Old vs. New: How Does the Original Audi RS 3 Stack Up Against the 2025 Model?

[Source: Auto Evolution]

The saying goes “They don’t make them like they used to,” but is that true for the Audi RS 3?

The original RS 3 packed a 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine rated at 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. Even after 14 years, the dyno showed it still delivers close to those numbers, though slight power loss and some aftermarket mods suggest it’s down by about 10 hp.

Enter the 2025 RS 3. It shares the same engine layout but turns it up a notch, boasting 394 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque (with dyno tests actually showing a bit more). Beyond the numbers, the latest RS 3 shines in handling, cornering, and responsiveness, showing just how far Audi’s engineering has come.

In head-to-head tests, the new RS3 outperformed the original across the board: 0–60 mph in 3.8 seconds vs. 4.8, and a quarter-mile time of 12.2 seconds vs. 13.4. Braking performance and agility also heavily favored the modern version.

Still, with a used 2011 RS 3 costing a fraction of the 2025’s sticker price, it remains a performance bargain, especially for enthusiasts looking for a spirited second car. No matter the generation, the RS 3 remains one of Audi’s finest examples of compact performance engineering.

In case you haven’t heard, Audi Club North America’s Win RS 3 Sweepstakes offers one lucky winner the opportunity to drive home a brand-new 2026 Audi RS 3. Now through December 31, enter for your chance to win the grand prize, plus a $10,000 credit for XPEL paint protection film and installation.

Proceeds benefit Audi Club North America, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to driver safety education, technical training, and leadership development through regional and national programs — including car control clinics, teen driver safety courses, and high-performance driving events.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, Audi Club cultivates skilled drivers and contributes to safer public roads and communities.

📍Learn more and enter for your chance to win the 2026 Audi RS 3.