The Five Cylinder Legend Lives On In The 2025 Audi RS3

Audi’s keeping the heat on in 2025 with a refreshed lineup—and sitting right in the middle of the action is the RS3. The latest version starts at $64,695, just a slight bump over last year’s price. Yet, despite the increase, it still undercuts rivals like the BMW M2 and Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S by a few thousand bucks.

On the surface, the 2025 Audi RS3 might not be the most powerful of the trio—it’s got 394 horsepower, while the M2 boasts 473 hp and the CLA 45 S edges it with 416. But numbers only tell part of the story. What the RS3 brings to the table is character—thanks to its one-of-a-kind five-cylinder engine. It’s a dying breed.

Audi hasn’t overhauled the RS3’s powertrain, but it has fine-tuned just about everything else. The RS3 boasts a sharper, more modern aesthetic, akin to the latest updates to the A3 and S3. Underneath, Audi tweaked the torque-splitter rear differential and dialed in the adaptive suspension to squeeze out more grip, better ride comfort, and sharper handling.

The proof is on the track. The 2025 RS3 recently clocked a Nürburgring lap time of 7 minutes and 33 seconds, shaving over seven seconds off the outgoing model’s time without even touching the horsepower figure. That’s wild.

Of course, if you’re cross-shopping, you might notice the S3 starts at around $50K. But once you start loading up options on the S3, you’re knocking on RS3’s door anyway. And for those extra bucks, the RS3 delivers more than just performance—it brings a distinct vibe. That engine doesn’t just rev—it roars with personality.

The 2025 Audi RS3 is a car you’ll actually want to drive every day. It’s quick, confident, and, most importantly, it’s still got soul in a segment that’s becoming more about precision than passion.