Links to the 2022 Audi S3 reviews: 2022 Audi S3 - POV Review & Final Thoughts - ua-cam.com/video/l-WaXs9o6yw/v-deo.html 2022 Audi S3 - POV First Impressions (Winter Night Drive) - ua-cam.com/video/n_Cbf88XEfE/v-deo.html
This. Audi does tactile buttons like no other company - every single switch regardless of location all have a satisfying click feel & clicking sound, almost like a mechanical keyboard.
@@Trades46 very true, they make some fantastic buttons and knobs. I wish the steering wheel controls in the 3 series cars were a little nicer like the 5 series cars, but they've gotta get some cost out of it somewhere and I s'pose that's not a bad spot. The steering wheel buttons are still nice enough haha.
Robbie Hagberg what's the lights on okay I'll be there in the morning and see how it goes I lost my phone earlier when we want me to touch base with the y thank you so much right to the lights go your fault not a big deal and see what happens and
It’s not that they are slower per se they just leave a lot of headroom more than the competitors which is good for practical people who want more reliability. And if speeds ur game then tune and use some of that extra headroom. They are all similar if u know cars well and understand tuning that’s all it comes down to. Most of these fast new cars are turbo some are supercharged. U just tell ur turbos to make more boost and dump more gas and u get more power. More air and gas equals more power.
@@sneakerhead4770 yeah i know but stock they are third. The driving experience is just not as enjoyable. Go watch some car wow videos lol i have new seen anything other than a r8 win a race lol. But yes correct tuned that evens the playing field which is what i plan on doing with the rs7
@@OrdinaryJoe12Nothing is piped into RS3 with speakers. It’s all real sound. This car doesn’t need piped in sound. My 18 is loud with factory exhaust. My wife is always complaining it’s loud.
@@BorgWarnerKP39 The Jetta 2.5 and RS3 2.5 are totally opposite engines. Not one part is even the same. RS3 engine is over 20k. The 2.5 Jetta car a whole was under 20k. Then the trans is another 20k. Audi did no skimp out on the best parts. They were very giving.
@@BorgWarnerKP39 I grew up with Mustangs and had a ton of modified ones from Fox bodies to 03 Cobra. I had a lot of fun. I’ve had my 18 RS3 and it sounds awesome. Been polled over two times for loud exhaust. It’s all factory. Sounds amazing as it has this unique sound no other car makes. Only thing the same and better is an R8 and Lamborghini Huracan with V10. Same parts and similar firing order. Just a louder version of 5 cylinder Audi.
@@r1ckz0mb0 haha i only recently discovered this when i stumbled upon a sales thread on audizine recently. i think mclaren's seem more rare because the majority of them is probably clustered in like LA, texas and miami whereas RS3's are more evenly distributed. I do get as excited to see an RS3 as i do a mclaren, just from a nerd perspective.
Current lead time is 18 months from placing an order, so you're probably right. I ordered mine in September 21 and only recently got a build date, week 2 Feb 23 (UK order).
this car is perfect in my opinion. being similar to the s3 until you push it is exactly what i want. a comfortable daily driver that can turn up the performance by the press of a button. a just a bit of luxury feel to the interior. i can’t wait to get one.
That’s what makes it a perfect daily car and a fun fast car when pushed. It’s got dual personalities. Bigger turbo cars are not for everyone as it requires you to rev them a tad more to get the power from them. I know some complain it comes on too fast after 3500 rpm. I never complain and I always drive mine there. Some people like smaller turbo cars because they build boost faster and is more gradual, while bigger turbo cars make a ton more power at the top. Best advice is to drive it in manual. That way you control it on how you like to drive.
The steering wheel looks so plain. Could’ve thrown on the start/stop engine button on it with some carbon fiber trim to really let you know you’re driving the rs3 not an a3
Thanks for the video and the honest opinions on the RS3 versus the S3. I certainly think that 300+ HP in a small sedan should be sufficient for most people and your review confirms that 400+ HP is not necessarily better.
autogefuhl had the same conclusion. the RS3 is just for those people who want the engine and don't care at all about the extra cost. you truly can't go wrong with either car.
@@myemailiscool I traded in my '19 SS 1le Camaro for a '20 S3 6 months ago and love it! It's got plenty of power for ripping around town, and is a really nice balance between sportiness/fun and luxury. My only gripe is that the car sounds awful haha i'd consider the RS3 just for that engine sound alone but living in Canada they're just way to expensive now that we aren't selling them new anymore due to emissions issues with the 5 pot.
@@jaychesterman8197 can't imagine the increase in visibility and daily driver ability with that jump lol nice move! I think the current gen 8Y S3 sounds better than the prior gen 8V S3, you might need some sort of cat-back at the very least 🤔 The RS3 is gonna become a collector's item in canada quick, sad what happened there. used market must be f'd
@@myemailiscool we have lots of snow during our winter here, the track specced SS wasn't the greatest daily driver hahah i'm loving the s3 overall though, i've done a res delete, turbo inlet with an intake and kept everything else stock and to be fair it's not horrible, from what i've found online any other exhaust setup sounds too much like a tractor for my taste. the only RS3s on the market in my area are all 2018s and starting at 60k CAD for higher mileage ones, 70k for low mileage, it's insane! I've had a JB4 sitting in my office for the last 4 months and have come close to putting it on, but i've still got 3 years of warranty and i'm a little too paranoid of getting it flagged lol.
@@myemailiscool The current S3 is a lame offering - dull looking and very muted to drive. The RS3 is in another league to the S3. I own the new RS3 and had the S3 for a few days whilst my car was on its way to the dealer.
That 5 cylinder sounds awesome! Definitely needs a cat-back to really make it sing. Car seems great but interior is definitely a let down. Nothing special at all.
I think the interior stylistically looks great, but I agree, paying RS3 money for this interior and even S3 to a lesser extent, would leave me feeling shortchanged every time I got in. At minimum, the RS3 should come standard with the RS3 steering wheel and some added carbon fiber bits around the dash. There’s just not much other than a few RS badges inside to make you feel like you’re in something really special.
@@benwells2338 You can go really wild with the interior, at least here in Germany, with green stitching, alcantara wheel etc. This car just seemed pretty basic to me
I've got a 2023. The gear shifter is my only real complaint. (or lack thereof) It's a really fun daily driver. Surprisingly quick too. I traded in an M2 Comp for it, and it's definitely faster than that was, and handles just as good which shocked the hell out of me. The rear torque splitter does its job.
I love this car. Crazy thing is, my biggest gripe is the fact that the instrument cluster doesn’t have an analogue/needle option for traditional people. I don’t like the instrument cluster layout.
It's not! Lots of cheap plastics and piano black plastic that smears if you so much as breath on it. The B&O sound system is awful. Driving position is a tad too high. My biggest gripes after taking delivery of my new RS3.
Fully agree with your comments on turbo lag on bigger turbos for daily driving. My 8V RS3 does the same thing, even considering stepping back to a Golf R as maybe a better daily driver. Or maybe I should go stage 1 and see if it improves
I think the S3 probably strikes the better balance between a quiet daily and a pocket rocket especially for the money. I’m kinda thinking of keeping my eye out for a good spec to come up used in the next year or two so I can actually afford it 😅
I have one of the new models and had a previous model S3. You're definitely right about the sound, although I don't really agree about the interior quality. The finger switch gear shifter sucks in the new one too, as does the lack of a flat bottomed steering wheel. That being said, the rear torque splitter is a significant improvement. I've owned 5 Audis now, and it's the first one that has no understeer whatsoever. It handles every bit as good as the M2 I traded in for it. That makes it better than the previous model in my book.
@@hlfcoder7466 Thanks for the info! I had the 2016 model and it was an absolute blast - and you are right: the steering definitely needed an upgrade. Felt numb at times, and the understeer - albeit better than the classic Quattro understeer - was still noticable. Also, I could have used the upgraded digital display. Perhaps a diff/torque splitter on a 2018/19 model would be the sweet spot :)
Oh have I been waiting for this. I have a 2017 RS3 and I’m not a huge fan at all of the refreshed model (other than it getting the wider fenders my gen deserved to have) but I’m just glad you have a video in this car now because it deserves all the love in the world. Good stuff as always!
I owned a 2018 TTRS with this same 5 cylinder. The below 3k rpm behavior was unfortunate and ultimately put me off on the car. Audi's programming means that timing is pulled between shifts in low gears (to protect the gear box, I guess) which leads to the lurching / laggy feel of the car in normal driving. I consider the TTRS and RS3 to be wonderful hardware held back by software and stock tuning.
@@bobbybooshay5854 audi 5 cylinder is literally a tuner car. if y ou dont want to void your warranty i get it, i kept mine for 3 years. but at the end of the day if youre not going to tune the car then you shouldnt of bought an rs3. its the best tuning platform in its class, literally
Thank you for sitting in the rear seats of cars and giving your perspective of space. It's really unfortunate that the rs3 is a little bland during normal driving. I'm not sure if it checks enough boxes for being a special weekend car.
It isn't a special weekend card. It's a car that is pretty good at the usual stuff and great at driving hard. There are better weekend cars at the price range
Audi had to quiet the exhaust. The previous gens are louder and sound amazing. People always accuse me of having an aftermarket exhaust. They never believe me when I say it’s stock.
In my opinion, this interior is improved over the last gen but there are quite a few unattractive elements. For one, the vents being attached to virtual cockpit housing and the whole thing looking rather 'stuck on' and doesn't look premium. Secondly, the piano finish around the transmission/start button/volume selector thingy looks cheap in my eyes. On the plus side, the infotainment is integrated well and they've maintained the awesome steering wheel. Seats still look good. But it really doesn't matter because Audi isn't bringing this thing to Canada!
I'm not an Audi fan but considering how badly BMW is failing at their designs recently, it's kind of hard not to look elsewhere. On that note, I really like where the infotainment screen is placed.
There is actually a lot you can do with the interior. Red or green accents on the dashboard and seats, alcantara seats, flat bottom steering wheels in leather or alcantara and much more.
Depends where you live. In the UK, we don't get the red and green design packages and to get the flat bottom wheel (in leather only), you have to spec carbon trim on the exterior, as I did with my order.
@@narennallapareddy2994 I honestly think the sportback is the worst looking of the three. But that's just me. Also, how come two identical cars would have different interior?
Strangely the dichotomy of the performance side of this car and the "daily" side of this car is what made one of my friends pull the trigger on it. He loved it, I think to a certain person it brings extra enjoyment. He also hasn't driven anything but a 2003 camry so he may be biased. But I found it enjoyable as well.
my daily is a 2013 jetta 2.5 with suspension, wheels, tires and full bolt on. still only around 210hp but it sounds so good and handles good. have 18x8.5 gli wheels with ps4s tires.
From building both on the website to get the S3 to the RS3 trim you are only within like $8k or less. And you don’t get the nice body kit, the 5 cylinder, and the RS badging. I’d take the RS personally for holding value as well thanks to the 5 cylinder
Awesome video! If you want an even better launch on all new audi's, just wait until your boost bar is full before releasing the break.. will send you even harder
I drive an old Audi and i got disappointed a bit, so i probably wouldn't buy an Audi again, but if i have to be absolutely honest, they are very nice cars for their price. It's a really nice combination between luxury and sport. You get inside, it feels a bit like a luxury car (although it's far from being one) and it kinda feels like a performance vehicle... and... for that amount of money, it's a pretty cool car. If you are on a budget and you want to experience both (sport and comfort) Audi is the way to go, in my opinion. You can load the car with a ton of luggage and yet fly on the highway with a car, pumped up with horsepower. And they look cool. Audi looks a bit like a space ship from the inside. I love it. I personally don't like many new vehicles, but the new Audi models look WAY COOLER than the older ones. It has that ANGRY LOOKING design. Oh, and one more thing! Audi are very functional if they are 4x4. It has an amazing handling when it comes to driving. It stays on the road RIDICULOUSLY WELL. Even if you are a clumsy driver, the car will handle like you're a pro because of the quattro. Even if you buy a 20year old Quattro Audi for 4 000 dollars, it will feel like you're driving a quality machine because of the quattro.
You’re more attuned to your 850R than I am but… this 5 cylinder almost sounds the exact same as your Volvo (at least through your microphones) and I think it sounds great
Chris, in Torque Rear, you have to disengage the ESC again all the way... you need to see ESC off in the dash display, otherwise you are just in an ESC Sport mode.....
After further thinking about it, I gotta say Audi made a very smart move this generation to offer the new AWD system in the RS3 only instead of putting it in the S3 as well (which still uses Haldex). The previous generation didn't have enough differentiation between the S3 and RS3, but the new AWD setup can be that significant difference they need besides just the engine, brakes, and staggered wheels/tires. A very good move 👌
A perfect description of the RS3, and I completely agree with you. I did not buy one (twice) because it's just not that fun to drive around at slow speeds and with the price premium between than and the S3 it just wasn't worth it to me. I absolutely LOVE 5cyl engines (my 2nd favorite engine design) and this engine is pretty awesome, but it's not enough to get me to buy it alone. Of it were a manual I'd buy it without question haha, but that's just not the real world. Having the same interior as the S3 made me just buy that instead since it IS just better to drive much more of the time. I did a stage 1 tune and DSG tune eventually and it was great, but even the S3 had me wanting just a bit more...a manual would've made everything perfect.......so I sold it and bought a manual Golf R instead. (mk7.5 coming from my 2019 S3) Now tune needed, it's more fun than both of them in driving dynamics and having a manual with really short Miata like gearing. If the S3 had a manual though I'd have kept it haha. I still want an RS3, but it's just because of how it looks and sounds so it won't happen.
@@reshadegaming6285 can you elaborate on what you mean? Design of what? If you mean sedan or hatch then I prefer the hatch. If you just mean which S3 generation do I like the most then I'd say the previous one (8V) specifically from 2017-2020 model years. The new 8Y isn't bad looking but I wish the grill didn't have so much area filled in, and it's a big bigger than last generation. I also like the new interior with the touchscreen BUT I really loved the previous generations MMI wheel and controls, a lot. I miss being able to put the screen away in the previous generation as well though you couldn't do it while driving after the 2017 model year unfortunately. It was so nice to be able to do what you want on the screen and then retract it back down into the dash and have the clean look especially at night. 👌
@thetopher - I hope you see this comment as I have an owner update for you... I went from MK8 golf R, to the 23 RS3. I watched this video after I took delivery (and somewhat disagreed with you).. here I am, 8 months later and man did you nail it. The RS3 is truly special, in no way is the R or s3 even remotely as special. However, for me, who doesn't get a chance to really let the car stretch its legs - which is honestly is hard to properly to do on public roads, I find it fairly annoying to drive. In regular stop light to stop light urban driving, its a clunky or laggy driving experience. The 5 cylinder most definitely has turbo lag, and combined with the DSG's desire to upshift as quickly as possible, creates quite a bit of lag or the car just feeling out of sync. This is contrasted with the car feeling like an absolute weapon around turns, or when you're hooning it in RS performance mode. I wouldn't get another mk8 golf r but I'm blown away to admit that the R was more fun or enjoyable to drive "normal" around town. Unfortunately I'm likely on the hunt for the next car now. An important realization that most really special cars only generally shine on the track. But for my personality, its not enjoyable to drive a "special" or "track oriented" car on the street. Wrong tool for the job.
Thanks for sharing! Tbh I think the S3 is the sweet spot. The only thing I didn’t like about it was the impact noise over potholes w/the big wheels. But that’s a Michigan thing. Otherwise it made me want to buy one (already had the Type R in the pipeline at that point though). How’d you like your MK8 R? Was the interior/UI as annoying to live with long term or did you get used to it and it was fine?
@@TheTopher I got used to the UI but I found it very annoying and poorly designed. It was the original thing that got me down a path of looking for another car. That, and I had an 8v RS3 before the golf r and realized its hard to listen to a turbo 4 after you've had 5cyl+. Other interior impressions - Harman Kardon was another major bummer for my ears, and the interior felt a bit too lifeless or minimalistic to me. The seats on the other hand were awesome! Some people would consider it a step back but thinking b58 m240/m340 is a bit of a goldilocks car for what I'm looking for. Hell, I'm even thinking about a bronco.
RS3 is also a tuning monster. Mild bolts ons and a tune out them into 10’s. A handful are running high 9’s with stock block and stock turbo. Beyond impressive. Now there are quite a few running into the 8’s with bigger turbos and forged pistons/rods. Hyundai is not even in this league. Nowhere even close.
@@ryanb8736 but no manual trans . Yes most tune the hell out of them seeking satisfaction for shortcoming. They tuning the N and R type too at half cost . And ///M2 is 6 cyl power with manual available same cost .
If I saw correctly you hit 60 in 3.3 seconds? That is INSANE! I did not happen to notice but did you leave it in auto and power brake it or is there a launch mode?
“The low down torque isn’t there compared to the 2.0L” ok well the 5 cyl is their icon engine and the digital “upside down L shape” that u get for the rev counter was actually designed so you can clearly see where you’re going to have power and where you’re not. And when he’s sayin “it doesn’t have torque” he’s literally driving it below 3k rpm. Ofc the full power isn’t gonna be fully available at that point, its not a diesel. These 5cyl’s love to rev.
I like the S3 (8V < 2020) digital display because it mimics a normal analog display, I dont know if I like that road lane display, it is a different angle to the actual road which I see as confusing. I say bring back that large dial in the center of the LCD :)
So you're saying you prefer the engine in the S3 with the handling setup and all new torque vectoring system of the RS3. So... Basically you're saying you prefer a Mk8 Golf R! 😁
What's the definition of "normal driving?" I'm usually a huge fan of yours but wouldn't normal driving be equally boring in any other car, whether it's a Chiron or a Civic? Any sports car naturally shows its true colors through spirited driving.
I’ve never been a fan of this style of shifters Audi have been putting in this car, I prefer the ones you can actually grab (the feel of it in the palm of your hand) of the Stick ones!
🇬🇧 I’ve been so looking forward to your review of the RS3, especially since asking Charlie from Daily Motor about it in July. Do the S & RS3 get any better performance with the High-Octane gasoline in the tank, was that in there? I was disappointed too not hearing any pops & burbles from the exhaust from this, unlike the S3 you tested months ago, that one also had a slightly better sounding Induction compared to this car because I only watched that one Last Night (again lol)! I wouldn’t spec the Black Optics package on my RS3 because I prefer the Silver Audi Logo. All the RS3s I’ve seen on UK Roads (usually not many of this car) have had that particular package, so I’d want to make mine pretty unique from the rest and also lose the Black Wheel covers as cool as they look, because I think they might be a little too Showy for my tastes. I noticed the really cool animations on the dash display as you were turning off the engine though. Thanks Chris for showing us Audi Performance Car Fans this!
Links to the 2022 Audi S3 reviews:
2022 Audi S3 - POV Review & Final Thoughts - ua-cam.com/video/l-WaXs9o6yw/v-deo.html
2022 Audi S3 - POV First Impressions (Winter Night Drive) - ua-cam.com/video/n_Cbf88XEfE/v-deo.html
Hello. I just recently bought one. It's awesome but have quite a bit a steering wheel vibration. Did you experience that at all?
Nice extensive review. Does this RS3 have double glass windows?
As a 20 year old college student, this is my dream car 😮💨😮💨
Same here. 21 yr old with dreams of a 5 cyl Audi 🥰
What is wrong with third worlders
Same bro 😎
@@Gaben38 What's wrong with you trolling everyone thinking you are smart? Everybody knows you start with a small step.
At less them 100k this car is highly attainable. Keep pushing.
Audi does a really good job when it comes to button sounds. Even the touchscreen's "sound" is really nice.
This. Audi does tactile buttons like no other company - every single switch regardless of location all have a satisfying click feel & clicking sound, almost like a mechanical keyboard.
@@Trades46 very true, they make some fantastic buttons and knobs. I wish the steering wheel controls in the 3 series cars were a little nicer like the 5 series cars, but they've gotta get some cost out of it somewhere and I s'pose that's not a bad spot. The steering wheel buttons are still nice enough haha.
Robbie Hagberg what's the lights on okay I'll be there in the morning and see how it goes I lost my phone earlier when we want me to touch base with the y thank you so much right to the lights go your fault not a big deal and see what happens and
Why do they have to move away from that? It completely baffles me! There’s NOTHING WRONG with the physical buttons!
@@hstaff3336 Touchscreens are cheaper, and give off the whole "high tech" vibe that non-car people want.
Audi is killing it with their new cars. They just keep getting better and better
And double the price. I'd say the competition is catching up
still slow compared to mercedes, and bmw sadly if their power train was better they would easily surpass mercedes
It’s not that they are slower per se they just leave a lot of headroom more than the competitors which is good for practical people who want more reliability. And if speeds ur game then tune and use some of that extra headroom. They are all similar if u know cars well and understand tuning that’s all it comes down to. Most of these fast new cars are turbo some are supercharged. U just tell ur turbos to make more boost and dump more gas and u get more power. More air and gas equals more power.
@@sneakerhead4770 speed is the game for the rs3 it shouldn't be slower.
@@sneakerhead4770 yeah i know but stock they are third. The driving experience is just not as enjoyable. Go watch some car wow videos lol i have new seen anything other than a r8 win a race lol. But yes correct tuned that evens the playing field which is what i plan on doing with the rs7
Just hearing that 2.5L inline 5 cylinder is heaven for me :) I'm glad Audi put a 5 cylinder in this car~
yeah! having an 2.5 i5 Jetta, i would love to drive an rs3, i prefer muscle cars but that looks like a perfect every day car for me :)
Sounds like a 1.1 fiesta under the hood, interior sound is through speakers
@@OrdinaryJoe12Nothing is piped into RS3 with speakers. It’s all real sound. This car doesn’t need piped in sound. My 18 is loud with factory exhaust. My wife is always complaining it’s loud.
@@BorgWarnerKP39 The Jetta 2.5 and RS3 2.5 are totally opposite engines. Not one part is even the same. RS3 engine is over 20k. The 2.5 Jetta car a whole was under 20k. Then the trans is another 20k.
Audi did no skimp out on the best parts. They were very giving.
@@BorgWarnerKP39 I grew up with Mustangs and had a ton of modified ones from Fox bodies to 03 Cobra. I had a lot of fun.
I’ve had my 18 RS3 and it sounds awesome. Been polled over two times for loud exhaust. It’s all factory. Sounds amazing as it has this unique sound no other car makes. Only thing the same and better is an R8 and Lamborghini Huracan with V10. Same parts and similar firing order. Just a louder version of 5 cylinder Audi.
That “bargain R8” sound is unforgettable 👀
Intake, Exhaust and Tune it turns that car into a beast!!!
I swear these are more rare than McLarens I've never seen one on the road. So cool.
Even though they're 2022 model year cars they only just started to be delivered in the US in the past month
last year mclaren sold 1300 cars in the US, RS3 sales are about 1000 per year since 2018. so technically, yes they are rarer than a mclaren!
@@myemailiscool hitting me with facts!
@@r1ckz0mb0 haha i only recently discovered this when i stumbled upon a sales thread on audizine recently. i think mclaren's seem more rare because the majority of them is probably clustered in like LA, texas and miami whereas RS3's are more evenly distributed. I do get as excited to see an RS3 as i do a mclaren, just from a nerd perspective.
Current lead time is 18 months from placing an order, so you're probably right. I ordered mine in September 21 and only recently got a build date, week 2 Feb 23 (UK order).
Love the exterior, love the interior, the complete package
Needs a stick. THEN it would be complete!
Really? Lol
Interior? nah lol
^ jealous old car huggers
@@fzr1000981 Piano black everywhere is disgusting, but I bet you have never owned a car with that, right?
this car is perfect in my opinion. being similar to the s3 until you push it is exactly what i want. a comfortable daily driver that can turn up the performance by the press of a button. a just a bit of luxury feel to the interior. i can’t wait to get one.
You have a very long wait. Currently 18 months and not getting any better.
2 months for me
That’s what makes it a perfect daily car and a fun fast car when pushed. It’s got dual personalities.
Bigger turbo cars are not for everyone as it requires you to rev them a tad more to get the power from them. I know some complain it comes on too fast after 3500 rpm. I never complain and I always drive mine there.
Some people like smaller turbo cars because they build boost faster and is more gradual, while bigger turbo cars make a ton more power at the top.
Best advice is to drive it in manual. That way you control it on how you like to drive.
Dynamic sport works pretty well
The steering wheel looks so plain. Could’ve thrown on the start/stop engine button on it with some carbon fiber trim to really let you know you’re driving the rs3 not an a3
Mine has the flat bottom steering wheel. It was an option though.
Thanks for the video and the honest opinions on the RS3 versus the S3. I certainly think that 300+ HP in a small sedan should be sufficient for most people and your review confirms that 400+ HP is not necessarily better.
autogefuhl had the same conclusion. the RS3 is just for those people who want the engine and don't care at all about the extra cost. you truly can't go wrong with either car.
@@myemailiscool I traded in my '19 SS 1le Camaro for a '20 S3 6 months ago and love it! It's got plenty of power for ripping around town, and is a really nice balance between sportiness/fun and luxury. My only gripe is that the car sounds awful haha i'd consider the RS3 just for that engine sound alone but living in Canada they're just way to expensive now that we aren't selling them new anymore due to emissions issues with the 5 pot.
@@jaychesterman8197 can't imagine the increase in visibility and daily driver ability with that jump lol nice move! I think the current gen 8Y S3 sounds better than the prior gen 8V S3, you might need some sort of cat-back at the very least 🤔 The RS3 is gonna become a collector's item in canada quick, sad what happened there. used market must be f'd
@@myemailiscool we have lots of snow during our winter here, the track specced SS wasn't the greatest daily driver hahah i'm loving the s3 overall though, i've done a res delete, turbo inlet with an intake and kept everything else stock and to be fair it's not horrible, from what i've found online any other exhaust setup sounds too much like a tractor for my taste. the only RS3s on the market in my area are all 2018s and starting at 60k CAD for higher mileage ones, 70k for low mileage, it's insane! I've had a JB4 sitting in my office for the last 4 months and have come close to putting it on, but i've still got 3 years of warranty and i'm a little too paranoid of getting it flagged lol.
@@myemailiscool The current S3 is a lame offering - dull looking and very muted to drive. The RS3 is in another league to the S3. I own the new RS3 and had the S3 for a few days whilst my car was on its way to the dealer.
That 5 cylinder sounds awesome! Definitely needs a cat-back to really make it sing. Car seems great but interior is definitely a let down. Nothing special at all.
Im just happy there are some buttons, unlike the mk8 GTI/R
As long as it has good infotainment and buttons it’s fine
@@CARBONHAWK1 Not if it’s plasticky in my opinion. That can break an interior.
I think the interior stylistically looks great, but I agree, paying RS3 money for this interior and even S3 to a lesser extent, would leave me feeling shortchanged every time I got in. At minimum, the RS3 should come standard with the RS3 steering wheel and some added carbon fiber bits around the dash. There’s just not much other than a few RS badges inside to make you feel like you’re in something really special.
@@benwells2338 You can go really wild with the interior, at least here in Germany, with green stitching, alcantara wheel etc. This car just seemed pretty basic to me
I've been waiting for you to review this car for years!! Congrats for finally getting one as a press car. Way overdue.
This engine is the king of the drag strip and the best, by far, turbocharged sounding engine.
I've got a 2023. The gear shifter is my only real complaint. (or lack thereof) It's a really fun daily driver. Surprisingly quick too. I traded in an M2 Comp for it, and it's definitely faster than that was, and handles just as good which shocked the hell out of me. The rear torque splitter does its job.
I drove this car today, indescribable.
I love this car. Crazy thing is, my biggest gripe is the fact that the instrument cluster doesn’t have an analogue/needle option for traditional people. I don’t like the instrument cluster layout.
I thought there was, it's in some different gauge layout, maybe they didn't show it in this video
@@AryzenI There is - I have the new RS3, there's an option to have traditional rev counter and speedo. I keep mine in that mode.
It does, there are three display options.
I always keep it in round dial mode
That interior is stunning
It's not! Lots of cheap plastics and piano black plastic that smears if you so much as breath on it. The B&O sound system is awful. Driving position is a tad too high. My biggest gripes after taking delivery of my new RS3.
Fully agree with your comments on turbo lag on bigger turbos for daily driving. My 8V RS3 does the same thing, even considering stepping back to a Golf R as maybe a better daily driver. Or maybe I should go stage 1 and see if it improves
Stage 1+ e85 you will never look back
yes stage 1 will erase all that
Ik you probably already did something about it, but stage 1 increases low end boost and torque a very large amount.
I think the S3 probably strikes the better balance between a quiet daily and a pocket rocket especially for the money. I’m kinda thinking of keeping my eye out for a good spec to come up used in the next year or two so I can actually afford it 😅
this color looks sick
The interior has Porsche DNA big time.
Err, have you sat in one? Some of the plastics are very cheap and scratchy. Not up to Audi's normal standards and a long way of Porsche quality.
IMO the previous model sounded even better, and had an interior of higher quality materials. Plus it didn't have a soft limiter 😎
I have one of the new models and had a previous model S3. You're definitely right about the sound, although I don't really agree about the interior quality. The finger switch gear shifter sucks in the new one too, as does the lack of a flat bottomed steering wheel.
That being said, the rear torque splitter is a significant improvement. I've owned 5 Audis now, and it's the first one that has no understeer whatsoever. It handles every bit as good as the M2 I traded in for it. That makes it better than the previous model in my book.
@@hlfcoder7466 Thanks for the info! I had the 2016 model and it was an absolute blast - and you are right: the steering definitely needed an upgrade. Felt numb at times, and the understeer - albeit better than the classic Quattro understeer - was still noticable.
Also, I could have used the upgraded digital display.
Perhaps a diff/torque splitter on a 2018/19 model would be the sweet spot :)
I've been waiting for an RS3 review from you for a long time
The car was launched a year ago in the UK and EU, literally hundreds of reviews out there!
Oh have I been waiting for this. I have a 2017 RS3 and I’m not a huge fan at all of the refreshed model (other than it getting the wider fenders my gen deserved to have) but I’m just glad you have a video in this car now because it deserves all the love in the world. Good stuff as always!
I owned a 2018 TTRS with this same 5 cylinder. The below 3k rpm behavior was unfortunate and ultimately put me off on the car. Audi's programming means that timing is pulled between shifts in low gears (to protect the gear box, I guess) which leads to the lurching / laggy feel of the car in normal driving. I consider the TTRS and RS3 to be wonderful hardware held back by software and stock tuning.
Nothing a flash can't fix
@@fzr1000981not spending this amount of money then have to take it for a "flash" and void warranty on top of that 👎
@bobbybooshay5854 these cars have proven to be very reliable to 600 hp and < 3s 0-60. Hard to beat for the money. Driving in RS mode it's not laggy
@@bobbybooshay5854 audi 5 cylinder is literally a tuner car. if y ou dont want to void your warranty i get it, i kept mine for 3 years. but at the end of the day if youre not going to tune the car then you shouldnt of bought an rs3. its the best tuning platform in its class, literally
@@Rs3mocha you can't tune an Audi RS3 8y
Thank you for sitting in the rear seats of cars and giving your perspective of space. It's really unfortunate that the rs3 is a little bland during normal driving. I'm not sure if it checks enough boxes for being a special weekend car.
It isn't a special weekend card. It's a car that is pretty good at the usual stuff and great at driving hard. There are better weekend cars at the price range
This is the ultimate daily driver.
@@bartoszmiki6774 what do you like?
@@fzr1000981 miata
Audi had to quiet the exhaust. The previous gens are louder and sound amazing. People always accuse me of having an aftermarket exhaust. They never believe me when I say it’s stock.
I have the last gen, which I love. Debating with myself if I should get this new one. It's pretty nice.
One of my more attainable dream cars at the moment. Interior is gorgeous and that turbo 5-cylinder = 🔥 just wish it came in a MT ⚙️
Buy a TT RS 8j... 6 speed 5 cylinder turbo with 360 hp... Bought one myself and i love it.
In my opinion, this interior is improved over the last gen but there are quite a few unattractive elements. For one, the vents being attached to virtual cockpit housing and the whole thing looking rather 'stuck on' and doesn't look premium. Secondly, the piano finish around the transmission/start button/volume selector thingy looks cheap in my eyes.
On the plus side, the infotainment is integrated well and they've maintained the awesome steering wheel. Seats still look good.
But it really doesn't matter because Audi isn't bringing this thing to Canada!
imo get the previous gen rs3s they just sold a 2022 RS3 for 120k at my dealership. they mark them up absurd amounts. or try to find a used one
@@brianichino9634 65k for mine, what country?
I'm not an Audi fan but considering how badly BMW is failing at their designs recently, it's kind of hard not to look elsewhere. On that note, I really like where the infotainment screen is placed.
A little past the 14min mark it goes around a turn so nice!! Like it's rotating so smoothly!! I want one 😂
Bro your channel is my favourite cars channel
Just picked up a 24 💪🏼💪🏼
out of all the german manufacturers audi just always delivers. Although wish the exhuast was a bit more load considering it's an RS
There is actually a lot you can do with the interior. Red or green accents on the dashboard and seats, alcantara seats, flat bottom steering wheels in leather or alcantara and much more.
Depends where you live. In the UK, we don't get the red and green design packages and to get the flat bottom wheel (in leather only), you have to spec carbon trim on the exterior, as I did with my order.
Hear me out an S5 sportback with 5 cylinder. That would be incredible!
Why sportback?
@@jkliao6486 practicality
@@narennallapareddy2994 Then go for an S4. That car is more practical than an S5.
@@jkliao6486 better interior and looks better. The hatch is also more practical
@@narennallapareddy2994 I honestly think the sportback is the worst looking of the three. But that's just me. Also, how come two identical cars would have different interior?
i loved when audi had those free mounted infotainment screens, this solution looks a little nuts with one of the vents floating above.
Been waiting for this video forever!
Strangely the dichotomy of the performance side of this car and the "daily" side of this car is what made one of my friends pull the trigger on it. He loved it, I think to a certain person it brings extra enjoyment. He also hasn't driven anything but a 2003 camry so he may be biased. But I found it enjoyable as well.
That color is BEAUTIFUL.
I have an order in for one of these. Can't wait to get it!
Ordered mine a year ago when the order book opened in the UK... you have a very long wait. Mine's due March next year.
my daily is a 2013 jetta 2.5 with suspension, wheels, tires and full bolt on. still only around 210hp but it sounds so good and handles good. have 18x8.5 gli wheels with ps4s tires.
no flat bottom steering wheel? kind of odd to see for an RS car
Tune, after market paddles, intake, done. I wouldn't even change the exhaust. It just needs more kick at low RPM and better shifters.
From building both on the website to get the S3 to the RS3 trim you are only within like $8k or less. And you don’t get the nice body kit, the 5 cylinder, and the RS badging. I’d take the RS personally for holding value as well thanks to the 5 cylinder
Awesome video! If you want an even better launch on all new audi's, just wait until your boost bar is full before releasing the break.. will send you even harder
I drive an old Audi and i got disappointed a bit, so i probably wouldn't buy an Audi again, but if i have to be absolutely honest, they are very nice cars for their price. It's a really nice combination between luxury and sport. You get inside, it feels a bit like a luxury car (although it's far from being one) and it kinda feels like a performance vehicle... and... for that amount of money, it's a pretty cool car.
If you are on a budget and you want to experience both (sport and comfort) Audi is the way to go, in my opinion. You can load the car with a ton of luggage and yet fly on the highway with a car, pumped up with horsepower.
And they look cool. Audi looks a bit like a space ship from the inside. I love it. I personally don't like many new vehicles, but the new Audi models look WAY COOLER than the older ones. It has that ANGRY LOOKING design.
Oh, and one more thing! Audi are very functional if they are 4x4. It has an amazing handling when it comes to driving. It stays on the road RIDICULOUSLY WELL. Even if you are a clumsy driver, the car will handle like you're a pro because of the quattro. Even if you buy a 20year old Quattro Audi for 4 000 dollars, it will feel like you're driving a quality machine because of the quattro.
What a sound! Gorgeous 😍
You’re more attuned to your 850R than I am but… this 5 cylinder almost sounds the exact same as your Volvo (at least through your microphones) and I think it sounds great
Is it crazy to want a car just for the engine noise? Because this is one of my favorite cars of all time.
The video I was waiting for finally 🙌
At the beginning, you said "I'm not going to lie." Nobody ever thought you were going to tell a lie, to my knowledge
If is is possible, Would you please do the review of 2022 Porsche macan s or gts, love your reviews, thanks. Best of luck 👍
Macan S review is coming in a couple weeks! Then we’re supposed to get a GTS soon too 👍👍
Chris, in Torque Rear, you have to disengage the ESC again all the way... you need to see ESC off in the dash display, otherwise you are just in an ESC Sport mode.....
I love the older interior much better.
Whoa wait. Staggered wheels in front? I have never heard of that before , that is so cool.
The last RS3 was the same. Nothing new.
Love the RS3 but imo i think the S3 is the perfect balance. The right amount of size, power, luxury, and looks.
Just a shame that it doesn't get the R's rear differential.
Everyone who buys an S3, regrets not spending extra for RS3. The drivetrain is what makes it super special.
@@nobleman-swerve ya that was a huge letdown. They finally got this platform to handle decently.
Very stupid comment based on nothing
@@ryanb8736 no they don't .. the majority don't need it
After further thinking about it, I gotta say Audi made a very smart move this generation to offer the new AWD system in the RS3 only instead of putting it in the S3 as well (which still uses Haldex).
The previous generation didn't have enough differentiation between the S3 and RS3, but the new AWD setup can be that significant difference they need besides just the engine, brakes, and staggered wheels/tires.
A very good move 👌
A perfect description of the RS3, and I completely agree with you. I did not buy one (twice) because it's just not that fun to drive around at slow speeds and with the price premium between than and the S3 it just wasn't worth it to me.
I absolutely LOVE 5cyl engines (my 2nd favorite engine design) and this engine is pretty awesome, but it's not enough to get me to buy it alone. Of it were a manual I'd buy it without question haha, but that's just not the real world.
Having the same interior as the S3 made me just buy that instead since it IS just better to drive much more of the time. I did a stage 1 tune and DSG tune eventually and it was great, but even the S3 had me wanting just a bit more...a manual would've made everything perfect.......so I sold it and bought a manual Golf R instead. (mk7.5 coming from my 2019 S3)
Now tune needed, it's more fun than both of them in driving dynamics and having a manual with really short Miata like gearing. If the S3 had a manual though I'd have kept it haha.
I still want an RS3, but it's just because of how it looks and sounds so it won't happen.
What's your favorite design?
@@reshadegaming6285 can you elaborate on what you mean? Design of what? If you mean sedan or hatch then I prefer the hatch. If you just mean which S3 generation do I like the most then I'd say the previous one (8V) specifically from 2017-2020 model years.
The new 8Y isn't bad looking but I wish the grill didn't have so much area filled in, and it's a big bigger than last generation. I also like the new interior with the touchscreen BUT I really loved the previous generations MMI wheel and controls, a lot.
I miss being able to put the screen away in the previous generation as well though you couldn't do it while driving after the 2017 model year unfortunately. It was so nice to be able to do what you want on the screen and then retract it back down into the dash and have the clean look especially at night. 👌
RS3 with minor bolt ons is over 500 rwhp, then it wakes up
Bro I literally went to Audi today to check it out, perfect timing
@thetopher - I hope you see this comment as I have an owner update for you... I went from MK8 golf R, to the 23 RS3. I watched this video after I took delivery (and somewhat disagreed with you).. here I am, 8 months later and man did you nail it. The RS3 is truly special, in no way is the R or s3 even remotely as special. However, for me, who doesn't get a chance to really let the car stretch its legs - which is honestly is hard to properly to do on public roads, I find it fairly annoying to drive. In regular stop light to stop light urban driving, its a clunky or laggy driving experience. The 5 cylinder most definitely has turbo lag, and combined with the DSG's desire to upshift as quickly as possible, creates quite a bit of lag or the car just feeling out of sync. This is contrasted with the car feeling like an absolute weapon around turns, or when you're hooning it in RS performance mode. I wouldn't get another mk8 golf r but I'm blown away to admit that the R was more fun or enjoyable to drive "normal" around town. Unfortunately I'm likely on the hunt for the next car now. An important realization that most really special cars only generally shine on the track. But for my personality, its not enjoyable to drive a "special" or "track oriented" car on the street. Wrong tool for the job.
Thanks for sharing! Tbh I think the S3 is the sweet spot. The only thing I didn’t like about it was the impact noise over potholes w/the big wheels. But that’s a Michigan thing. Otherwise it made me want to buy one (already had the Type R in the pipeline at that point though).
How’d you like your MK8 R? Was the interior/UI as annoying to live with long term or did you get used to it and it was fine?
@@TheTopher I got used to the UI but I found it very annoying and poorly designed. It was the original thing that got me down a path of looking for another car. That, and I had an 8v RS3 before the golf r and realized its hard to listen to a turbo 4 after you've had 5cyl+. Other interior impressions - Harman Kardon was another major bummer for my ears, and the interior felt a bit too lifeless or minimalistic to me. The seats on the other hand were awesome! Some people would consider it a step back but thinking b58 m240/m340 is a bit of a goldilocks car for what I'm looking for. Hell, I'm even thinking about a bronco.
no flat bottom steering wheel?
Thank you for your helpful impression! I was wondering to buy S3 or RS3 of 8Y. I drive 8V S3. I chose it over RS3 as the same reason you mentions.
I love the 2.2l 5 cyl in my Audi S6. Best motor ever.
Is it faster than an Elantra N this time ? Shame Audi can’t make manuals . Deal killer for me
Definitely a lot faster.
Yea Audi missed opportunity to not put manual.
this time? its been faster
RS3 is also a tuning monster. Mild bolts ons and a tune out them into 10’s. A handful are running high 9’s with stock block and stock turbo. Beyond impressive.
Now there are quite a few running into the 8’s with bigger turbos and forged pistons/rods.
Hyundai is not even in this league. Nowhere even close.
@@ryanb8736 but no manual trans . Yes most tune the hell out of them seeking satisfaction for shortcoming.
They tuning the N and R type too at half cost . And ///M2 is 6 cyl power with manual available same cost .
Picking mine up NEXT WEEK :D
I've been waiting for you to drive this one nice 👍
Unitronic is only tune I would trust on this car. They’ve put a lot of work into their tunes for this drivetrain.
New 3861 Speedy, love it!
Great video Topher but RIP to owners with a staggered setup (3:57) ... I own an RC-F and I legit have to pay $1k+ every year for Pilot 4S rears 😭
The steering wheel on the previous model was much more sexier!
The torque vectoring diff was needed on the AWD VAG platform. The lack of an LSD made these cars much less fun to corner.
Currently have a civic type r and this is looking like my next car 😩
He wants those Volvo inline 5 sounds☝️
Your voice and narrative style match exactly with Patrick Bateman.
Really disappointed these new RS3s aren't available in canada.
Brilliant vid! My dream car 😍
I'm glad I got the right car for me, a 2022 S3. Not that we even get the RS3 in Canada anyways, haha.
What a beautiful door chime
Should do a video of a 2017-2018 RS3 because during this time they sounded the best and still handled pretty well.
If I saw correctly you hit 60 in 3.3 seconds? That is INSANE! I did not happen to notice but did you leave it in auto and power brake it or is there a launch mode?
Love your content! Thank you
You're the only one on UA-cam that complained about this car. lol
I kinda wish we get the hatchback in north america
“The low down torque isn’t there compared to the 2.0L” ok well the 5 cyl is their icon engine and the digital “upside down L shape” that u get for the rev counter was actually designed so you can clearly see where you’re going to have power and where you’re not. And when he’s sayin “it doesn’t have torque” he’s literally driving it below 3k rpm. Ofc the full power isn’t gonna be fully available at that point, its not a diesel. These 5cyl’s love to rev.
Love the sound this makes considering how small it is! Also idk if it's just me but why does this sound similar to a huracan to me?
5 cylinders sound very similar to V10s due to the same firing pattern. Essentially a single bank V10, this one.
@@dacmm ohhhh that makes so much sense! Thanks!
not having a flat bottom steering wheel is subjective, but it’s killing me when it comes to pulling the interior all together.
My new RS3 has the flat bottom wheel, I'm in the UK.
I like the S3 (8V < 2020) digital display because it mimics a normal analog display, I dont know if I like that road lane display, it is a different angle to the actual road which I see as confusing. I say bring back that large dial in the center of the LCD :)
They did a great interior
made a great point. Would love to see this in a bigger S model mounted longitudinal.
It's not the only car that offers 5 pot... RSQ3, Cupra Formentor VZ5, TTRS. Nice to know these reviewing that car :)
This could've benefitted from a mild hybrid system for the added low end torque.
Hatchback looks much cooler
Not at all.
So you're saying you prefer the engine in the S3 with the handling setup and all new torque vectoring system of the RS3. So... Basically you're saying you prefer a Mk8 Golf R! 😁
Five cylinder all day and everyday. I can’t go back to the four cylinder ever again.
Exactly
What's the definition of "normal driving?" I'm usually a huge fan of yours but wouldn't normal driving be equally boring in any other car, whether it's a Chiron or a Civic? Any sports car naturally shows its true colors through spirited driving.
Shifter looks lika a good bottle opener
I’ve never been a fan of this style of shifters Audi have been putting in this car, I prefer the ones you can actually grab (the feel of it in the palm of your hand) of the Stick ones!
@@paulguy2545 It's not just an Audi thing though, everyone is doing this, which I think is quite stupid.
🇬🇧 I’ve been so looking forward to your review of the RS3, especially since asking Charlie from Daily Motor about it in July. Do the S & RS3 get any better performance with the High-Octane gasoline in the tank, was that in there? I was disappointed too not hearing any pops & burbles from the exhaust from this, unlike the S3 you tested months ago, that one also had a slightly better sounding Induction compared to this car because I only watched that one Last Night (again lol)!
I wouldn’t spec the Black Optics package on my RS3 because I prefer the Silver Audi Logo. All the RS3s I’ve seen on UK Roads (usually not many of this car) have had that particular package, so I’d want to make mine pretty unique from the rest and also lose the Black Wheel covers as cool as they look, because I think they might be a little too Showy for my tastes. I noticed the really cool animations on the dash display as you were turning off the engine though.
Thanks Chris for showing us Audi Performance Car Fans this!