This week has been a blast reviewing the 2026 Audi RS3, a compact four-door sedan beast of a hot rod. The RS3 has always been one of those cars that doesn’t need to shout to get attention. It just goes about its business quietly, efficiently, and very, very quickly.
Under the hood is the heart and soul of the RS3: Audi’s turbocharged inline 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. It produces 394-horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and if those numbers sound familiar, that’s because Audi wisely didn’t mess with a winning formula, why change something that is working? Power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and Audi’s latest version of the terrific Quattro all-wheel drive system. The result is a car that launches hard, grips relentlessly, and feels planted no matter what kind of road you put in front of it. Audi says 0–60 mph takes about 3.3 seconds, and based on seat-of-the-pants testing, that feels about right, although I am not sure it’s not slightly faster than that. It feels faster, that’s for sure. Oh, and it tops out at 180-miles per hour.
One of the biggest updates for the RS3 in recent years—and still a standout for 2026—is the torque splitter on the rear axle. It can send power side-to-side between the rear wheels, which means the RS3 is no longer just a straight-line missile. It turns in sharply, rotates willingly, and feels far more playful than past RS models. In Dynamic or RS Performance mode, the car feels eager to attack corners, yet it never crosses into unruly territory.
The suspension is firm, as you’d expect, but it’s not punishing as a daily driver. This is still a car you could drive on the track or to Sunday school. Steering is quick and precise, though it doesn’t deliver a lot of road feel. That said, the confidence it inspires makes up for it, especially at higher speeds where the RS3 really shines and heading into tight turns at a speed most cars can’t handle, especially smallish cars.
Exterior
The RS3 just looks fast. It has sharp lines, the big Audi grill in front that allows for ton of air to get to the 5-banger, beautiful 19” 10-spoke wheels, carbon fiber mirrors and rear spoiler, huge red brake calipers, and the rear splitter and huge exhaust look great! I will have to say that Kyalami Green would be the last choice if color for me personally, but to each his own.
Inside, Audi sticks to its familiar RS formula. You get deeply bolstered sport seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and RS-specific displays in the digital gauge cluster.
Materials are high quality throughout, and everything feels solidly put together. The infotainment system is intuitive, the screens are crisp, and thankfully Audi still includes physical controls for key functions like climate. The fully digital 12.3” Audi Virtual Cockpit gauge cluster is bright, configurable, and features RS-specific displays that can show everything from performance data and lap timing to navigation and media, all directly in the driver’s line of sight. Through the windshield is a terrific head-up display.
Audi’s MMI (Multi-Media Interface) center screen controls navigation, audio, phone connectivity, vehicle settings, drive modes, climate functions, and performance displays. It also manages Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, driver assistance adjustments, and various comfort features through an intuitive menu structure. In a first for me, the available Sonos premium sound system delivers rich, concert-quality audio with deep bass and crisp highs, making it one of the best factory stereos you’ll find in a compact performance sedan. I have some Sonos equipment at home, but this is my first in a car.
The front sport seats are heavily bolstered to hold you in place during aggressive driving, yet remain comfortable enough for long trips, with fine Nappa leather, contrast stitching, and RS badging that reinforce the car’s performance character. I could do without the highlighter green trim on the seats, dash, and steering wheel, but again that is a personal thing.
The center console is clean and driver-focused, with a compact electronic shifter, and an annoying round volume control. It sits flush with the console-I’d much prefer a real knob. There are also cupholders, and a padded armrest, while most vehicle functions are handled through the MMI screen to keep the layout uncluttered and modern. The wireless charging pad is located just ahead of the center console, tucked into a small tray at the base of the dash in front of the shifter, where it also keeps your phone secure and within easy reach.
Also, other than having too much gloss black on the switchgear, the steering wheel is really cool. There are two red buttons that are part of Audi’s RS-specific performance controls and are placed there for quick access while driving. One is the RS Mode button (right side), which lets you instantly switch between customizable RS drive profiles (typically RS1 and RS2) that adjust throttle response, transmission behavior, steering feel, suspension settings, and exhaust sound to your preferred setup. The second red button (checkered flag on left) is used to cycle through and activate the customizable RS drive modes, giving quick access to your preset performance settings such as RS1 and RS2 without taking your hands off the wheel. It works in tandem with the main RS Mode button, allowing the driver to instantly switch the car’s behavior from everyday driving to a more aggressive performance setup.
Rear seat passengers get a surprisingly comfortable space for a compact performance sedan, with supportive outboard seating, good headroom, and enough legroom for adults on shorter trips. In back, there are air vents, a pair of USB-C charging ports, a fold-down center armrest with cupholders, and door pockets for storage, while the same high-quality materials and stitching used up front carry through to give the rear cabin an upscale feel. The trunk offers about 8.3 cubic feet of cargo space, which is typical for a compact performance sedan and enough for groceries, a couple of carry-on bags, or a weekend getaway.
Standard features on the 2026 Audi RS3 are plentiful and lean heavily toward comfort and technology, including leather sport seats with power adjustment and heating, a flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles, three-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster, a 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, multiple USB-C ports, ambient interior lighting, aluminum interior trim, rain-sensing wipers, a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, LED lighting all around, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, Audi pre sense front and basic, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise assist that can help with steering, braking, and acceleration in certain driving conditions.
Options
My review vehicle has the $5,800 Dynamic Plus package, which raises the top speed to 180-mph and adds performance upgrades like carbon-ceramic front brakes and a revised suspension setup that enhances the RS3’s already impressive handling capability.
It has the $2,850 Carbon package which adds carbon fiber exterior accents, including mirror housings and trim pieces, the upgraded 19” wheels with summer tires, giving the RS3 a more aggressive, track-inspired look while shaving a bit of weight.
For $700, you get the RS Design Package adds bold interior accents with contrast stitching, color-matched seat belts, and unique trim elements that give the cabin a more customized, performance-focused appearance. Finally, $300 gets you a black roof, which looks great against this green.
Fuel economy, if you behave-and you won’t, is 20 in town, 29 on the highway, and 23 overall. Drive it hard, and those numbers plummet.
What continues to impress me about the RS3 is how complete it feels. It’s brutally fast when you want it to be, calm and composed when you don’t, and compact enough to be enjoyable on real-world roads. It also has a personality that’s increasingly rare: that distinctive five-cylinder growl that sounds unlike anything else in the segment. It is not a big issue for me, but there is an ever-so-slight turbo lag when you floorboard it at cruising speed.
The downside, if there is one, is price. The RS3 is not inexpensive, and once you start adding options, the sticker can climb quickly. Some competitors offer more interior space or a softer ride, but few deliver this blend of performance, all-weather capability, and everyday usability in such a compact package. Total MSRP on my ultra-loaded tester is $77,845.
If you’re looking for a small sedan that feels special every time you press the start button, the 2026 Audi RS3 remains one of the most compelling choices on the market. It’s a reminder that great things still come in small, very fast packages.