Skip advert
Advertisement

Audi RS3 Sportback review (2015-2017) - the definitive super-hatch? - Design

A step up above its predecessor but still not as mighty as the spec sheet suggests

Evo rating
RRP
from £40,795
  • Addictive noise, lighter on its feet than predecessor, quality
  • Not a big step up from Golf R or BMW M145i, still a shade sensible

For some, the RS3 offers the perfect balance of hot hatchback styling. The basic A3 is a handsome car, if not dripping with visual intrigue, but Audi's RS trimmings add a welcome dose of aggression. It sits low to the ground, the wheels fill the arches to just the right degree, and a subtle bodykit brings out the best in the A3's uncomplicated shape.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Alternatively, you'll see it as deeply unimaginative, and viewed head-on you'd be hard pressed to separate the RS3 from an S Line-kitted A3, or indeed many of Audi's larger products. It should age well, however.

The new Audi RS3 saloon, launched at the 2016 Paris motor show, is arguably the more handsome of the pair. The boot balances out the shape quite nicely and the wide arches look even better here than they do on the pumped-up hatchback.

> Find a used Audi RS3 for sale on Classic and Performance Car

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Everyone loves the idea of a GT car, so why does nobody buy them?
Aston Martin Vanquish
Opinion

Everyone loves the idea of a GT car, so why does nobody buy them?

We all love a great GT, says Jethro. Trouble is, no-one wants to buy them
21 Nov 2025
New Jaguar GT electric saloon sheds more disguise ahead of 2026 reveal
Jaguar GT saloon
News

New Jaguar GT electric saloon sheds more disguise ahead of 2026 reveal

Jaguar’s comeback is getting closer, as validation prototypes of its new GT saloon hit UK roads
21 Nov 2025
The Porsche 911 GT3 now laps as fast as Ford’s Mustang GTD, thanks to new Manthey upgrade
Porsche 911 GT3 Manthey Racing upgrade – front
News

The Porsche 911 GT3 now laps as fast as Ford’s Mustang GTD, thanks to new Manthey upgrade

An uprated aero, suspension and brake package from Manthey Racing has made the 992.2 GT3 just as quick as a Mustang GTD around the Nürburgring, with n…
21 Nov 2025