The Audi RS3 is a supercar with an exotic engine in pure stealth mode

The 2026 Audi RS3 is a unicorn. Or perhaps the more appropriate name is a dinosaur. It has an odd duck, 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine which defies convention and shares a cylinder count with Audi’s legendary five-cylinders of the 1970s and 1980s, in which the quattro all-wheel drive name dominated the World Rally circuit.

But then again, who cares? Does every modern buyer understand this storied history? Why does the Volkswagen Group allow Audi to make this engine? After all, VW makes powerful four-cylinders. And powerful V-6s too. FYI, the A3 and S3 versions of the same sedan get Audi’s venerable 2.0-liter TFSI, with the latter producing a pretty strong 328 horses.

And that question (the Why), is quite important at this point. Neither Audi nor the entire Volkswagen group are going gangbusters, and the fact that Audi is marching into 2026 with this 394-horsepower beast that will set you back $66,100 is pretty much a miracle. Also a godsend. The RS3 is an exciting car. Here I will list exactly how. And why all the love in the world might not matter.

Why this is an ‘approachable’ exotic

$66,000 is not affordable. Let’s not pretend that it is. But for an exotic car that seats four and is roomy enough for chores like commuting or transporting small children, it’s quite cheap. Consider that nothing else gets an engine in this configuration, with a guttural sound that, relatively speaking, is a bit like a Subaru boxer engine (but much more muscular), and a bit like the six-cylinder, 3.6-liter engine in a 911.

The Subaru WRX tS is much cheaper in comparison and is definitely a lot of fun. But it can’t match this Audi’s 3.2-second 0-62mph performance – and the Subaru’s ride isn’t remotely as refined. The cabin is also not that smooth. Hey, it’s 20 grand cheaper! As for the 911, good luck cramming your daily load into one. That’s also possible two RS3s for the base price of a 911.

The exotic argument

In part, just bragging about owning a car with an odd number of cylinders feels kind of special. This is audibly reinforced thanks to a unique cylinder firing order of 1-2-4-5-3, which gives this Audi its distinctive number. Audi also bestows the RS3 with an exhaust valve system that opens earlier in the more aggressive RS Performance and RS Torque Rear modes (more on what these modes do, below). This leads to better breathing and an engine that is sportier, even when idling. At full grunt the growl turns into a baritone-like roar. The RS3’s backbeat is, if not exotic, menacing. Speeding north through the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission at 100 miles per hour (no, of course I didn’t!), with Quattro all-wheel drive biting for all it’s worth is hilariously entertaining.

Laser cutting of buds

Many cars today use ABS or throttle to reduce understeer. Audi uses both. The RS3 overdrives the outside rear wheel while cornering, while braking the inside rear wheel. Sensors monitor entry to determine the correct level of assistance. The feedback you feel behind the wheel is a bit of a party trick; you “feel” the precision of the steering response, even if the actual feel in the RS3 isn’t as telepathic as in some quarter-million-dollar cars I’ve tested. That’s better than fine. You still have a lot of precision, especially in more aggressive RS settings that tighten the suspension, but not so much sharpness that the RS3 Dobermann becomes nervous.

The right modes

There are a few modes that are unique to the RS. Most of the time, the stability control is turned off so you can fade through corners and spin the tires on exit. This is great fun and allows for just the right combination of control and slip, where you can push the limits of the car, but still have support like ABS brakes.

Take it to Eleven With RS Torque rear mode

A rear-wheel drive Audi? Why, yes. Tap the big RS button on the steering wheel, heed the lawyer’s warning that you can only enable this setting on a closed course (“Yessir, Yer-honor!”), and now all the power is sent to the rear axle. Also forget all the help; this is all up to you as the dashboard lights up like christmas day for hooners. Turn the squoval steering wheel a few degrees off center, step on the gas and you’ll turn like Ken Block (RIP).

My tester was covered in snow, which bites a bit harder than standard boots, but it was still stupid: easy to whip around the rear of the RS3. Instead of studying the landscape towards the peaks, I started looking with lust at empty parking lots.

Good suspension, right gearbox

Audi’s Drive Select system makes it possible to adjust the suspension damping, making for a livable exotic package. In the Efficiency, Comfort and Auto settings, the dampers remain active, allowing sufficient chassis movement to negotiate potholes and cracks in the road surface. Dynamic and RS Performance anchor the chassis while delivering quicker throttle response, and RS mode boosts steering feel and dampens stability control for optimal rotation through corners without the micro-limits of wheel slip that would dampen high-speed cornering.

Seven glorious gears

Of course, you may need a manual. But with seven shiftable gears via paddle shifters and a full manual mode, complete with redline gear hold, this is a pretty perfect sports car. Especially since you can shift to D and cruise comfortably, then quickly return to manual shifting when the terrain ahead turns to switchbacks.

TopSpeed’s opinion

I once had the pleasure of test driving the BMW E60 M5, powered by a mighty V-10. Just like with this Audi, you knew BMW wouldn’t keep making that engine forever. In the longer term, I doubt whether Audi can maintain this, as brands are constantly cutting costs and therefore evaporating manual transmissions from the option lists. I would like to add that this is not the most pragmatic car for this price range. You can find crossovers that match or even beat the Audi’s power, except they would struggle to keep up with the RS3 in the corners. Weight and length still cannot be tamed by even the best German engineering.

As for alternatives, BMW’s M3 and Cadillac’s CT4 Blackwing make a case for not defaulting to the RS3. Yet the discontinuation of the Cadillac after 2026 is unfortunately also a harbinger of Audi’s eventual demise. Sedans generally don’t sell very well these days. They will survive, but equipping exotic engines feels like an increasingly challenging proposition in the face of increasing pressure to streamline all forms of propulsion. The window closes; buy an RS3 while you still can!