Audi RS3 (2015-2022) Buyer’s Guide

Want in on 5-cylinder fun? Of course you do! Let’s examine the pros and cons of the 8V-generation Audi RS3 and find out what you can expect to pay for a tidy used example of the Ingolstadt-based brand’s compact high-performance model…

While the 8P-generation Audi RS3 was a limited-production halo hot hatch (just 174 units came to South Africa), its successor (also powered by a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbopetrol engine) was available in far greater numbers. As such, the Typ 8V RS3 represents an intriguing prospect on the used market.

For the record, the Typ 8V Audi RS3 was offered in 5-door Sportback guise – just like the original ‘bahnstormer – as well as 4-door Sedan guise, though the latter body style joined the range only at the mid-cycle update. In either case, power came from an engine configuration steeped in Audi quattro tradition; the “5-pot” made its comeback in 2009 under the bonnet of the since-discontinued TT RS.

Serving as a blisteringly quick entry point to Audi’s range of full-fat RS products, the 8V-gen RS3 found itself engaged in a fierce rivalry with the W176-series Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG (later renamed the Mercedes-AMG A45). Over the years, Ingolstadt and Affalterbach traded blows in a ding-dong power battle, though the 310 kW W177-gen A45 S eventually pushed decisively ahead of the apex A3.

Audi RS3 model line-up in South Africa

The 2nd iteration of the Audi RS3 Sportback was revealed in December 2014, endowed with what the German firm billed as the most powerful series-production 5-cylinder engine in RS history. With peak outputs of 270 kW and 465 Nm of torque delivered to all 4 corners via a quick-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the RS3 Sportback was said to complete the 0-100 kph sprint in a mere 4.3 sec. Its top speed was electronically capped at 250 kph, though could be optionally raised to 280 kph.

Just under a year later, in November 2015, the RS3 Sportback touched down in Mzansi. Standard features for the SA-spec model included 19-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, Xenon Plus headlights and Nappa leather upholstery with grey contrast stitching. There were also a few options available, such as a sports exhaust system, adaptive dampers, a carbon engine cover, carbon-shelled RS bucket seats and an interior design pack that added red accents to the cabin.

See also: Audi RS3 (2016) Review

In August 2017, around 9 months after the facelifted A3 range had arrived in South Africa, the local market welcomed the RS3 Sedan, which became the first compact Audi sedan to wear the RS insignia. Interestingly, the refreshed RS3 Sportback followed only in November of that year.

See also: Audi RS3 Sedan (2017) Quick Review

The mid-cycle update for the RS3 Sportback included styling tweaks and choice upgrades to the already mighty 2.5 TFSI motor – for instance, the crankcase switched to aluminium from the earlier compacted graphite iron – which now generated a heady 294 kW (+24 kW) and 480 Nm (+15 Nm).

For the record, peak torque was on tap from a slightly higher engine speed than before, but remained constant from 1 700 to 5 850 rpm. The extra grunt, along with a minor weight reduction, saw the 0-100 kph sprint time fall to a claimed 4.1 sec (regardless of the body style), although the listed combined fuel-consumption figure increased slightly (from the pre-facelift model’s 8.1 L/100 km) to 8.3 L/100 km.

While Audi South Africa opted to make the sports exhaust system standard at this point, it also lengthened the list of paid extras. For instance, new options included carbon-ceramic brakes, Audi’s virtual cockpit, MMI navigation Plus and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Towards the end of 2018, the supply of RS3 units to Mzansi was suddenly halted due to what Audi South Africa described as “limited production capacity”. Although the German firm’s local division didn’t provide any more detail on the topic, it’s thought the move was prompted by production delays involving the implementation of new WLTP emissions standards in Europe…

What followed was an almost 2-year hiatus for the RS3 Sportback and RS3 Sedan, which remained off the local market until August 2020. At that point, South Africa received what Audi billed as a “limited and final production allocation” (the SA-spec models were presumably also fitted with the WLTP-required petrol particulate filter), with pricing creeping beyond the 7-figure mark.

Our information suggests local 8V-gen stock had run dry by around August 2021, resulting in another supply interlude, with the next-gen Typ 8Y RS3 twins touching down in Mzansi in September 2022.

What are the strong points of an Audi RS3?

5-cylinder fury: There’s little doubt that the RS3’s pièce de resistance was the 2.5 TFSI engine wedged under its bonnet. Effectively half a V10, the single-turbo 5-cylinder – which won the International Engine of the Year award in its class for a whopping 9 consecutive years – served up a provocative soundtrack.

The powerplant’s fabled 1-2-4-5-3 firing sequence – with ignition alternating between directly adjacent cylinders and those further apart – resulted in an unmistakable warble at idle and a raspy roar as the revs rose (not to mention artillery-like backfires on the overrun). In short, it was an aural treat.

Remarkable cross-country pace: Endowed with that mighty powerplant, hefty brakes and Ingolstadt’s quattro all-wheel-drive system – here able to send between 50 and 100% of available torque to the rear axle – the RS3 was capable of hanging with far more expensive, more powerful machines during rapid cross-country jaunts. Lofty levels of traction made this model feel downright unflappable.

Practicality and cabin quality: Brisk as it was, the RS3 was also a fairly practical family vehicle. Sure, its ride quality was firm, but there was an underlying degree of compliancy amplified by the optional adaptive dampers (with the drive mode set to “Comfort”, of course). Cabin quality, meanwhile, was top-notch, even if special touches to denote the flagship RS status were unfortunately few and far between.

Of course, the 5-door hatchback was a little more versatile than the sedan, though both offered decent rear passenger space. Note, however, that the luggage compartments – measuring 335 litres and 315 litres, respectively – were slightly less spacious than the boots of the equivalent front-wheel-drive A3s.

What are the downsides to owning an Audi RS3?

Not the most engaging to drive: It’s a criticism often levelled at Audi’s raciest wares and it remained relevant – to a degree, anyway – in the case of the 8V-generation twins. Yes, the somewhat nose-heavy RS3’s handling felt a touch inert (and its steering feel a bit dull), with both the hatchback and the sedan displaying a tendency to understeer. As such, the best approach to making rapid progress through bends involved a “slow in, fast out” strategy, taking advantage of high levels of grip on the corner exit.

That said, Audi claimed the electronic stability control system’s sportiest mode could see drive directed “sooner and in greater amounts” to the rear axle, even suggesting this enabled the driver to “perform controlled drifts on low-friction road surfaces”. In practice, however, the RS3 lacked some dynamic sparkle, though there’s an argument to be made that the noise alone came close to making up for this!

Fuel-pump problems: Several owners of early model-year RS3s reported problems with the fuel pump, often accompanied by a “low fuel pressure” warning (even leading to the 5-pot cutting out at low engine speeds). From what we can tell, the issue could often be traced back to a faulty fuel pump module, with the Ingolstadt-based automaker even issuing a recall for this component in some parts of the world.

Miscellaneous potential issues: What else did we unearth during our research? Well, early versions of the 8V-series RS3 Sportback were known to suffer from squeaky brakes (admittedly a minor irritant), while the rear suspension’s top mounts were sometimes a little noisy (solved by a simple replacement of these items). In addition, we noted several reports of an annoying rattle emanating from the exhaust flap, though various, relatively simple DIY solutions are available.

Finally, we should point out that the RS3’s Haldex all-wheel-drive system, as well as its DQ500 dual-clutch transmission, required routine maintenance to function optimally. In both cases, many enthusiasts advise fluid changes should take place at even earlier intervals than Audi’s standard recommendations.

How much is a used Audi RS3 in South Africa?

The Audi RS3 shipped with a 1-year/unlimited mileage warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km Audi Freeway Plan. However, the latter could be optionally extended to a maximum of 10 years or 300 000 km.

When sorting through Typ 8V Audi RS3 units listed on Cars.co.za at the time of writing, we discovered that the split between the 5-door hatchback and the 4-door sedan body styles was surprisingly even (with the Sportback slightly ahead on 53%). Interestingly, 2018 was the most common model year, accounting for a 3rd of all units listed.

A whopping 92% of listings showed under 100 000 km on their respective odometers, with indicated mileage ranging from just 9 700 km (on a 2021 RS3 Sportback) to 119 000 km (on a 2018 RS3 Sedan). Some 78% of listed RS3 models were located in Gauteng.

• Below R600 000: Around 20% of the 8V-gen models on offer were listed for under R600 000, with most being early model-year units. The cheapest one we found was a 2015 RS3 Sportback priced at R550 000. We discovered just a single sedan in this space, which makes sense considering this body style arrived only in 2018.

• From R600 000 to R800 000: Fascinatingly, between these pricing bookends, sedan examples were more plentiful than hatchbacks. Despite this, the latest model year we found here was 2019, while mileage ranged from about 21 000 km through to 104 000 km.

• R800 000 and up: All units priced above R800 000 at the time of writing were facelifted models, with half of the listings in this space taking the form of 2021 model-year cars (with the sedan body style again dominating). The most expensive 8V-generation RS3 we unearthed was a 2020 saloon with 20 000 km on the clock and priced at R999 995.

Which Audi RS3 derivative should I buy?

So, which Audi RS3 variant should be at the top of your shopping list? Well, whether you choose the hatchback or the sedan will be dictated by your requirements – or indeed simply by your body-style preference. Either way, we’d suggest searching for a model fitted with the optional adaptive dampers.

If you opt for the sedan, you’ll be limited to facelifted models (obviously). Still, regardless of your preferred body style, there’s certainly an argument to be made that the upgrades (including that considerable power hike) implemented at the mid-cycle update render the later versions more attractive. However, keep in mind that models in the final production allocation were likely fitted with petrol particulate filters, which tend to restrict the exhaust sound.

Of course, we should add our usual caveat about buying a 2nd-hand performance car: bear in mind that models such as the Audi RS3 tend to be driven extremely hard, which makes evidence of regular and fastidious maintenance all the more important. As always, it’s a classic case of “buyer beware”.

Is the Audi RS3 a smart used buy?

During its time on the local market, the Audi RS3 twins had to contend with some pretty accomplished rivals. The RS3 Sportback’s main competitor, of course, was the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol-engined Mercedes-AMG A45 – first in W176 form (initially known as the A45 AMG) and later in W177 guise – while the RS3 Sedan stood toe to toe with the Mercedes-AMG CLA45.

Though the original F87-generation BMW M2 was an entirely different animal (featuring a coupe body style, 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbopetrol power, rear-wheel drive and the option of a manual gearbox), it nevertheless represented a compelling alternative for keener drivers. There was also the final Ford Focus RS (which made do with 4 cylinders as opposed to the 5 employed by its forebear) as well as the Volkswagen Golf 7 R, although the latter was more closely related to its Audi S3 cousin.

Ultimately, however, the 8V-generation Audi RS3 managed to set itself apart from its competition in several ways. Compared with the tail-happy M2, for instance, the Ingolstadt-based brand’s contender was relatively simple to drive quickly – and indeed far easier to live with on a day-to-day basis.

Though this model’s heady mix of everyday versatility and all-weather unflappability lent it broad appeal, it was the brand-defining 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbopetrol powerplant (still alive and well in the current 8Y-series version) under the Typ 8V RS3’s bonnet that made it truly stand out. As aurally charismatic as it was downright potent, the 2.5 TFSI motor was what made the RS3 feel exceptionally special.

Looking for a used Audi RS3 to buy?

Find a used Audi RS3 Sportback or Sedan on Cars.co.za!

Audi A3 (2013-2020) Buyer’s Guide

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