Audi RS3 8V
Five cylinders, all-wheel-drive, no apologies.
39 reviewers · 68 videos · 14 hours watched · 2 press articles
Reviewers strongly agree on its performance and fun to drive, but split on handling and daily drivability.
across 39 reviewers
"this is super handling no tilting at all and you see how the car directly reacts on my commands"
Autogefuhl · ▶ 15:43"it lets itself down on these corners to catastrophic understeer there"
Throttle House · ▶ 15:44"the ride quality on some bumps getting up here was just uh was just staggering in terms of ride comfort and that's where these things pull away from competition"
Drive.com.au · ▶ 5:06"It's a little too small on the inside. It's missing some luxury features that I expect at this price point."
Redline Reviews · ▶ 29:13"it's ten grand cheaper similarly equipped"
UNFILTERED MOOSAKA · ▶ 13:42"I don't see me at any time paying so much money for a compact segment car"
Autogefuhl · ▶ 31:01Performance
5.0/539 of 39 reviewersstrong consensus“the performance on offer is explosive with a launch control assisted rest to 62 mph Sprint time of 4.1 seconds”
positive · Car and Driving - Car Reviews · ▶ 15:03“it'll smash the N to 100 Sprint in 4.1 seconds flat”
positive · Drive.com.au · ▶ 0:53“I can agree that this is really the hottest hatch probably with the best performance”
positive · Autogefuhl · ▶ 22:36Handling
4.0/539 of 39 reviewerssplit“this is super handling no tilting at all and you see how the car directly reacts on my commands”
positive · Autogefuhl · ▶ 15:43“the way it holds the road is just absolutely bonkers”
positive · Paragon Cars London · ▶ 23:44“this handled so well because we have Quattro and you can actually feel a little bit of understeer on Tippin and then you floor it and the right side just pulls you through”
positive · TheStraightPipes · ▶ 4:00Fun to drive
4.5/539 of 39 reviewersconsensus“this generation of RS3 it really does just feel like a freaking rally car”
positive · Paragon Cars London · ▶ 23:15“That's incredible, man. ... This is the first time I've ever experienced anything like that.”
positive · Roads Untraveled · ▶ 6:44“it's unlike any anything i've ever driven”
positive · ThatDudeinBlue · ▶ 4:59Daily drivability
4.0/539 of 39 reviewerssplit“the ride quality on some bumps getting up here was just uh was just staggering in terms of ride comfort and that's where these things pull away from competition”
positive · Drive.com.au · ▶ 5:06“this isn't a track car this is your daily weapon”
positive · Carfection · ▶ 5:26“it does everything and it does everything really quite well”
positive · Joe Achilles · ▶ 11:44Value
3.5/538 of 39 reviewerssplit“I don't see me at any time paying so much money for a compact segment car”
critical · Autogefuhl · ▶ 31:01“this car here is 55,000 pounds and I'm sorry but that is a huge amount of money for what is a 5-door family hatchback”
critical · Carbuyer · ▶ 11:56“it starts about forty three and a half thousand pounds... raising the price by the ten thousand pounds”
critical · Lovecars · ▶ 4:18Hear it in the reviewer’s words
- MotorTrend
2026 Audi RS3 First Test: Brilliant Five-Cylinder Sport Sedan Still Delivers
◆Worth it, with caveatsThe RS3 is a brilliant, high-performance machine defined by its unique engine, though its stiff ride and frustrating interior controls make it a demanding daily driver.
- Best for
- Enthusiasts who prioritize engine character and all-weather performance over daily comfort and interior ergonomics.
- Watch out
- Stiff ride quality · Cramped rear seat · Frustrating touch-sensitive controls · Small trunk
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