2026 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	$65,400
Body style	Sports Sedan

The verdict

What's good

Unmistakable five-cylinder bark
Lets you slide the rear end
Cabin feels properly upscale
Quick yet usable every day

What's not

Firm low-speed ride
Repair bills can sting
Tight rear quarters
Climbs past $60K loaded

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