Audi's All-New RS3 Is Cheaper Than We Were Expecting

The all-new Audi RS3 was unveiled to the world back in July 2021, and now it has finally arrived on dealership floors.

We can now confirm the pricing, which is a lot less than expected. Converted from Euros to Dollars in July last year, it looked like the RS3 would go for approximately $73,000. Even at that price, it looked like a bargain. The BMW M2 CS cost $84,000 when it was new back in 2020, and this is faster.

As it turns out, Audi is selling it for just $58,900, not including the $1,095 destination charge, sales taxes, title, options, and dealer charges.

That's excellent value for a 401-horsepower compact sedan that can get to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and an available top track speed of 180 mph.

How does that compare to its rivals? The RS3 is only available as a four-door sedan in the USA, but it competes against various cars in different body styles. The outgoing BMW M2 retails for precisely the same but is only available with RWD and two-door format. An all-new model is also on the way.

The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is as practical as the RS3 and retails for $55,900. Audi's standard features list is also quite comprehensive, and if you add all of its features to the CLA 45, it ends up costing more.

The Volkswagen Golf R is an attractive, cheaper alternative at $43,645, but you might as well get the hot hatch king, the Honda Civic Type R. It's no longer listed on Honda's website, but we know the new one is coming. And it's doubtful that Honda will mess it up or push the price up by too much.

Final specification for the US market has now been confirmed. The RS3 will be available in eight paint colors including the vivid Kyalami Green and Kemora Grey. 19-inch wheels are standard, and buyers can opt for Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires for the first time on an RS3. The RS3 is visually aggressive with 1.3-inch widened fenders compared to its predecessor.

Inside, you get the standard 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit with various RS-specific modes to track G forces, lap times, and more. The infotainment screen measures 10.1 inches and has various performance displays too. Front sport seats are upholstered in Nappa leather with 12-way power adjustment, including four-way lumbar support.

The RS3 Sedan goes on sale this summer.