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19 city, 28 highway, 22 combined
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Compact sedans are often perceived as a brand's less expensive entry-level models. But there’s nothing entry-level about the 2019 Audi RS 3. It offers exceptional performance, advanced tech, and an interior befitting an established luxury sport sedan. This is no gateway car — once into an RS 3, you’re past the gates.
The RS 3 is the feral, full-tilt counterpart to the friendly A3 and rowdier S3. It’s equipped with a 400-horsepower five-cylinder engine, sprints to 60 mph in 4 seconds, and grips the road well, thanks to all-wheel drive and wide tires. And it’s not for everyone. The standard adaptive suspension is relatively forgiving but still stiff. Drivers seeking track-ready performance can look for a fixed suspension (a stand-alone option in 2019) that abandons any pretense of daily-driven comfort. A cramped back seat and small trunk force some compromises, but if you don’t often have multiple passengers or carry much cargo, it may not be an issue. The Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45, BMW M235i, and Volkswagen Golf R all offer more space.
Drive Wheels | All Wheel Drive (4WD/AWD) |
Engine size | 2.5L |
Horsepower | 394 |
Torque (ft-lbs) | 354 |
Engine type | Turbo Gas |
Fuel capacity | 14.5 |
Wheelbase | 103.6" |
Overall length | 176.3" |
Width | 70.7" |
Height | 55" |
Leg room | F 41.2"/R 35.1" |
Head room | F 36.5"/R 36.1" |
Front tires | P235/35YR19 |
Rear tires | P235/35YR19 |
Seating capacity | 5 |
Transmission | Automatic |
Performance: The RS 3 offers a surprising amount of power for its small size, concentrating 400 horsepower into a relatively lightweight and tidy package. The brakes, tires, and suspension are all upgraded to match, and standard all-wheel drive helps transfer the car’s prodigious power to the road. Steering is a joy and feels accurate and communicative. The RS 3 is balanced well enough that you don’t need extensive experience to drive it fast and within its limits. Granted, all this performance comes at the expense of a stiff suspension and firm seats, but it’s a worthwhile trade-off.
Interior: The RS 3 shares the same cool and upscale interior design as its A3 and S3 stablemates, although with a racier edge. Supple high-grade leather, contrast stitching, and suede-wrapped and textured panels make the RS 3 feel like a properly modern luxury sedan, but carbon-fiber accents, form-fitted firm seats, and a flat-bottom steering wheel reinforce the car’s ultra-performance capability. Excellent visibility out of the back and sides makes for confident hustling through turns, threading tight traffic, or for the occasional turn on the racetrack. A pop-up infotainment dash display with crisp graphics makes it easy to view maps, media, or phone information.
Technology: Audi’s tech focus helps distinguish it from its rivals, and the RS 3 is a showcase. The navigation system can display on the infotainment screen or within the digital gauge cluster with an overlay of Google Earth data (landmarks, terrain, 3D perspectives). Smartphones can connect through Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™ or Audi’s interface, and voice controls respond well to voice commands. Find an RS 3 with the optional Bang & Olufsen audio system; it’s worth it. Bass is impressive and audio quality is rich and detailed. Our only gripe: Some driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control were optional.
Roominess: The RS 3 faces the same spatial challenges as the A3/S3. It’s a small car after all, so the rear seat room suffers. The RS 3’s all-wheel-drive hardware — most of it under the back of the car — also limits cargo space. The trunk measures a meager 10 cubic feet, but at least the rear seatback folds to allow carrying longer items, assuming you don’t have rear passengers.
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The 2019 Audi RS3 offers a Base : 19 MPG City and 28 MPG Highway It is important to remember factors such as driving style, weather conditions, and the use of features such as Eco mode can impact fuel efficiency.
Here is what's new for the 2019 Audi RS3:
