Audi RS 3 (8Y): the five-cylinder engine, RS Torque Splitter and three speed limits
Audi RS 3 (8Y): 400 hp and 3.8 s to 100 km/h, five cylinders and quattro. Body styles, three speed limits, the facelift and a drive from Warsaw to Krakow.
In short. The Audi RS 3 is the car to pick when you want a fast, compact performance car for five people: 294 kW (400 hp), 500 Nm, 3.8 s to 100 km/h, five cylinders and quattro all-wheel drive. The model has three speed limits, 250, 280 and 290 km/h; the Aurex fleet car, a 2025 version, is limited to 280 km/h.
Source: Audi
The RS 3 in the A3 8Y family: body styles and range
The RS 3 comes in two body styles: Sportback and Limousine (saloon). Both belong to the eighth-generation Audi A3 family, code 8Y, and sales of the first version began in late October 2021. Audi calls the facelift an upgrade: orders opened in late August 2024, the cars reached dealers in October 2024, and they are built in Ingolstadt. The model remains in the Audi Sport price list dated 25 September 2026 for the German market.
The Aurex fleet version is described on the Audi RS 3 page, which has the rental dates and terms. The 2025 car is a post-upgrade version, and whether it is a Sportback or a Limousine can be seen in the photos on that page. This article deals with the model itself.
The 2021 version sits 25 mm lower than the A3 and 10 mm lower than the S3, with a front track that is 33 mm wider. Two limited series stand out: the RS 3 performance edition from before the facelift (300 units, deliveries from early 2023) and the RS 3 competition limited (750 units, deliveries in Europe from mid-2026).
The five-cylinder 2.5 TFSI and the RS Torque Splitter
The 2.5 TFSI engine has a displacement of 2480 cm3, five cylinders with a firing order of 1-2-4-5-3, and a turbocharger. Peak power of 294 kW arrives between 5600 and 7000 rpm, while 500 Nm is available from as low as 2250 rpm up to 5600 rpm. The gearbox is a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch, and the drive is all-wheel: quattro with the RS Torque Splitter. All the figures below are for the German market, from the Audi Sport price list.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5 TFSI, 5 cylinders, 2480 cm3, petrol, turbocharged |
| Power | 294 kW (400 hp), 5600-7000 rpm |
| Torque | 500 Nm, 2250-5600 rpm |
| Gearbox | 7-speed S tronic, dual clutch |
| Drive | all-wheel, quattro with RS Torque Splitter |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.8 s |
| Top speed | 250 km/h as standard, up to 280 or up to 290 km/h with options, electronically limited |
| Kerb weight | 1640 kg (Sportback and Limousine) |
| Length | Sportback 4381 mm, Limousine 4533 mm |
| Width without mirrors / with mirrors | 1851 / 1984 mm |
| Height | Sportback 1430 mm, Limousine 1412 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2631 mm |
| Boot | Sportback 282 l (1104 l with the seat backs folded), Limousine 321 l |
| Seats | 5 |
| Fuel and tank | Super Plus, octane rating 98, tank about 55 l |
The weight is given under the European method: driver 75 kg, tank 90 per cent full. At 1640 kg, each horsepower has about 4.1 kg to carry. Top Gear considers the RS Torque Splitter the main reason the RS 3 behaves so easily in corners.
Three speed limits: 250, 280 and 290 km/h
The top speed of the RS 3 is set by the electronics and depends on the configuration. As standard it is 250 km/h. The option with code 6Y4 raises the limit to 280 km/h, and the RS-Dynamikpaket takes it to 290 km/h. The Aurex fleet car has a limit of 280 km/h.
Two limited series sit outside this ladder. The RS 3 performance edition: 407 hp, 300 km/h, ceramic brakes. The RS 3 competition limited: 400 hp and 290 km/h.
On Polish roads the difference between 250, 280 and 290 km/h cannot be reached: the maximum legal speed on a motorway is below all three figures. The number matters when comparing adverts and specifications: “RS 3 250 km/h” and “RS 3 280 km/h” describe the same model in different configurations, not different cars.
What the 2024 upgrade changed
The facelift left power and torque alone: still 400 hp and 500 Nm. The changes concerned the chassis, the settings and the cabin:
- a new standard tyre with more sidewall support and better comfort in everyday driving;
- a reworked chassis set-up with brake torque vectoring for higher cornering speeds;
- a new torque distribution algorithm: oversteer is easier to provoke with the steering;
- optimised control of the exhaust flaps between 2200 and 3500 rpm;
- a new rev counter on the digital instrument panel (the Sport, Performance and Runway views were standard before the upgrade too);
- a button with a flag for Performance mode and a red RS button on the steering wheel, an app store;
- a steering wheel flattened at the top and bottom, new optional RS bucket seats, new lighting, new body colours.
The first four points affect how the car drives; the rest concern the cabin and styling. The two statements about oversteer do not contradict each other: Audi talks about how to provoke it with the steering, while Autocar describes the behaviour on the throttle mid-corner. On the throttle the car has become more stable, and oversteer is easier to provoke with the steering.
How the RS 3 drives and what it is compared with
The Top Gear review of the facelifted version is dated 31 March 2025, and Autocar writes about the updated car. Everyone praises the engine. Top Gear writes of strong acceleration, plenty of torque and a distinctive sound that sets the RS 3 apart from its rivals. Autocar calls the engine very characterful: it needs revs, finds its full voice after 3000 rpm, and the magazine sees this as a refreshing trait rather than a flaw.
On handling, the verdicts differ. Evo criticises the steering for a lack of weight and feedback. Autocar writes that the updated version has gained grip and loses less composure to oversteer on the throttle, calls the balance lively, and notes that the weight over the front axle is noticeable at the limit. The steering, according to Autocar, makes fewer than two turns from lock to lock, the turning circle is large and the ratio is variable: around the straight-ahead position the response is soft and grows with the steering angle.
The three publications rate the ride in the softer modes of the adaptive dampers alike: comfort comparable to mainstream hatchbacks (Top Gear), a calm ride in town (Autocar) and enough give on British roads (evo). All three fault the gearbox: the S tronic hesitates on downshifts, when the pedal is pressed unexpectedly and when the throttle is applied sharply. Top Gear recommends manual mode with the paddles.
Autocar calls the cabin standard for the MQB platform: ordinary seats and driving position, with carbon trim, optional bucket seats and the new steering wheel, but an interior that does not impress. The boot is smaller than those of rivals.
The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ has a two-litre four-cylinder with 310 kW (421 hp), 500 Nm, 3.9 s to 100 km/h, 270 km/h and an 8-speed DCT. The RS 3 has five cylinders and 3.8 s. The Volkswagen Golf R after its facelift (premiere on 26 June 2024) gives 245 kW (333 hp), 420 Nm, DSG 7 and 4MOTION drive; 250 km/h as standard and 270 with the R-Performance package. For comparing layouts, the Aurex fleet also has the BMW M2 2024 with the 3.0L engine and rear-wheel drive, whereas the RS 3 is all-wheel drive.
The RS 3 in Poland: route, dimensions and practicalities
From Warsaw to Kraków is about 295 km, almost all of it on the S7 expressway (about 270 km), a little over three hours on the road. For the RS 3 this is a weekend run for a party of up to five; the boot is 282 l in the Sportback and 321 l in the Limousine, so it pays to estimate how much luggage you have in advance.
A passenger car in Poland does not pay for the roads with a vignette, because there is none for it, but on separate toll sections of motorway: when choosing a route, check whether it is tolled, and read about the payment system in our guide to toll roads. There is a separate restriction for central Warsaw, the Clean Transport Zone (SCT). Check when booking whether a particular car qualifies.
The Limousine is 152 mm longer than the Sportback on the same 2631 mm wheelbase, and the saloon’s boot is 39 l larger. The width with mirrors is 1984 mm against 1851 mm for the body: on a narrow street, judge the gap first and only then drive in. The manufacturer recommends Super Plus petrol with an octane rating of 98; petrol rated 95 with ethanol up to E10 is acceptable, with a slight loss of power. The price list shows no spare wheel, only a repair kit of sealant and a 12-volt compressor, and the speed after a repair is limited to 80 km/h.
Who it suits and who it doesn’t
It suits:
- a party of up to five who need a fast car for every day: the RS 3 has five seats, three of them on the rear bench;
- those who want all-wheel drive and 3.8 s to 100 km/h in a compact body 4381 or 4533 mm long;
- those who choose a car for its five-cylinder engine and its sound.
It doesn’t suit:
- those who expect an instant gearbox: all three publications record S tronic delays;
- those who care about steering feedback: evo criticises it for a lack of weight;
- trips with a lot of luggage: 282 or 321 l, and Autocar notes that the boot is smaller than its rivals’;
- those who expect a supercar feel from the cabin: Autocar writes that the interior does not impress.
FAQ
What is the top speed of the Audi RS 3 and what does it depend on? On the configuration. As standard the speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h, option 6Y4 raises the limit to 280 km/h, and the RS-Dynamikpaket to 290 km/h. The Aurex fleet car has a limit of 280 km/h. The performance edition from before the facelift accelerated up to 300 km/h, the competition limited up to 290 km/h.
How much horsepower and torque does the Audi RS 3 2025 have? 400 hp (294 kW) at 5600-7000 rpm and 500 Nm between 2250 and 5600 rpm. The 2024 facelift did not change these figures.
How many seconds does the Audi RS 3 take to reach 100 km/h? 3.8 s according to Audi Sport. For comparison, the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ claims 3.9 s.
What is the boot capacity of the RS 3 Sportback and the RS 3 Limousine? The Sportback has 282 l, or 1104 l with the rear seat back folded; the Limousine has 321 l. The length differs too: 4381 mm for the Sportback and 4533 mm for the Limousine, with heights of 1430 and 1412 mm.
What petrol does the Audi RS 3 take? Super Plus with an octane rating of 98 is recommended. Petrol rated 95 with ethanol up to E10 is acceptable, with a slight loss of power. The tank holds about 55 l.
How wide is the Audi RS 3 with mirrors, and will it fit down the narrow streets of an old town? The width with mirrors is 1984 mm, and 1851 mm without them. The mirrors add 133 mm to the body. The real width of a street depends on the place, so it is better to judge the gap before you enter, not halfway along a narrow stretch.