Thoughts of speed often bring to mind scenes from Fast & Furious—weaving through traffic in a sleek coupé or hypercar. But when it’s time to actually buy one of those wheeled creations, reality steps in, and you remind yourself of life’s responsibilities. That’s where hot hatches and sports sedans like the Audi RS3 come in. First launched in 2011, a fully fitted-out RS3 cost over AED 210,000—a pricey pick back then. Now, at AED 319,900, it’s more than a third dearer. Yet it still makes a compelling case, as we discovered while driving the 2025 Audi RS3 on the roads of Dubai, UAE. Here’s what you should know before signing on the dotted line.
Exterior: Chic commuter meets racer vibes
Unveiled in August 2024, this is the facelifted version of the third-generation Audi RS3. Essentially a tiny sedan—or more accurately, a subcompact—based on the humble A3 commuter, it now wears steroidal bodywork that blends passenger car and race car aesthetics.
Visual updates include a redesigned black grille, trading the honeycomb for a repeated rhombus motif, reshaped bold air intakes, and new darkened Matrix LED headlights with dynamic sequencing and turn signals. The chic chequered flag LED design (or one of three others) gives it a distinct front signature, and the overall look now channels a mini RS6. At the rear, arrow-shaped LED elements provide a unique light signature, while a cleaner valance and bigger diffuser add visual punch. It also sits 25 mm lower than the A3 and about 10 mm lower than the S3, lending it a crouched, ready-to-pounce stance.
The beautiful 10-cross-spoke wheels may seem a bit too sophisticated for an overtly sporty car, but the red brake calipers are a welcome detail. Less obvious is the staggered tyre setup: 265/30 R19 at the front, 245/35 R19 at the rear—designed to help counter understeer.
The signature oval exhausts remain, eager to trumpet that sonorous note, and there’s a carbon-fibre tailgate spoiler for extra visual drama. The RS3 isn’t conventionally beautiful, but it’s all about form following function—prepped for speed, with just enough flair to turn heads. Our Mythos Black Metallic test car had stealthy, sporty vibes, though it wears green, red, yellow, orange, or blue equally well—each adding its own personality.
Interior: Straight lines and geometric architecture; red highlights & carbon fibre
Open the doors and you’re greeted by puddle lamps projecting the RS logo. Inside, you’ll find the familiar, neatly laid-out A3 interior, defined by straight lines, wedges, and geometric shapes—typical Audi stuff—now transformed with sporty red accents and carbon-fibre inlays on the dash and doors that create a motorsport-inspired atmosphere. Customisable ambient lighting and this perforated design also help enhance the cabin’s mood.
What’s particularly interesting is the asymmetrical, layered dashboard slat design that incorporates the AC vents. On the driver’s side, it aligns with the instrument binnacle, which sits higher than the rest of the dash. The cabin is upholstered in fine Nappa leather with a honeycomb pattern and RS embossing on the seats, adding the visual drama that buyers expect. The front seats are also very comfortable, offering plenty of lateral support for spirited driving. Rear space is adequate but is best suited for two adults. A panoramic sunroof helps keep the space visually airy.
The new 3-spoke sport contour steering wheel is a flat-top, flat-bottom, three-spoke unit with multi-function controls and shift paddles, and comes wrapped in microfibre for more grip. It also features a 12 o’clock marker and two red, easy-access, programmable RS performance buttons—reinforcing its sporty intent. The haptic feedback from the steering controls is decent (trust me, we’ve seen worse from the Volkswagen Group). Stainless steel pedals add to the racy vibe, while the quirky toggle gear selector works fine, though a toggling shifter might feel more tactile.
Up front, a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit displays RS-specific screens—including torque split, g-meter, and lap timer—perfect for the speed-obsessed. Central to the cabin is a 10.1-inch touchscreen for operating all infotainment functions rather effortlessly. Thankfully, there’s still separate physical switchgear for the air conditioning.
Drivetrain & Drive: 400 horse turbo 2.5L 5-pot w/ AWD grip
A purposefully reengineered exterior and upgraded interior deserve a matching powertrain—and the RS3 delivers. Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre inline-five TFSI engine, one of the few five-cylinders still in production. Carried over from the previous generation, it now benefits from a revised variable-flap exhaust system that enhances its distinctive sound and resonance.
Despite its compact footprint—comparable in size to a Toyota Corolla—the RS3 delivers performance figures that rival grand tourers, with 394 hp of peak power and 500 Nm of peak torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via Audi’s 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel-drive system.
On the road, the compact RS3 delivers a compelling mix of immediacy and engagement. I coasted along Sheikh Zayed Road and inner city ways thank to its compactness and compliant suspension, but the second you step on the throttle, its turbocharged power becomes available with near-linear delivery. Audi claims 0–100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, which seems entirely achievable—we consistently timed mid-4-second runs effortlessly. It reminded me of the older VW Golf R32, but much quicker in every measurable way. And that’s what I liked most: I could just hop in, blast off, get there on time, park easily, and be back.
It’s an easy choice as a daily driver—but really shines when the route becomes traffic-ridden or twisty. The RS-specific sport suspension greatly enhances cornering stability, with negative camber effects becoming more pronounced at speed. The standout RS Torque Splitter actively distributes torque between the rear wheels, reducing understeer and enhancing rotation. There’s also a dedicated drift mode for controlled oversteer on closed tracks.
Chassis dynamics are supported by a highly responsive braking system,** which uses steel discs that deliver a strong bite and progressive pedal feel. Between this and the BMW M2, it’s a close contest on the regular streets of Dubai —the RS3 is more stable and predictable, while the M2 is twitchier but more adjustable on the fly. But in June 2024, a pre-production 2025 RS3, driven by Audi Sport’s Frank Stippler, lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife (20.8 km) in 7:33.123, beating the previous segment benchmark (BMW M2) by over five seconds, reclaiming the compact class record.
The adaptive suspension, governed by Audi Drive Select, offers modes (Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Individual) that adjust throttle response, steering weight, and damper firmness—transforming it from commuter-friendly to track-capable at the press of a button. The RS3 also returns a claimed economy between 9.4–9.1 l/100 km (WLTP), which is no surprise considering its indicated range of 600 km during testing. At CO₂ emissions of 207–213 g/km, it also offers supercar-like performance without burning too big a hole in the ozone.
Features & Functionality: Smallish boot, well connected & safe
As the record heat impacts our comfort and even our health, I’m pleased to report that the RS3’s 3-zone climate control system performs admirably.
Storage options are limited, with a small cubbyhole, modest door bins, and a compact boot offering a useful but limited 321 litres of cargo capacity, which is smallish but will easily swallow a suitcase and more.
The SONOS 3D Premium Sound System lives up to its name, delivering high-fidelity audio with excellent clarity and depth. Connectivity is well catered for, with two USB ports up front and two USB-C charging ports in the rear. Smartphone integration is seamless via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the tiny rotary controller for volume and tuner touchpoints on the centre console is less intuitive—and not particularly ergonomic, either.
In terms of driver assistance and safety, the RS3 is well-equipped, as it should be for a sports sedan with a hefty price tag. It includes Adaptive Cruise Assist with Emergency Assist, a surround-view camera system, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Despite its compact dimensions, the RS3 also features ISOFIX anchor points for child seats on the two outer rear seats—keeping new parents happy.
Verdict: Speedy daily driver on the pricier side
Born of the humble A3—meant to serve corporate individuals and small families who appreciate the prestige of the Audi badge—the 2025 Audi RS3 is its steroid-injected sibling, with a motorsport-inspired, muscular outfit and a power-packed 400-horsepower engine, with dynamics and a soundtrack to thrill speed enthusiasts. Its compactness, efficiency, and space for luggage mean that it’s an easy choice as a daily driver with space for accompanying consorts. It definitely earns a spot in my mental vault of cars I’d like to own. And with a service interval of 15,000 km or 1 year, it eases ownership too. That said, at this price point, my options do begin to open up, and it certainly has some competent rivals.
Alternatives
At over AED 300k, it goes up against some of the most exciting vehicles, such as the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ Sedan and its Hatchback variant, BMW M2 Coupé, Volkswagen Golf R, Honda Civic Type R, and even the electric Tesla Model 3 sedan.
GOOD – Muscular bodywork; general build quality; power and dynamics; sonorous exhaust
BAD – Finicky volume/tuner controls; tight rear cabin; smallish boot; pricey; tough competition
EDITOR’S RATING – 7.5/10
SPECIFICATIONS
Body type – 5-seater; 4-door premium sub-compact sedan
Engine – Front-engine; turbocharged 2.5-litre inline 5-cylinder; all-wheel drive
Transmission – 7-speed S tronic (automatic)
Peak output – 400 PS @ 5600 – 7000 rpm
– 500 Nm @ 2250 – 5600 rpm
0 to 100km/h – 3.8 seconds (claimed)
Top speed – 250 km/h (electronically limited; claimed)
Price – Starting at AED 256,910; AED 319,900 (as tested)
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