2023 Audi RS 3 test drive review

Remember the cartoon “Mighty Mouse”? That’s the 2023 Audi RS 3. The little firecracker shows up to the party in entertaining ways, only to leave in a flurry of smoke and sound. This athlete is talented, too. Complete with a hyper-caffeinated 5-cylinder engine, Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel drive system and a luxurious and modern interior, this scrappy fighter is going for the title. See Audi RS models for sale.

A look inside the hood of the 2023 Audi RS 3 (Photo credit: Audi).

Price and value 

The 2023 Audi RS 3 enters the ring set on beating its competition, and if not by finesse, then by brute force. Our tester priced out at $65,440 and starts at $58,900. Not cheap, but you don’t get this kind of performance by playing in the bargain bin.

What does all that dough buy you? Well, it could buy you a lifetime supply of pre-workout. Or, it could get you 401 horsepower, all-wheel drive, uber aggressive looks, the latest automotive technology and eye-watering acceleration. We’ll take the car. Please and thank you. Browse all Audi listings

With performance like this, you’ll no doubt become accustomed to taking the long way home. To make sure you’re covered, Audi’s limited and powertrain warranties cover four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Complimentary scheduled maintenance is not offered. 

Take turns with ease in the 2023 Audi RS 3 (Photo credit: Audi).

Performance 

The RS 3 might as well be called the RPS 3, because performance is its middle name. Car and Driver clocked it from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. That’s on the level of some supercars. And this is something you can drive the kids to the grocery store in.

Audi’s beloved 5-cylinder engine makes its return here and it’s just as interesting as ever. From the unique idle thrum to the high-pitched fury under acceleration, it’s a monster of an engine. The 401 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque are happy numbers to spend time with — as we found out even on some wet and cold days of testing.

Whether you need a car for a comfortable morning commute or a canyon drive in the summer, the Audi RS 3 is a good choice (Photo credit: Audi).

Our tester was fitted with winter tires, and we’ve never had so much fun in the cold as we did in the little RS. It feels supremely confident in the wet, moving you forward and around corners without hesitation. It might as well be summer for the Audi. Check out RS3 listings

From its confident handling, braking and furious acceleration, the Audi RS3 always felt in control — and that it had something to prove. Its dual-clutch automatic transmission works especially well under hard acceleration, snapping off gear changes with authority. Putting around town though, at times it seemed utterly disappointed as it shuttered and searched for the best gear to be in. 

On the other hand, the RS 3 seems mostly happy to do the commute without any drama. You know the power is always there, but put it in comfort mode and turn down the exhaust, and you have yourself a standard, run-of-the-mill commuter Audi. Don’t tell it we said that. 

And it returns pretty great fuel economy! The Environmental Protection Agency rates it at 20 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg combined. In our week of testing, we averaged about 24 mpg combined. 

What does this all mean? The RS 3 is an amazingly capable performance weapon that even novice drivers will feel confident and safe in. It also is a capable commuter, with decent fuel economy and a compact shape — perfect for urban environments and canyon runs alike. Snow is optional, but should it come down, and you have proper tires, the RS 3 promises to remain unphased.

The modern interior of the 2023 Audi RS 3 (Photo credit: Audi).

Interior comfort and convenience 

If you’ve been in an Audi in the last few years, you know how decidedly modern, angular and aggressive it can be. Such is the RS 3 but dialed down a few notches. The RS 3 is a compact car, and you can feel how limited the designers were by the space available. There’s almost no storage, cubbies or space to spare. 

This might frustrate some buyers hoping for a more luxurious experience. Given the sparseness of features and space, it’s clear that the RS 3 has one thing on its mind: performance. Surprisingly, our tester didn’t have a heated steering wheel — an absolute travesty in a vehicle costing this much and made for colder weather. It also does not have ventilated front seats. Again, a bummer. But hey, the second you hit the throttle, you won’t really care. Take a look at A3 and RS3 listings

The 2023 Audi RS 3's back seats (Photo credit: Audi).

Interesting note: Our two kids had only slightly less space in the rear than in the Q3 we tested last year. Feel free to use that line to convince your spouse this car is a good idea. 

Aside from those missteps, the Audi’s interior is a gorgeous place to be and exudes the prestige all the summer sales bros are hoping to show off upon their return in August. The seats are amazing, and the leather looks, feels and smells nice. (Did you know Audi hires people to smell its cars? I want to be that person). See Audi RS3s for sale

Everything feels top-notch and is of exceptional build quality. If you’re looking to take the next step beyond some of the more economical hot hatches on the market, the RS 3 will feel like the perfect progression. Trunk space is decent and should be big enough to stow at least a medium-sized haul from the local wholesale warehouse.

The 2023 Audi RS 3 is available in several unique colors (Photo credit: Audi).

Exterior appearance and functionality 

The Audi RS 3 looks insane — in an awesome, just worked out kind of way. Get this: The front tires are wider than the rear. Audi claims this is for added grip, but we think it’s because the RS doesn’t want to admit how often it skips leg day — which is probably only once a year. The front fenders actually flare out to accommodate these wider tires, and it looks aggressive. The whole car, especially with the Black Optic Plus package and its black Audi badges and roof, looks so good people will definitely think you are cooler than you really are. Browse Audi listings

Our tester was finished in the striking Kemora Gray Metallic, but other colors are available like Kyalami Green, Turbo Blue, Python Yellow Metallic and Tango Red Metallic. 

The wheels of the 2023 Audi RS 3 (Photo credit: Audi).

If you spring for the 19-inch wheels, just know you’re going to be chewing through a lot of low-profile Pirelli P Zero tires. It’s almost impossible to not put the hammer down in this car and take corners hard.

Safety 

The RS 3 has not been extensively tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But, it is packed with all the most modern safety features, including:

• Adaptive cruise assist with lane guidance

• LED headlights and taillights

• Park assist

• Advanced airbag protection system with 10 airbags

• Electronic stabilization control

• Front and rear parking sensors with rearview camera

• Lane departure warning

• Side and rear cross-traffic assist 

• Head-up display with traffic sign recognition

Awards and ratings 

The new generation RS 3 is still relatively new on the market. Just a few of the awards it has won include the Motor1.com Star Award for Best Performance Vehicle. The RS 3 won, “Not because it was the quickest, the most agile or the most engaging, but because it was nearly the quickest, most agile and most engaging, all at the same time …  That it comes with virtually no drawbacks in everyday livability only sweetens the deal for this stunning sports sedan.” 

It also won the 2023 Best Performance Car award from the Women’s World Car of the Year International Jury and was a finalist for Motor Trend’s 2023 Performance Vehicle of the Year.

Get caught up in the driving experience behind the wheel of a 2023 Audi RS 3 (Photo credit: Audi).

Final impression 

It’s tough to find this level of performance, power, technology, handling, styling and build quality in a four-door sedan — which is exactly where the Audi RS 3 excels. It’s not without some minor drawbacks — a tight cockpit, a clunky transmission around town. But once you let it rip through its five cylinders, all the way to its 7,000 rpm redline, all your worries will fade away. 

We loved our time with the RS 3 and wept the day it left. If you’re considering the RS 3, you won’t be disappointed. It’s a hefty price to pay, but there’s nothing else quite like it. 

Find your Audi RS 3 on KSL Cars.  

FAQs 

Is the RS 3 fun to drive? 

Very. And while it does make a lot of power, it's approachable and manageable for drivers of any skill level. The electronics and stability systems will have even novice drivers feeling confident behind the wheel, even in inclement weather.

Is it good for families? 

The RS 3 is tight inside. There’s not much in terms of storage space, and the backseat is really only feasible for two smaller adults or two children. That said, it’s totally possible to transport your family (or at least part of it) around for shorter trips. 

See Audi RS models for sale.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com