1-2-4-5-3. That’s the firing order of the 2.5-litre turbocharged engine in the Audi RS 3. The firing order is accompanied by a rather intoxicating exhaust note. Ladies and gentlemen, let us savor this noise as the automotive world is on the charge on making everything electric. Whilst it will take a while a for Africa as a continent to fully hop on the change, we’re glad that Audi are still making these for the true petrol heads. After being unveiled in 2021, it finally hit South African shores last year in September. We got to sample the sedan variant which we fancy over the Sportback variant.
The new RS 3 sedan has a much more aggressive look than its predecessor. At the front, it features a large redesigned single-frame honeycomb grille with large intakes. It also comes standard with Matrix LED headlights that display RS 3 lettering when unlocking the car. On the side, the flared fenders give it a more imposing stance, while at the rear, it gets an RS-specific bumper with an integrated diffuser and the signature large oval tailpipes. Our tester was finished in Kemora Grey and sat on 19-inch 5-spoke Y-style wheels. The optional black appearance package plus and carbon spoiler on the tailgate complete the aggressive look. It sets itself apart from the S3 in terms of appearance.
Stepping inside, you’ll find a flat-bottom RS steering wheel, sports seats, a 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit with RS-specific graphics, a head-up display, and a 10.1-inch touch display with RS menus. The interior is typically Audi: solid, premium, and functional. The sports seats look great, but depending on the front occupants’ heights, the rear passengers have very little legroom. Headroom, on the other hand, is pretty decent. It’s a beautiful place to be in, and we drove it from Johannesburg to Durban and back in comfort.
The RS 3 Sedan is driven by the same 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine found in the previous generation model, which generates 294 kW and 500 Nm. Power is transmitted to all wheels via the automaker’s Quattro AWD system, enabling the RS3 to achieve a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds. Crack the front windows slightly, depress the loud pedal and the sound filters through the cabin and sends a tingly sensation down your spine. 1st gear, 2nd gear, 3rd gear… With each gear change, it brings nothing but joy. As much as speed is its forte, it also stops pretty well with our tester being equipped with optional ceramic brakes which means fade-free braking.
The RS 3 sedan is a great blend of comfort and performance. On the performance front, Audi has made the RS 3 a driver’s car. It is thoroughly fun to drive, which was missing from the previous generation. Go apex hunting, and the steering is direct with very little to no understeer. On the comfort side, the ride is very compliant. Aside from being comfortable to drive, during our trip from Johannesburg to Durban and back, we managed an impressive 7 l/100 km both ways. With mixed driving, however, you’re looking at around 11 l/100 km. It’s thoroughly enjoyable to drive normally and spiritedly.
The Audi RS 3 sedan is one enjoyable car to drive, whether for daily driving or for having a bit of fun with it on the weekend. Pricing starts from R 1,276,600, with options raising the price even higher. But I do have one question for you: can you put a premium on happiness? I think not.
