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The Audi RS3 sits near the top of the tree when it comes to fast family cars. It packs an immense turn of speed into a car that can still be used every day on the school run.
That said, there is no shortage of alternative hot hatchbacks on sale. The Mercedes A-Class based AMG A45 S is the closest in pace and price to the Audi RS3. The BMW M135i (and M235i couple) - based on the BMW 1 Series and BMW 2 Series - offer a similarly premium experience, but without the extreme horsepower of the Audi.
The cheaper Volkswagen Golf R does share some parts with the Audi RS3, but the Audi justifies its higher price tag with more agility and performance. Audi’s lesser Audi S3 is also fast and fun, but without the USP of a five-cylinder engine.
Combining sports speed with the practicality of a family car, the Audi RS3 has plenty of appeal. You just need to choose whether to buy or lease one in five-door Sportback or four-door Saloon format. Take a look at an Audi RS3 for sale on heycar to discover just what’s on offer.
The Audi A3 has become a hugely successful premium hatchback and saloon. Turning it into a flame-spitting performance car is surely a good move, at least from our point of view, especially when it still has room for all the family.
Such a combination of speed and practicality means you can buy or lease a new Audi RS3 without the need to compromise. It includes plenty of the latest technology on the inside, bold styling on the outside, and the image of quality and dependability that Audi is renowned for.
Yet all of this feels secondary to the experience of driving the Audi RS3. Whether in Sportback or Saloon format, it delivers unending acceleration, aided by Audi’s surefooted quattro all-wheel-drive system. A standard seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission offers rapid gearshifts, and it steers with an impressively high level of agility and feedback. Even the ride quality is acceptable for such a quick car.
The soulful 400PS engine is the star of the show, but the Audi RS3’s cabin will make almost as much of an impression. Nappa leather seats provide cosseting luxury, while a digital dashboard and Audi’s MMI multimedia touchscreen deliver all the technology you could want.
Arguably the biggest choice will be whether to opt for the five-door Sportback or the four-door Saloon version. Both are practical for young families, although the Saloon has narrower access to its luggage space. Both models are highly desirable, and make a strong case for the Audi RS3 above its rivals.
If you want one of the fastest hot hatchbacks (or compact saloons) around, the Audi RS3 makes a compelling case for itself. Whether buying new or used, the Audi RS3 delivers magnificent performance, matched with the reassuring traction of Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system.
In fact, as Audi upped the level of driver engagement in the Audi RS3 from 2022 onwards, it has very few weaknesses. It may appear relatively expensive for a compact car, but it is competitively priced when compared with rivals like the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. The cheaper Volkswagen Golf R lacks the Audi’s interior quality, and does without its characterful five-cylinder engine. As a result, buying or leasing an Audi RS3 is a compelling proposition.
An Audi RS3 not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.
There's only one Audi RS3 (that's not a football chant...), so your choice comes down to which trim level you can afford.
If you're restricted to a used base model RS3, try seeking out one that's had the RS sports exhaust fitted (or even better the adaptive dampers). Really, if you can stretch to it we'd be going with a Carbon Black, Launch Edition or Vorsprung model, however. It's already expensive anyway so you might as well go all-out...
The Audi RS3’s exterior dimensions are: