2023 Audi RS3

Sports Sedan · 2.5L Turbo I5 quattro · AWD

83/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a sports sedan is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	2.5L Turbo I5 quattro
Horsepower	394 hp
Torque	369 lb-ft
0–60 mph	3.8 sec
Top speed	174 mph
Drivetrain	AWD
Seats	5
Combined MPG	26 mpg (22 city / 31 hwy)
Range	441 miles
MSRP	$60,900
Body style	Sports Sedan

The verdict

What's good

Wailing five-cylinder soundtrack
Can swing its tail out playfully
Grips hard in rain and snow
Easy to live with daily

What's not

Firm ride on rough roads
Looks low-key for the money
Back seat is snug
Touch controls fiddly on the move

The engine

2.5 TFSI

2.5L Turbo Inline-5

Audi's turbocharged five-cylinder is beloved for its warbling, off-rhythm exhaust note produced by a deliberate 1-2-4-5-3 firing order, paired with relentless, surging boost in the RS3 and TT RS.

It revives the layout that made Audi famous in 1980s Group B rallying, a five-cylinder lineage that began in the 1976 Audi 100 and powered quattro rally cars to World Rally Championship titles.

The 2.5 TFSI has been named International Engine of the Year in its class roughly nine times since 2010.
Its uneven 1-2-4-5-3 firing order is the engineering reason behind the distinctive warble enthusiasts compare to exotic engines.
The five-cylinder format was Audi's clever middle ground, offering near-six-cylinder power with closer to four-cylinder economy and packaging.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 83 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
All 4 trims with pricing
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault