The 2026 Audi RS3 is back with even more attitude, more precision, and the same legendary five‑cylinder punch that makes it one of the most distinctive performance compacts on the planet.
The 2026 RS3 exterior delivers full wide‑body stance, flared fenders, a deeper RS honeycomb grille, and massive functional air intakes feeding the turbocharged five‑cylinder. Inside, the 2026 Audi RS3 interior blends luxury and performance: RS sport seats, heavy bolstering, optional Nappa leather, contrast stitching, and a flat‑bottom steering wheel.
The 2026 Audi RS3 horsepower and torque figures land at 401 hp and 369 lb‑ft of torque from the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline‑five. The 7‑speed dual‑clutch transmission fires off shifts with authority, while quattro AWD and the RS Torque Splitter deliver razor‑sharp rotation and insane corner exit traction. This is one of the last great five‑cylinder performance cars — and it feels every bit as special as the numbers suggest.
Drive Culture is detailed car review YouTube channel hosted by the ultimate car enthusiast, Jonathon Rivers. Who is Jonathon Rivers? Well, he’s a 15-year-plus auto industry veteran, who was born and raised in the Motor City! He lived several years in Japan, speaks and reads Japanese, and now works for American Honda Motor. (Although this channel is his own & not affiliated) He’s owned several fun cars including an Evo IV, multiple Civic Si, Focus RS, and most recently the Integra Type S (which he led planning for Acura)!
He’s also been lucky enough to drive just about every key new product in the market from compact cars to SUVs and EVs as well as super cars! If that isn’t enough to prove his “car guy” status, Rivers has also been featured in Motor Trend, Car and Driver, AutoBlog, Jay Leno’s Garage, Raiti’s Rides and the Savage Geese channels! He’s on Instagram here and Facebook here.
The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.
A transcript, summarized by AI and edited by a staffer, is below.
[Image: YouTube Screenshot]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
Summary
The review presents the 2026 Audi RS3 as a compact performance sedan that combines everyday usability with serious performance, with the standout feature being its unusual and increasingly rare turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. The reviewer is particularly impressed by its sound, handling and new rear torque-splitting differential.
Overview and Pricing
The RS3 traces its roots back to 2011, when Audi introduced it as a Sportback. The sedan arrived in the U.S. in 2016, and the current generation dates to 2022, with subsequent styling and feature updates.
For 2026, the base RS3 starts at $66,100. The reviewed example is heavily optioned with the Dynamic Plus Package, Carbon Package, sport exhaust and other equipment, bringing the total to $77,680. The reviewer acknowledges that this is expensive for a compact sedan but argues that the performance, distinctive powertrain and premium features help justify the price.
Exterior Styling
The RS3 has an aggressive, sinister appearance, particularly in the reviewed car’s Mythos Black Metallic paint combined with the Carbon Package. The extensive use of black and carbon fiber gives it a stealthy appearance with virtually no bright trim.
The RS3’s wide fenders give it a DTM-inspired stance, while the front features:
-
- Aggressive grille
- Matrix-style LED headlights
- Sequential lighting
- 360-degree camera
- Parking sensors
- Gloss-carbon front air inlets
- Anthracite Audi rings
The U.S. model is offered as a sedan, while other markets continue to get the Sportback version.
The Dynamic Plus Package brings 19-inch wheels, high-performance summer tires and a raised top speed of 180 mph. This particular car also has optional front carbon-ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers, which are described as almost supercar-sized for such a compact vehicle.
The tire setup is staggered, with 265/30 ZR19 tires in front and 245/35 ZR19s in the rear.
Additional Carbon Package components include carbon-fiber mirror caps, side sills, rear spoiler and rear diffuser. At the back are sequential LED taillights and the large oval exhaust outlets characteristic of Audi RS models.
Interior
Inside, the RS3 builds upon the already-premium S3 cabin with additional RS-specific touches and materials.
The dashboard has a two-tier design, while carbon-fiber trim, Alcantara and premium materials provide a more performance-oriented atmosphere.
The standout feature is the flat-bottom, heavily perforated RS steering wheel, which includes:
-
- RS button
- Performance/checkered-flag button
- Paddle shifters
- RS badging
- Anthracite Audi rings
The cabin also retains physical controls for important functions. Climate controls, drive modes, traction control, the 360-degree camera and automated parking functions all have dedicated buttons rather than being buried entirely within a touchscreen.
Technology includes a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit and a 10.1-inch center touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The RS-specific seats are another highlight. They’re full-leather bucket-style seats with honeycomb stitching and RS branding, fixed headrests and extensive power adjustment. Three-stage heated seats are also included.
The reviewer notes that Audi has switched its premium audio supplier from Bang & Olufsen to Sonos for this generation.
Rear Seat and Cargo Space
Despite being a compact performance sedan, the RS3 offers a reasonably usable back seat. The reviewer, at approximately 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11, finds the legroom and headroom adequate.
Rear passengers get:
-
- Alcantara door trim
- Sonos speakers
- Honeycomb stitching
- Air vents
- Two USB-C ports
- Fold-down armrest with cup holders
It’s technically a five-passenger vehicle, although the center position is compromised by the floor hump.
The trunk provides 11 cubic feet of cargo space. Audi uses a 40/20/40-style split-folding rear seat, allowing the center section to be lowered independently for carrying long objects such as skis.
The 12-volt battery is mounted beneath the trunk floor, adding weight toward the rear and contributing to weight distribution.
Powertrain
The heart of the RS3 is its 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five, which produces:
-
- 401 horsepower
- 369 lb-ft of torque
- Quattro all-wheel drive
- Seven-speed dual-clutch transmission
There is no manual transmission.
The powertrain is particularly significant because five-cylinder engines have become increasingly uncommon as manufacturers move toward hybrid and electric powertrains. The reviewer considers the engine’s distinctive sound one of the RS3’s defining characteristics.
The newer RS Torque Splitter is also a major upgrade. The active rear differential can distribute torque between the rear wheels, allowing the RS3 to behave more playfully than traditional Audi all-wheel-drive systems.
Driving Experience
The RS3 offers several driving modes, including Comfort, Auto and Dynamic, along with RS-specific RS Individual and RS Performance settings.
Comfort mode softens the suspension and lightens the steering, making the RS3 suitable as a daily driver. The reviewer also notes that the car can achieve approximately 29 mpg, which is impressive for a 400-hp all-wheel-drive performance sedan.
Auto mode adapts to the driver’s behavior, becoming more aggressive when driven hard and relaxing when the driver settles down.
Dynamic mode sharpens the suspension, steering, transmission and exhaust. The transmission shifts more aggressively, while the exhaust becomes louder.
The reviewer does notice a slight hesitation or jerkiness during the first- and second-gear shifts from a stop, although he doesn’t consider it a major problem.
Performance and Handling
This is where the RS3 separates itself from the S3.
In its most aggressive settings, the RS3 delivers rapid acceleration, quick transmission shifts and an extremely distinctive engine note. The reviewer particularly enjoys the automatic rev-matching and downshifting.
The five-cylinder engine’s sound is repeatedly emphasized as something unlike a conventional four-cylinder, V6 or V8. The reviewer even compares some of its character to a V10, while acknowledging that the engines are obviously very different.
The RS Torque Splitter transforms the car’s handling. Rather than keeping the car completely buttoned down, the rear differential allows the RS3 to become more playful and rotate under hard driving.
The reviewer experiences some controlled oversteer before the all-wheel-drive system hooks the car up and sends it forward. He believes this makes the new RS3 more entertaining — and potentially easier to get into trouble with —than the previous generation.
The car also demonstrates impressive ride compliance. Even in Dynamic mode, the reviewer finds that it handles rough railroad crossings surprisingly well without violently throwing occupants around.
RS3 vs. S3
One of the reviewer’s strongest conclusions is that the RS3 feels substantially different from the S3, rather than simply being a more powerful version of the same car.
The additional performance, five-cylinder engine, torque-splitting rear differential, aggressive suspension tuning and distinctive sound create a clear separation between the two models.
The reviewer describes the RS3 as being “a total class above” the S3 from a driving perspective.
Bottom Line
The 2026 Audi RS3 is presented as a rare combination of compact dimensions, luxury, everyday usability and serious performance.
Its biggest selling points are the 401-hp five-cylinder engine, unique exhaust note, quattro all-wheel drive and RS Torque Splitter, which gives the car a more playful character than Audi’s traditionally restrained all-wheel-drive performance cars.
While the $77,680 as-tested price is substantial, the reviewer sees the RS3 as considerably more than a luxury compact with a powerful engine. It’s a genuinely engaging performance car that can also function as a comfortable daily driver.
Key takeaway: The RS3’s defining characteristic is its combination of a nearly extinct five-cylinder engine and modern performance technology. The result is a compact sedan that delivers unusual sound, serious acceleration, sophisticated handling and enough comfort and practicality to serve as an everyday car.
