How the 2026 Audi RS3 Delivers Exhilarating Performance

Most compact sedans ask you to choose between practicality and excitement. The 2026 Audi RS3 refuses that trade-off — it seats five, handles a daily commute effortlessly, and still reaches 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. At Audi Silver Spring, you can experience that duality firsthand.

Five-Cylinder Engine

Under the hood, the 2026 Audi RS3 carries a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine that produces 394 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. That five-cylinder layout is a rarity in the class, and its unique firing order produces an exhaust note that's unmistakably its own, a layered, rolling sound that never lets you forget the considerable power at your control. A seven-speed S tronic® dual-clutch transmission delivers power with sharp urgency.

Torque Splitter

Earlier Audi RS3 generations earned a reputation as straight-line specialists. The RS torque splitter on the 2026 model rewrites that. By distributing power independently to each rear wheel through the standard quattro® all-wheel-drive system, the Audi RS3 now corners with genuine athleticism. In RS Performance mode, the car turns in eagerly and feels playful without crossing into unpredictable territory.

Driver-Centered Technology

Standard technology on the 2026 Audi RS3 includes a head-up display with RS-exclusive readouts — including a shift indicator, oil temperature, and power and torque percentages — plus a 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus and a 10.1-inch MMI® touchscreen. A 680-watt Sonos® Premium sound system with 15 speakers rounds out a cabin that's as polished at low speeds as it is relentless at high ones.

Schedule a 2026 Audi RS3 Test Drive in Silver Spring, MD

The 2026 Audi RS3 is the kind of car that reveals itself behind the wheel. Specs tell part of the story — the exhaust note, the steering weight, and the way it corners through a curve tell the rest. Discover it when you visit the Audi Silver Spring showroom.