2019 Audi RS 3

Audi continues to offers the RS3 in just a single trim for 2019 as well. This trim gets all the bells and whistles from the top trim of the S3 and gets sporty enhancements as well. You still get premium features like a Premium Audio System, Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control, Ambient LED Interior Lighting and a lot more.

Trim	2.5 TFSI
MSRP	$57,195
Features	Fine Nappa Leather Seats with RS Embossing, Contrast Diamond Stiching
	Full LED headlights with Dynamic Rear Indicators
	Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System
	RS Tuned Audi Magnetic Ride
	RS Specific Front Fascia, Rear Bumper and Diffuser

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The 2019 Audi RS3 comes in just one trim and state of tune and hence, we can only recommend the one on sale.

The Audi RS3 carves a corner with verve, and its turbocharged inline-5 makes this compact car downright quick. Car Connection

Engine and Transmission

The 2019 Audi RS3 comes powered by a 2.5L Turbocharged Inline 5 Motor that dishes out an impressive 394hp and 354 lbs.-ft. Of torque. These are the best figures out of any car in our comparison today and these directly factor into the Audi's real world performance.

The Engine is quick to react to throttle inputs and the Standard Quattro AWD system, allows for a superb drive experience. What sweetens the experience is the 7 Speed S-tronic DCT that allows lightning fast gear shifts and little or no lag in between the process.

Models	Audi RS3 Quattro AWD	Jaguar XE S AWD	Kia Stinger GT2 AWD	Mercedes CLA 45 AMG AWD
MSRP	$57,195	$57,280	$53,395	$54,095
Engine	2.5L Turbocharged Inline 5	3.0L Supercharged V6	3.3L Turbocharged V6	Turbocharged I-4 2.0 L
Transmission	7 Speed Automated Manual	8 Speed Automatic	8 Speed Shiftable Automatic	7-speed Automated Manual
Power(hp)	394@ 5850rpm	380@ 6500rpm	365@ 6000rpm	375hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque(lbs.-ft.)	354@ 1700rpm	332@ 4500rpm	376@ 1300rpm	350 lb.-ft. @ 2250 rpm

All rivals fall short to the Audi's numbers but it's the Jaguar XE S that comes in the closest to the Audi's figures. The Mercedes manages to sneak into the 3^rd Spot and the Kia fills in the last spot.

Acceleration

The 2019 Audi RS3 comes with a power packed motor and Audi has done well to complement that engine with a superb 7 speed dual clutch gear box and AWD. In the real world, the 3 parameters combine to make the Audi, one of the fastest cars in our comparison today. The Audi does the 60MPH run in an astonishing 3.9 seconds and demolishes the quarter mile in an unbelievable 12.1 seconds.

Models	Audi RS3 Quattro AWD	Jaguar XE S AWD	Kia Stinger GT2 AWD	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
0-60 MPH	3.9	4.8	4.7	4.1
Quarter mile(sec)	12.1	12.9	12.9	12.3
Engine	2.5L Turbocharged Inline 5	3.0L Supercharged V6	3.3L Turbocharged V6	Turbocharged I-4 2.0 L
Emission(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	8.0	N/A	N/A	6.8

No car in our comparison today can hold a candle to the Audi other than the German counterpart of the Audi- the Mercedes CLA 45 AMG. The AMG falls marginally short of the Audi's performance and the other 2 cars, still have some ground to cover against the Germans.

Handling and Steering

The 2019 Audi RS3 is the sportiest version of the standard A3, so expecting a brisk and sharp handling is certainly not a major stretch. The RS3 has an amazingly sharp and exact guiding. It gives a decent criticism notwithstanding the electric help, which is known to disconnect the street or grasp level from the driver as it does in Audi RS3.

RS3's sticky tires keep the vehicle stuck to the street. There is basically no body-move on account of its firm suspension. Its agile taking care of and solid grasp ensure your vehicle goes precisely where you need it to.

Braking

The Audi RS3, isn't just impressive in terms of performance but in terms of braking abilities as well. The Audi manages to stop from 60Mph to a standstill in just 109ft. In terms of brake feel, the Audi feels confident in all situations and the brakes offer a reassuring feel in all applications.

Model	Audi RS3 Quattro AWD	Jaguar XE S AWD	Kia Stinger GT2 AWD	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
Brake Front (in.)	14.6	N/A	13.8	13.8
Brake Rear (in.)	12.2	N/A	13.4	13.0
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3593	3915	4023	3450
60-0 MPH (ft.)	109	N/A	104	109

What comes in as a surprise is that the Kia Stinger, manages to better all of its rivals and post the best braking distances. The Merc matches the Audi in the braking department and poses the same distance as the Audi.

People going for performance sports cars hardly take into account, the MPG figures of their vehicles. But for when they do, Audi has ensures that the MPG figures of the 2019 Audi RS3 doesn't disappoint them.

The 2019 Audi RS3 delivers and overall 22MPG and 28MPG on the highway. On the city, the RS3 manages to dish out a respectable 19MPG.

Model	Audi RS3 Quattro AWD	Jaguar XE S AWD	Kia Stinger GT2 AWD	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
MPG (City)	19	20	19	23
MPG (Highway)	28	29	25	29
MPG (Combined)	22	23	21	26
Fuel Capacity(Gallons)	14.5	16.6	15.9	14.8
Range(City/Hwy)	275.5/406 Miles	332/481 Miles	270/398 Miles	340/444 Miles

Speaking of MPG figures, its the Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG that takes top honors in being the best among its rivals. The Jaguar sneaks in the second spot with its impressive 23MPG combined figure. The Kia has to do with the last spot in this test.

The Audi RS3's compact footprint means it has to make concessions for back seat space, providing another reason the driver's seat is the place to be. Car Connection

Seating and Comfort

Audi positions the 2019 RS3 as a hardcore sports car but has not skipped on providing comfort inside. The 2019 RS3 comes with Fine Nappa Leather Seats with perforated contrast diamond stitching and the RS embossing. The Extendable support on the front sport seats adds to the convenience of the driver and the passenger.

Heating functionality on the front seats and the power adjust for the seats ensures the passengers have no issues in adjusting the seats as per their preferences. The seats themselves offer enough padding to not tire out the passengers occupying them and ensure that they don't feel tired after a long drive.

Model	Audi RS3 Quattro AWD	Jaguar XE S AWD	Kia Stinger GT2 AWD	Mercedes-Benz CLA 250
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.5/54.8//41.2	N/A	38.3/56.4/42.6	40/54.8/41.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.1/53.0/35.1	N/A	37.0/54.8/36.4	38.2/53.1/27.3

If we were to complain about something, it would be the lack of space on the rear passenger side. The Sloping roof line and the compact proportions on the back, adds to the claustrophobic feel of the Audi. The competition on the other hand, excels in offering a far better space for the rear passengers. Overall, its the Merc that manages to outrun all other cars in this comparison and the Kia comes in second in the same aspect.

Interior Features

Some of the highlights of the 2019 Audi RS3's interiors include:

• Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control
• Flat Bottom Steering Wheel with paddle Shifters and Tilt and Telescopic Adjust
• Ambient LED Interior Lighting
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Stainless Steel Pedal Caps
• One Touch Up/Down power windows with pinch protection
• Folding Front Center Arm Rest
• Illuminated Aluminum Race Inlays and Door Sill inlays with RS Badge
• Auto Dimming Interior rear View Mirror with Digital Compass

Infotainment

Audi has been famed for its Infotainment System, specifically its MMI/Multi Media Interface unit because of its ease of use, responsiveness and features on offer. The 2019 Audi RS3 boasts of a lot of Features on the infotainment front, irrespective of its sporty credentials. Here is a lst of some of the cool features on offer

• Color DIS
• 10 Speaker 180W Single CD Audio System with HD and Sirius XM Radio
• USB Port for data and Charging, Bluetooth Streaming and Wireless connection for phones
• Apple Car Play, Android Auto support
• Rear View Camera
• Audi Drive Select

Cargo Capacity

Cargo space is another one of those areas, where a driving enthusiast looks the least for in his car. Audi may have taken that thought seriously and has not bothered to make the cargo practical. There are a lot of cubby holes and spaces on the inside but its the rear cargo area that dampens the sense of practicality.

The Split Folding 40/40/20 rear seats however, manage to garner some lost ground for the Audi in terms of practicality as they add to the overall cargo area of the RS3.

Model	Audi RS3 Quattro AWD	Jaguar XE S AWD	Kia Stinger GT2 AWD	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
Volume (ft cube)	10.0	14.7	23.3	13.1

The Kia Stinger GT once again comes out as the most practical sports sedan of the lot with its massive cargo space. The Jag takes the second spot in this respect and the Merc comes out third.

Tidy exterior styling and a spartan but high-tech interior give the 2019 Audi RS3 an appealing overall look. Car Connection

Design and Dimensions

To make the 2019 Audi RS3 worthy of an RS badge, Audi has made a lot of changes to the standard A3 and spruced it up accordingly. The Wide Front bumper intake and the single frame mesh grille, makes the RS3 standout from its other siblings. The huge side skirts and the dual exhausts adds to the performance appearance of the RS3. The 19 Alloy Wheels add to the flair of the 2019 Audi RS3 and gives it a racy appeal.

Speaking of proportions, the RS3 is the shortest in length among its rivals and has similar dimensions when compared to the others. The Wheelbase is the shortest among the rest and the weight is comparable to the others as well.

Model	Audi RS3 Quattro AWD	Jaguar XE S AWD	Kia Stinger GT2 AWD	Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG
Curb weight (lbs)	3593	3915	4023	3450
Length(in)	176.3	183.9	190.2	184.7
Width(in)	70.7	77.4	73.6	70.0
Height(in)	55.0	56.1	55.1	55.7
Ground clearance(in)	N/A	N/A	N/A	3.7
Wheelbase(in)	103.6	111.6	114.4	106.3

In terms of the other cars in this segment, the Kia Stinger is the biggest among the others. The Jag takes the lead when it comes to width and the height of the vehicle, making it the most cumbersome to move around in the city.

Exterior Features

Few highlights of the Exteriors of the 2019 Audi RS3 includes

• 19 5 Spoke Alloy wheels
• Automatic Full LED Headlights with Washers
• LED Taillights with dynamic turn signals
• Power Adjustable, Folding, Heated and Auto Dimming Exterior Rear View Mirrors with integrated Led Turn signals
• Front and Rear Parking sensors
• Body Color Rear Lip Spoiler
• RS Specific oval exhaust tips, front fascia, side sills, rear bumpers, diffuser

 

Even though IIHS and NHTSA haven't tested the 2019 Audi RS3, we do have the list of Safety features that the Audi comes loaded with to ensure the peace of mind of the passengers.

Safety Features

• Front, Knee, Thorax Side, Head Curtain Airbags with occupant detection
• Power Central locking with safety unlock for when the airbags deploy
• ABS with EBD and brake Assist
• ESC with secondary collision brake assist and traction control
• Anti-Theft System with Immobilizer
• TPMS with LATCH for rear seats

Audi RS3 vs. Jaguar XE S

There is not much differentiating the Jaguar XE S and the Audi RS3 in terms of pricing. The Jaguar XE S is the only Car in our comparison to come with a supercharged motor. The Jaguar, also feels a bit more plusher inside and is a bit more frugal to live with. The Jag is leagues ahead of the Audi in terms of Interior comfort offered as well. But the Jaguar, with its big proportions is a liability to drive in the city and is a little less fun to drive than the Audi. If however we were to suggest one among these, we would lean towards the Audi just because of its immaculate Build Quality and Fun factor on offer.

Audi RS3 vs. Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG

The CLA 45 AMG from Mercedes and the Audi RS3 are similar in a lot of ways. Both have superb builds, amazing infotainment systems and are a hoot to drive. But the Mercedes takes a clear in terms of comfort for passengers , Cargo Space on offer and the $3,000 price gap. The Audi sure is the more sportier car to drive but we feel that the CLA 45 AMG is the better buy of the 2.

Audi RS3 vs. Kia Stinger GT

The Kia Stinger GT was conceived by Kia, to shake the market occupied and dominated by brands like Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar. Kia has sure managed to make a mark on the market among its arrival. The Kia offers superb value in terms of price, performance and practicality. It sure may not be the best built car in the segment but with the kind of features on offer, it does justify its price. The Audi RS3 on the other hand is a proper sports saloon that handles like a sports car, built like a tank and feels like a premium saloon. SO, unless your are looking for a German badge Car, we would advise you to stick to the Kia as it offers a better value against the german.

The Audi RS3 offers everything what a consumer looking for a car in this segment wants. It offers exhilarating performance, feels premium to sit inside, build like a tank and offers the luxury of luxury saloon. Sure the Audi may not be best suited for people who want to carry more than a couple with them but other than that, the Audi will bring a smile to your face every time you take it out for a drive. So, if you are in the market, looking for the most powerful sports saloon that can ferry 4 people, has all the bells and whistles of a luxury saloon and is a hoot to look at, the 2019 Audi RS3 is the one to get.