Audi RS3 (2011 – 2013) Review
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Audi RS3 (2011 – 2013) At A Glance
A real blast to drive. Great performance and sound from five-cylinder chain cam 340PS engine, Immense grip and traction from quattro four-wheel drive. Forgiving ride.
No manual gearbox available. Not cheap at a few pounds shy of £40,000.
Audi’s high performance RS models have been a little hit and miss of late. There’s the thunderously quick but very expensive RS6, the refined and sophisticated RS5 and then the not quite as good as you’d hope it would be TT RS. So there are high hopes for the latest model in the line-up – the RS3, not least because it’s the most affordable RS model. It’s also very exclusive with just 750 right-hand drive versions confirmed for production.
That said at a few quid shy of £40,000 (£39,900 to be exact) it’s not exactly cheap, but given the performance, engine and equipment you get, that’s not a bad price in relation to similarly powered alternatives. The RS3 has a lot going for it - make no mistake, this is a lot more than simply a pumped up Volkswagen Golf R or Audi S3. For starters it’s fitted with Audi’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine which is only otherwise found in the TT RS. This has a mighty 340PS in reserve which translates into a blistering 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds.
The engine certainly has plenty of character about it and surprisingly sounds even better in the RS3 than it does in the TT RS. Press the Sport button on the dash and this opens a sound flap in the exhaust, intensifying that lovely deep note even further. Like all RS models it has quattro all-wheel drive so there are few worries about traction plus it means the RS3 can put all that power down cleanly without scrabbling for grip or feeling unruly at the front.
Unusually the RS3 only comes in five-door Sportback form, rather than the more traditionally sporty three-door hatch bodyshape, but thanks to the extras like the 19-inch alloy wheels (available in a particularly bling black with a red trim finish), rear spoiler and body kit, it still looks the part. There are changes inside too with leather sports seats and a flat bottomed steering wheel.
The sticking point for some enthusiasts may be the gearbox. Like the RS5 and RS6, the RS3 only comes with the S tronic automatic transmission which although an impressive bit of kit, doesn’t give you the same sense of involvement as a manual ‘box. Audi says it has no plans to fit a standard gearbox, although it said the same about the TT RS and lo and behold six months after it was launched, a manual version was added to the range. So hopefully it’s a case of good things coming to those who wait.
Reviews for Audi RS3 (2011 – 2013)'s top 3 rivals
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Audi RS3 (2011 – 2013) handling and engines
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 17–23 mpg
The fact the RS3 is fitted with a five-cylinder engine makes a big difference to the whole feel of the car from the moment you turn the key. The lovely deep noise you get on start-up is unlike anything you’d experience from a four-cylinder engine, no matter how powerful it is or how big the exhausts are.
It’s not an intrusive noise at low speeds. In fact the RS3 is very happy just pottering along in traffic or at sedate speeds, although it’s always tempting to have a quick burst of acceleration so you can hear that great engine sound. Despite having 19-inch wheels, very low profile tyres and RS sports suspension (which is lowered by 25mm), the RS3 rides very well and the suspension isn’t overly stiff so it's not uncomfortable or crashy over rough bits of road.
However, when you want performance, the RS3 doesn’t disappoint. Its 450Nm of torque is available from just 1600rpm and remains constant up to 5300rpm giving it plenty of flexibility in the mid-range. It’s certainly responsive when you need it and away from a standstill is impressively rapid, with the booming exhaust note providing a suitable accompaniment. Wind the windows down in an underpass and it’ll put a smile on your face. In fact it’ll even make the Dartford tunnel fun.
But the RS3 is able to show its real strengths on ‘proper’ roads. If you can find a quiet, twisting bit of tarmac you’ll be able to find out what a great car this is. Despite all that power it’s not intimidating and will forgive you plenty. Carry too much speed into a corner and the RS3 will easily cope without the front end sliding away thanks to its immense grip. Especially so if you go for the optional 255/35 tyres at the front, although the standard 235/35 ones aren’t exactly bad.
Where many other performance cars of this ilk may start to struggle, the RS3 seems to find grip and thanks to its quattro all-wheel drive, there’s plenty of drive away from slow corners so you don’t have to worry about the rear end going wayward. Its composure and surefootedness instils you with all the confidence you need to exploit its impressive ability and power.
The seven-speed S tronic gearbox is a great system too and thanks to two clutches provides lightning fast changes in milliseconds. It’s been tweaked for the RS to provide more aggressive changes in manual mode, although it’s smooth and relaxed in Drive for everyday driving. It doesn’t give you the same enjoyment as a manual and enthusiastic drivers might find it takes some getting used to, but unlike other systems it does hold gears when in manual mode, even at maximum revs, rather than automatically changing up.
The RS3 is genuinely great fun to drive and has that enjoyment factor that’s somewhat missing from the more pricey TT RS. Although the steering is electrically power assisted, there is decent feedback and a nice weight too, yet it’s easy enough at low speeds for tight manoeuvres and parking. Pressing the Sport button on the dash doesn’t actually change the steering which seems unusual, but it does make the exhaust louder and the throttle more responsive too.
And what about economy? Well the RS3 does pretty well on this front too given that it’s a 340bhp four-wheel drive hatch. The average claimed consumption is 31mpg although as with any car like this, enjoy the performance and you won’t be getting near that figure too often. But compare it to the BMW M Coupe which returns 29.4mpg and it’s more than respectable.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 TFSI quattro S tronic | 31 mpg | 4.6 s | 212 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Audi RS3 (2011 – 2013)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
65%
Real MPG
17–23 mpg
MPGs submitted
7
Audi RS3 (2011 – 2013) interior
- Boot space is 302–1032 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4302 mm |
| Width | 1794 mm |
| Height | 1402 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2578 mm |
The interior isn't too different from a standard (if well equipped) A3 Sportback although the RS3 does come with a high specification and extras such as the DVD-based sat nav, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors which are all standard kit. The leather sports seats strike a good balance between comfort and side support although there are special RS3 bucket seats available as an option. They hold you in place better and also come with a coloured plastic cover in the back (as you can see in the picture of the rear seats) but could do with being set a little lower.
Getting the perfect driving position is easy thanks to good adjustment in the seat along with plenty of reach movement in the steering column. The three-spoke steering wheel has a flat-bottom along with a thicker rim trimmed in nice perforated leather while the aluminium-look paddleshifts are fixed to the wheel (as oppose to the column as they are on some performance cars) although they could do with being a little wider so that they're easier to reach. An Alcantara trimmed steering wheel is available as an option which looks good but it would doubtless wear pretty quickly.
The RS3 also gets special instrument dials including a unique version of the driver's information system which can display turbo boost pressure, oil temperature and even includes a lap timer if you're tempted to take your RS3 onto a track. Elsewhere it gets a black cloth headlining along with piano black trim inside on the doors and central console while a machined metal finish is available as an option.
Being a five-door means the RS3 has all the practicality of a standard A3 Sportback (with quattro) including the same standard bootspace of 302 litres than can be increased to more than 1000 litres with the rear seats folded down. There's a decent amount of space for two passengers in the back but it's a squeeze with three as there's a large central transmission tunnel which limits foot room.
Standard equipment from launch (June 2011):
Dual-zone climate control, aluminium-look pedals, electric windows, manual rear window blind, piano black finish inlays, RS instrument dials, RS Sports three-spoke flat-bottomed steering, Sport button, black cloth headlining, door sills with aluminium inlays and RS3 logo, Black Fine Nappa leather upholstery with silver contrast stitching, heated and manually-adjustable front sports seats, split-folding rear seats, RS Sports suspension, high performance brake system with high-gloss painetd brake calipers, quattro all-wheel drive, rear acoustic parking, Servotronic speed-dependant power steering, matt-aluminium door mirror housings, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, RS body styling (including unique front bumper, widened front air intakes, flared front arches, a rear diffuser in high-gloss black and RS design rear roof spoiler), Isofix chid seat mounting points, Bluetooth, DVD-based sat nav with two SD cars slots, Audi Music Interface (AMI) with a universal connection for MP3 players and iPods.
Audi RS3 (2011 – 2013) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4302 mm |
| Width | 1794 mm |
| Height | 1402 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2578 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1575 kg |
| Boot Space | 302–1032 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | - |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £39,950 |
| Insurance Groups | 42 |
| Road Tax Bands | K |
| Official MPG | 31.0 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 4 |
| Child | 3 |
| Pedestrian | 1 |
| Overall | - |
| Hatchback | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.5 TFSI quattro S tronic 5dr Auto | £39,950 | 31.0 mpg | 4.6 s |
Model History
November 2010
Audi launched RS3
The revered RS badge is about to adorn a compact class Audi for the first time as the new RS 3 Sportback waits in the wings with suitably spectacular performance and an evocative five-cylinder soundtrack for a spring 2011 UK debut. The formidable yet usefully practical newcomer will be available to order in the UK from next month priced at £39,900 OTR.
Audi high performance engineering division quattro GmbH takes the five-door Sportback version of the A3 as the foundation for the latest RS model, and in deference to the classic quattros of the Eighties endows it with a turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine that employs 21st Century TFSI turbo charging and direct injection technology.
First seen in the TT RS, this all-new unit fills the cabin with a rich, bass-heavy five-cylinder tone as it channels 340PS and 450Nm of torque to the road through a standard seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission and quattro all-wheel-drive. A sound flap in the exhaust branch intensifies the sound even further when the driver presses the Sport button, which also varies throttle response.
Maximum torque is readily available at the low end of the rev range, from around 1,600 rpm, and remains constant up to 5,300 revolutions, making for excellent flexibility and response.
The large turbocharger generates up to 1.2 bar of boost pressure, and downstream of it is an intercooler which achieves an efficiency rate of more than 80 per cent. The combination of the latest forced induction technology with FSI direct injection facilitates a high compression ratio (10.0:1) along with a correspondingly high efficiency ratio. Flaps in the intake tract mix the air as it flows in. The two camshafts, each adjustable by 42 degrees of crankshaft rotation, also enhance the efficiency of the mixture formation.
As befits an RS model the impressive output of this engine is reflected in an exceptional 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.6 seconds and an electronically governed 155mph top speed. Yet less predictably, this rapidity doesn't rule out the potential for up to 31mpg according to the combined cycle test.
The efficiency of the RS 3 Sportback is due in large part to a delivery-on-demand oil pump and a regenerative system that recovers energy as the car decelerates, but is also facilitated by weight-saving measures including the use of strong but light vermicular graphite for the engine block and carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the front wings. These help to keep the kerb weight of the new RS 3 down to 1,575kg, to keep CO2 output down to 212g/km and, equally importantly, to elevate the power-to-weight ratio to an impressive 216PS per tonne.
The extreme performance is gainfully employed by a chassis that lowers the RS 3 Sportback by 25mm compared with the standard A3, and comprises McPherson struts upfront and a four-link rear set-up. Balance and composure are boosted by a widened, 1,564 millimetre track, and grip by 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/35 series tyres at the front and 225/35 at the rear. The standard wheel finish is a machine-polished titanium look, but a black finish with red rim inserts is also available as an option.
Highly efficient electromechanical rack-and-pinion steering provides a suitably direct gear ratio of 16.2:1 for keen turn-in, while internally ventilated disc brakes measuring 370 millimetres in diameter at the front and 310 millimetres at the rear modulate speed powerfully and progressively. Their aluminium covers are encircled by four-piston fixed calipers painted a high-gloss black and bearing RS logos. To support them, the electronic stability programme (ESP) features a Sport mode that activates later intervention of the braking and acceleration retardation functions to enable greater adjustability without compromising safety. It can be switched off entirely for circuit use.
The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system oversees proceedings, granting the RS 3 Sportback an extra measure of traction, composure and stability. Its central component is an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch, mounted at the end of the propeller shaft to achieve a favourable axle load distribution. Located in its interior is a plate package bathed in oil.
Thanks to quattro, the propulsive power can be distributed to each axle as needed. Whenever slip occurs at one of the axles, an electric pump intervenes at lightning speed to increase the oil pressure. The pump presses the clutch plates together, thereby permitting the torque to be redirected accordingly. Thanks to a powerful accumulator, this process takes just a few milliseconds.
The latent performance potential of the new RS 3 is conveyed subtly but unequivocally at the front end by a deeper front apron that incorporates enlarged air intakes, an anthracite coloured single-frame grille with diamond-patterned styling and xenon plus headlamps.
The side view is dominated by the flared, lightweight front wings covering 19-inch alloy wheels, prominent sill panels, mirror casings in matt aluminium look and a large roof spoiler. A high-gloss black diffuser insert and two elliptical exhaust tailpipes on the left accentuate the styling at the rear.
Inside, sports seats are upholstered in Fine Nappa leather with silver contrasting stitching, and inlays are finished in Piano black or the new Aluminium Race look. A flat-bottomed RS steering wheel and an exclusive design for the instruments and S tronic selector lever also highlight this car's status, as does a specially configured Driver's Information System which displays boost pressure and oil temperature and doubles as a lap timer.
The array of standard equipment also includes the Sport button, acoustic rear parking sensors, electronic climate control, DVD-based satellite navigation with MMI (Multi Media Interface) functionality and xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. Optional features include front bucket seats, roof rails in matt aluminium look and styling packages in black or matt aluminium. Five exterior colours are available, plus an unlimited selection of custom paint finishes.
July 2012
Strictly limited second run of UK specification 340PS RS compact hatchbacks available to order.
Following its initial sell-out performance in the UK, the Audi RS 3 Sportback is making a comeback, albeit one that is likely to be fleeting. In response to consistent demand, an additional, strictly limited production run has been secured, and just 250 slots now remain for UK customers. These examples will be available at the same £39,930 OTR price as the original 500 car quota which was rapidly snapped up in 2011.
A turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol engine punches the RS 3 Sportback at the horizon to the tune of a rich, bass-heavy five-cylinder soundtrack that can be further intensified at the touch of a dashboard-mounted Sport button. A total of 340PS and 450Nm is split between the four driven wheels thanks to quattro all-wheel-drive, and passes through a standard seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission with rapid fire shifts.
As befits an RS model the impressive output of this engine is reflected in an exceptional 0-62mph sprint time of just 4.6 seconds and an electronically governed 155mph top speed. Yet less predictably, this rapidity doesn’t rule out the potential for up to 31mpg according to the combined cycle test.
A delivery‑on‑demand oil pump and a regeneration system that recovers energy during deceleration help to shore up the engine’s impressive economy performance. Equally importantly, features such as the vermicular graphite engine block and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer front wings work in favour of a relatively modest 1,575kg kerb weight and a suitably strong 216PS per tonne power-to-weight ratio.
The benefits of these measures can be felt not only in the intensity of the RS 3 Sportback’s pace, but also in the agile and animated handling delivered by its lowered MacPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension. Its balance is boosted by a widened, 1,564 millimetre track, and its grip is maximised by 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/35 series tyres at the front and 225/35 at the rear. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with its electronically controlled multi-plate clutch also oversees proceedings, granting the RS 3 Sportback an extra measure of traction, composure and stability.
The RS 3 Sportback can also move more freely thanks to its specially developed electronic stability control (ESC). It features a Sport mode that activates later intervention of the braking and acceleration retardation functions to enable greater adjustability without compromising safety, and can be switched off entirely for circuit use.
Highly efficient electromechanical rack-and-pinion steering provides a suitably direct gear ratio of 16.2:1 for keen turn-in, while internally ventilated disc brakes with four-piston fixed callipers modulate speed powerfully and progressively.
A deeper front apron that incorporates enlarged air intakes, an anthracite coloured single-frame grille and xenon plus headlamps indicate to drivers in front that the RS 3 Sportback is a force to be reckoned with.
Its side view is dominated by its flared, lightweight front wings covering 19-inch alloy wheels, prominent sill extensions, mirror housings in matt aluminium look and a large roof spoiler. A high-gloss black diffuser insert and two elliptical exhaust tailpipes on the left accentuate the styling at the rear.
Inside, Fine Nappa leather-upholstered sports seats with silver contrasting stitching, Piano black or Aluminium Race look inlays, a flat-bottomed RS steering wheel and RS-specific instruments highlight this car’s status. Its Driver’s Information System is also unique to the RS 3 Sportback, displaying boost pressure and oil temperature and doubling as a lap timer.
Standard equipment includes acoustic rear parking sensors, electronic climate control, DVD-based satellite navigation with MMI (Multi Media Interface) functionality and xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. Optional features include front bucket seats, roof rails in matt aluminium look and styling packages in black or matt aluminium. Five exterior colours are available, plus an unlimited selection of custom paint finishes.
November 2014
Spanish built Audi Q3 RS upgraded:
RS Q3 flagship boosted to 340PS and available to order from January 2015 with deliveries from Spring 2015. Now gets from 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. Has the desirable chain cam 2.5 5-cylinder RS engine offering 340PS and 450 Nm of torque, which now meets EU6. Top speed giverned to 155mph.
Standard seven‑speed S tronic transmission transfers the power to the quattro drivetrain via a new hydraulic multi‑plate clutch and has also been refined for even faster gear changes. The lower gears are closely spaced in the interest of strong acceleration, while the seventh gear is tall to optimise economy.
RS sports suspension is standard, and can be supplemented by optional electronically controlled damping adjustable via Audi drive select, and thanks to their wave design the large brake discs gripped by eight-piston calipers on the front axle are now one kilogram lighter.
As well as the 20" wheels, the Audi RS Q3 has RS-specific body detailing, including a high-gloss black honeycomb front grille and RS bumpers, a special front treatment including a quattro emblem in the air intake and a distinctive rear diffuser insert flanked by a large elliptical tailpipe. A roof spoiler, roof rails in matt aluminium and special door sill plates and door trim strips also add emphasis.
Inside, sports seats upholstered in Fine Nappa leather with contrast stitching, red needles sweeping across grey dials in the instrument cluster and a Driver’s Information System offering a special RS menu with lap timer, oil temperature and boost pressure displays set the tone.
Pricing and full specification for the new Audi RS Q3 will be confirmed nearer to its January 2015 UK launch date.
