First Drive: 2025 Audi RS 3

Sitges, Spain — The automotive world sure has changed a lot over the past decade. For proof of that fact, just consider the 2025 Audi RS 3. At one point in time, the idea of producing a high-performance compact car with an internal combustion engine unaided by electrification of any sort was common.

These days, if you’re in the engineering department of a major automotive manufacturer and you attempt to sell this idea up the chain of command, you risk getting fired on the spot. It’s not electrified, it’s not got all that much interior space, and it’s not a crossover or SUV.

But that’s precisely why the RS 3 is such a breath of fresh air. It’s a throwback to better days for the most hardcore of automotive enthusiasts. Yet, the Audi is still imbued with enough modern technology to make the driving experience feel new and exciting. Here are the details.

The Audi RS 3 is powered by a venerable turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine, here displacing 2.5 litres and generating a healthy 394 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. Other hallmarks of the brand, all-wheel drive and a crisp dual-clutch automatic transmission, sees much of that engine output deliver immediate traction off the line.

Specifically, the Audi can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a reported 3.8 seconds, which is remarkably quick for a compact car of any sort.

Here’s the thing, though: When you’re on a wide and wide-open racetrack, it’s difficult to gain an impression of speed. In the heart of the city, when dealing with all manner of obstacles, moving and unmovable, a car can feel really fast. But when driving the RS 3 around Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí, a track characterized by elevation changes, sweeping turns and smooth pavement, there was a different impression.

For sure, the car pulled smartly away from slow turns, growling happily, even going uphill. And the braking performance heading into the downhill sweepers was on-point. And the car, aided and abetted by a newly calibrated torque vectoring rear differential, exhibited prodigious cornering capabilities. In other words, the performance of the little Audi is so solid and so controlled, it’s also remarkably free of drama.

Which doesn’t mean to say that it’s not a fun to car—it most definitely is a fun car. In fact, it’s an absolute track weapon, offering comparable performance to a Porsche 911 Carrera for a fraction of the price. Little wonder, then, that the new RS 3 broke the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record for compact cars this past summer, lowering its previous best time by some seven seconds.

From the perspective of looks, the Audi is a real sleeper. Despite its larger front spoiler, larger air intakes and revised rear diffuser, the RS 3 flies under the radar—unquestionably sporty, but also subdued. Inside the passenger cabin, this theme continues.

There’s a suitably racy flat-topped, flat-bottomed, tri-spoke steering wheel and deeply contoured sport seats. Mounted on the wheel are two red buttons to trigger the highest-performing drive modes; immediately behind the wheel are the metallic paddle shifters for the 7-speed automatic.

There are two information screens in the cabin. First up is a configurable instrument panel with large graphics showing engine speed, g-forces and other relevant data. Then, there’s the 10.1-inch touchscreen that controls many of the car’s auxiliary features. There are also hard switches set below the touchscreen for the climate control system, which is a nice touch. The car also features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a navigation system and wireless smartphone charging.

The true mark of an enthusiast car is how you rarely tire of driving it. While our track time in the Audi RS 3 was brief, under 10 laps in total, yours truly conspired to nab a few extra tours by claiming to shoot some in-car video. The truth be told, I did shoot in-car video, but I failed to add much commentary because I was so enthralled with just driving the thing.

As the laps peeled away, the speeds increased, the braking zones reduced, the slip angle became more angled and my appreciation for the Audi RS 3 grew. This is an exceptionally high-performance compact car—and we need to show our appreciation before its time runs out.