Meet the Last of Its Kind: The 2025 Audi RS 3

Let’s get it out of the way: the 2025 Audi RS 3 is not your average sports sedan. It’s loud, proud, and powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five engine that’s the last of its kind in a world obsessed with hybrids, V6s, and electric motors. The new RS 3, the hot-rod sibling of the A3, refuses to blend in, and trust me, that’s a very good thing if you like your cars with attitude—and a soundtrack that howls all the way to redline.

Five Cylinders of Fury

Beneath that aggressively vented hood sits Audi’s fabled 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five, producing a snarling 401 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque for U.S. buyers. If you’re a spec sheet junkie: the thing will rip from 0-60mph in about 3.2-3.3 seconds (yep, it’s that quick), and blast past a quarter-mile in under 12 seconds. Audi claims a “conservative” 3.8-second 0-62 time, but real-world tests have seen it whoosh past 60 in an even brisker 3.2—quicker than some supercars of yesteryear.

But power is nothing without character, and if you know, you know: the RS 3’s five-pot warble is better than any sound from a mid-range BMW or AMG. It’s endearing, weird, and deeply Audi—a proper nod to the brand’s rally heritage.

Torque Splitter Magic

The 2025 RS 3 isn’t just about brute force in a compact body. Audi’s latest torque splitter—basically an active rear differential that can toss all the rear axle’s power to one side for hyper-agile corner exits—gets retuned for 2025. The result? The RS 3 is sharper than ever, with a chassis ready to drift if you’re feeling brave or keep things tidy if the mood isn’t right for heroics. The all-wheel-drive system is still Quattro, of course—this is an Audi, after all.

Looks that Kill (and Turn Heads)

Let’s talk visuals. The RS 3 gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2025, with a new grille design, wider air intakes, a meatier rear diffuser with those signature oval exhausts, and aggressive stance that screams “move over” in your rearview mirror. Audi serves up eye-searing color options like Kyalami Green, Python Yellow Metallic, and Progressive Red, in case you want something even less subtle than the RS 3’s attitude. Check the Dynamic Plus, Carbon, and RS Design packages if you want red calipers, carbon accents, and wild interior contrast stitching. On the wheel front: you get massive 19-inch alloys, summer ultra-high-performance tires, and optional R-compound track rubber if your street runs require Nürburgring cred.

Street or Track? Why Not Both

Audi’s engineers tweaked the suspension and adaptive dampers, making the ride stiffer for backroad attacks but still surprisingly comfortable (jittery over rough pavement, though—you can’t have it all). Engage “RS Performance” mode, dial up launch control, and the RS 3 will fling you at the horizon repeatedly, at least until the seven-speed dual-clutch overheats and needs a cooldown. For everyday mayhem, there’s adaptive cruise, a head-up display, and plenty of tech to remind you it’s still an Audi at heart.

Interior: Race Car Vibes for the Daily Grind

Inside, the RS 3 is every bit as driver-focused (and tech-heavy) as its exterior promises. Deeply bolstered RS seats grip you tight, and the digital cockpit looks ripped from a concept car. There’s a flat-bottom steering wheel (complete with drive mode buttons), two high-mounted vents framing the crisp digital gauge cluster, and physical climate controls that thankfully buck the all-touchscreen trend.

You’ll find green (or red) contrasting stitching if you tick the right box, and all the bells and whistles you want at this price point—the RS Technology package brings nav, surround audio, and a head-up display. Rear seat space is tight if you’re above average height, and the trunk is a snug 8.3 cubic feet. But hey, you’re not buying this car as a moving van.

Living with the 2025 RS 3 (Is This Your Next Fun Daily?

So, it’s quick, loud, and packed with tech. What’s the tradeoff? The RS 3 is not cheap—base price in the low $60,000s, but most optioned-out models tickle the high $70,000s. Fuel economy is a surprisingly good 20/29/23 mpg city/highway/combined (real-world testers have even squeezed out 34 mpg on the highway), but don’t kid yourself: Drive it hard, and the numbers tumble.

Practicality? For a five-passenger sedan under 179 inches long, you get okay front space and sort-of-okay rear quarters, and the boot is more “laptop bag” than “costco run.” But for runs to work, the gym, or midnight backroad hauls, it’s absolutely perfect.

The Competition

Who else plays in this space? BMW’s M2, with rear-drive rowdy power, and the Mercedes-AMG A45 S hatch (not in the US), but neither has the same five-cylinder quirkiness or the Audi’s playful, drift mode-enabled AWD setup. If you want something weird, fast, and utterly unique, the RS 3 is it.

Why the 2025 Audi RS 3 Matters (and Why Jalopnik Readers Should Care)

Here’s the kicker: the RS 3 is, quite simply, the last five-cylinder performance sedan you can buy new in America. It’s built for drivers who want soul, character, and some genuine weirdness in their daily—without sacrificing digital convenience. For those who care about the future of enthusiast cars, and for anyone who can recite Group B rally winners by heart, the 2025 Audi RS 3 isn’t just another sports sedan. It’s the one to buy before the electric, hybrid, CVT future rolls in for good—and makes everything a little blander.

So if you want a car that’s fast, makes all the right noises, loves to be driven hard, and stands out from the sea of beige crossovers, the 2025 RS 3 is the absolute anti-crossover. Get one while you still can.