ll know — deep down — that you’re sitting on almost 400 angry horses just waiting for an excuse.

I would buy one in a heartbeat….

2025 Audi RS3 numbers

BASE PRICE: $63,400
AS TESTED PRICE: $77,640
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
ENGINE: 2.5-liter turbocharged and inter-cooled DOHC 20-valve inline-5
POWER: 394 hp @ 6,500 rpm
TORQUE: 369 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
0-60 MPH: 3.3 sec
TIRES: Bridgestone Potenza Sport
FRONT: 265/30ZR-19
REAR: 265/30ZR-19
CURB WEIGHT: 3,600 lb
EPA COMB/CITY/HWY: 23/20/29
OUR OBSERVED: 21.9 mpg
PROS: Bonkers fast, an absolute gem of an engine, the best RS 3 yet
CONS: Interior is a bit drab