We’ve seen better test figures, but Audi’s entry-level RS car delivers a driving experience unmatched in the segment, thanks in part to its unique engine.
. It's the car that quite possibly will be the final resting place of Audi's 2.5-liter turbo I-5—the only remaining five-cylinder engine in the industry. And at just under $75,000 as tested, it's borderline cheap for something with that level of exclusivity. Given it's also likely the last of its kind, we were hoping for better test numbers from the RS3 and its unique five banger, but on balance this is still an exceptional sport sedan.
It's when we started turning the tiller that the new car fell behind. On the skidpad, average lateral acceleration topped out at 0.92 average g and the 2022 RS3 lapped our figure-eight course in 25.1 seconds at 0.76 average g. We've achieved similar numbers in a Genesis G70 3.3T, previous-gen Subaru WRX STI, and an EcoBoost Mustang.We attribute the discrepancy to surface temperature and tire pressure.
The RS3 even rides well. Not at the level of a similarly priced non-RS Audi, but there's just as little gut jiggle and head toss here as in the base A3. That's impressive considering the RS3's level of body control, not to mention its giant wheels.