Used 2022 Audi RS 3 Base for sale 

The 2022 Audi RS3 Sedan is expected to price at $56,200 and is available only in a single trim option just like its predecessor. This high-performance sedan gets a tweaked 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5 engine for the model year 2022. On the features front, the outgoing 2021 Audi RS3 Sedan was well equipped but the new RS3 gets a revised interior with better tech inside the cabin. As standard, it offers features like a Panoramic sunroof, RS branded sports seats in Fine Nappa leather with contrast diamond stitching, Full LED headlights, Leather or Alcantara steering wheel, LED headlights, Sports seats, 14-speaker audio system, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto smartphone integration. Well, it seems like a real deal for its price. The other key features are listed down in the table below.

What Trim should you buy?

The buyers of the 2022 Audi RS3 don’t have an option for choosing the configuration as it is only available in a single trim level. Apart from offering a bucket load of standard features, the Audi also provides some standalone packages such as Dynamic package, Driver Assistance Package, and Navigation package. The Dynamic package adds features like Staggered-width 19-inch wheels and a sports exhaust that sounds angry. The Driver assist package adds Traffic-adaptive cruise control, Lane-keeping assists, and Blind-spot monitoring. Last but not the least, the navigation package incorporates a Digital instrument panel, An integrated navigation system that works perfectly fine, and a Handwriting recognition touchpad that allows you to select any option by writing on the touchpad. Therefore, the 2022 Audi RS3 is fully packed with features.

The 2022 Audi RS 3 Sedan gets a 2.5L Turbocharged Inline-5 under its hood. This turbocharged inline-5 engine churns out 394 hp @ 6000 RPM and 354 lb-ft of net torque at 2000 RPM . The engine is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission along with the iconic Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The engine is tuned for staggering performance yet still delivers decent fuel economy for daily driving as well. The transmission, on the other hand, shifts seamlessly and complements the engine's power delivery. Also, it comes with an adaptive suspension that offers exceptional handling at sensational speeds. The suspension comes into its own, especially in the dynamic driving mode. The steering, on the other hand, is well-weighted and translates the driver’s inputs with precise feedback.

Coming to the performance, the 2022 Audi RS3 can hit 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds which turns out to be the quickest accelerating car of the bunch. Also, it can skyrocket to a quarter-mile distance in just 11.8 seconds and maxes out at an electronically restricted 155 mph. Considering all the performance figures, the Audi RS3 is absolutely bonkers in terms of performance and can annihilate its rivals despite having one of the underpowered engines in its class.

*2021 data used for reference

The 2022 Audi RS 3 Sedan is powerful enough to beat the performance delivered by its rivals. Among the rivals, the 2022 BMW M2 Competition is the one that managed to keep up with the Audi in terms of performance. Both these cars are very close in terms of power output with BMW slightly edging over the Audi. The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45, on the other hand, is the one with the lowest performance figures but still at par with the BMW M2 Competition in terms of performance. It puts out 382 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque with a 0-60 time of 4 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. All these cars come with the same top speed of 155 mph and are focused only on performance rather than a daily driven car.

Although these cars are built for delivering biblical performance. Due to their small turbocharged engines, these cars manage to offer decent fuel economy. The 2022 Audi RS 3 Sedan returns 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg while cruising down the highway, and a combined 23 mpg which is not the best in class but still better than the BMW M2 Competition. As for the fuel tank, it gets a 14.5-gallon fuel tank which is also the largest in its class. This large fuel tank allows the RS3 to cover a distance of 275 miles in the city, 406 miles on the highway, and a combined 333 miles making it the car with the perfect blend of performance and efficiency.

*2021 data used for reference

The fuel economy of the 2022 BMW M2 Competition is the lowest as compared to its key rivals. In the segment, Aston Martin offers considerably better EPA figures in the city as well as highway owing to its underpowered engine. It returns 20 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and a combined 24 mpg. But when it comes to range, the Audi offers the best in class driving range of 275 miles in the city and 333 miles on the highway owing to its large 14.5 gallons fuel tank. With the smallest tank, the Mercedes Benz despite having the best mpg figures still loses to the Audi in terms of driving range and manages to cover 270 miles in the city, 391.5 miles on the highway, and a combined 324 miles.

The interior of the 2022 Audi RS3 gets an upgrade which now looks more advanced and stunning than ever. To begin with, it flaunts a new dashboard design with two large AC vents placed together on the passenger side. Also, it gets a new setup for the interior ambient lighting which looks absolutely astonishing. Moreover, it gets a sport steering wheel with the RS3 logo at the bottom. The steering is chunky and very grippy to hold. Besides, it gets a leather bolstered upholstery with RS3 logo for the sport seats which also offers solid support while going through high-speed corners. The buttons used in the center console are easy to use as well. Overall, it gets a blacked-out cabin with red or green stitching accents. The upgrades to the interior are definitely worth the wait. Also, the metallic finished gear selector looks amazing and tiny as well. The interior is one of the important aspects that sets it apart from the rest of the competition.

Coming to the interior dimensions, the Audi RS3 offers seating for 5 people and comes with decent ergonomics. It measures a headroom of 36.5 inches in the front and 36.1 inches in the rear. The shoulder room, on the other hand, measures 54.8 inches in the front and 53 inches in the rear. As for the legroom, it measures 41.2 inches in the front and 35.1 inches which are on par with the competitors. Sadly, it gets the smallest cargo space in its class but only by a slight margin which measures 10 cubic feet.

*2021 data used for reference

Among the competition, the 2022 BMW M2 Competition clearly annihilates the other cars with its best in class front headroom of 40.1 inches. However, the rear headroom is a bit limited due to its coupe body style. On the other hand, the 2022 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is better than both cars in terms of overall interior space. It offers 38.5 inches of headroom in the front and 35.7 inches in the rear. In terms of legroom, it offers 41.8 inches in the front and 33.9 inches in the rear. On the other hand, the 2022 Audi RS 5 despite being moderate on cabin room offers a tremendous cargo volume of 13.8 cubic feet. Some other standout interior features of the 2022 Audi RS 3 Sedan are as follows

• 10-Way Driver Seat
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Leatherette Door Trim Insert
• Outside Temp Gauge
• Fine Nappa Leather Seat Trim -inc: RS embossing and contrast diamond stitching
• Sport Leather/Simulated Suede Steering Wheel
• Heated S Sport Front Seats -inc: manual adjustment w/4-way power lumbar
• Simulated Suede/Aluminum Gear Shifter Material

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Inside the cabin, the 2022 Audi RS 3 Sedan offers a clever infotainment system with an Audi smartphone interface which is available with a 7-inch touch screen monitor along with a digital instrument cluster. The UI and graphics now look more appealing. This system gets several additional features like a Handwriting recognition touchpad and An integrated navigation system with the navigation package. Moreover, this system gets connected to a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen audio system that offers an immersive music experience. Some other standout infotainment features of the 2022 Audi RS3 sedan are listed below

• 2 front USB ports and preparation for mobile phone
• (Bluetooth) w/streaming audio
• Radio w/Seek-Scan
• 705w Regular Amplifier
• Radio Data System
• Steering Wheel Controls
• Clock
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration

The biggest change for the model year 2022 is its exterior design. The Audi RS3 gets a much-needed facelift that now looks more athletic and appealing than its predecessor. The headlights are sharper and more stylish than before which goes well with the front profile of the car. The new LED daytime running light is simply mind blowing in terms of looks. The huge blacked-out front grille looks arresting as well. The side vents get an aggressive styling and add to the sinister looks of the car. Also, Audi adds two new gorgeous colors that makes it an absolute looker. The side profile, on the other hand, looks curvy and sharp. The Rear end has also been revised which now looks imposing with a rear lip spoiler finished in black to adorn the overall styling of the sports sedan. Furthermore, it gets a new alloy wheel design as well. For further exterior enhancements, you can go with the dynamic package that offers wide 19-inch alloy wheels and sport exhaust that not only looks good but also has a nice exhaust note. This package is available for the current year model. Hence, we expect to be offered as an option in the 2022 model as well.

Speaking of exterior dimensions, the Audi RS 3 Sedan is one of the compact cars in this segment measuring 176.3 inches. It is also not as wide as the other cars in its class and has a width of 70.7 inches. Furthermore, it measures a height of 55 inches with the least ground clearance remaining unknown. Other than that, it sports the shortest wheelbase of 103.6 inches which appears to be the shortest as well. Altogether, the compactness of the Audi would give it an advantage over its competitors in terms of handling and driving dynamics.

Comparing the competition, The 2022 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is clearly the longest SUV by a considerable margin. It has the longest wheelbase as well but loses to the BMW M2 competition in terms of ground clearance. The BMW M2 Competition, on the other hand, measures a length of 176.2 inches, a width of 73 inches, and a height of 55.5 inches. However, the Audi RS 3 Sedan is the one that offers the shortest wheelbase of 103.6 inches. Therefore, it offers better handling in the corners. Some of the standout exterior features of the 2022 Audi RS 3 Sedan include

• LED headlights
• Staggered-width 19-inch wheels
• Sport exhaust
• Lip Spoiler
• LED Brakelights
• Front And Rear Fog Lamps
• Blacked out front grille
• Speed Sensitive Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers with Heated Jets

The 2022 Audi RS 3 Sedan hasn’t been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS yet just like the outgoing model. Nonetheless, the regular 2022 Audi A3 gets an overall ‘Good’ rating from the IIHS with an Acceptable rating only when it comes to headlights. Taking all the scores into account, the Audi RS3 is a better car and is expected to be a pretty safe car and robust. On top of that, the Audi also equips it with some first-class safety and driver assistance features. Some of the important safety features include

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Back-Up Camera
• Front Collision Mitigation
• Side Impact Beams
• Audi pre sense basic
• Audi parking system Front And Rear Parking Sensors
• Back-Up Camera

2022 Audi RS 3 Sedan Vs 2022 BMW M2 Competition:

The BMW M2 Competition is the most competitive car in this range. Ever since its launch in 2015, it has been unchanged except for performance and slight exterior tweaks. In terms of power, it decimates the Audi RS3 but due to its Quattro system, the Audi edges over the BMW in straight-line speeds as well as handling. Also, the Audi offers considerably more fuel efficiency and a new opulent cabin. Furthermore, it is certainly more affordable than the BMW. Hence, we recommend the all-new Audi RS3 sedan for its ultimate performance and character.

2022 Audi RS 3 Sedan Vs 2022 Mercedes Benz-AMG CLA 45:

As you can see, the 2022 Mercedes Benz-AMG CLA 45 is obviously not as fast as the Audi but definitely excels on the fuel economy front. Also, the Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG is not only superior in terms of quality but also comes with the spacious cabin. Looks-wise, both these cars are equally stunning. Among the two, we lean more towards the Audi RS3 as it ticks all the boxes of an ideal family sports sedan.

The 2022 Audi RS3 Sedan outshines the German bitter rivals in most aspects and gets more sophisticated and refined. This sporty sedan ups the ante on the performance sedan segment with its new facelift and tweaked performance. Apart from downsides like limited cargo space and stiff ride, it outrivals its competitors in every aspect. On the whole, the Audi cranks up the heat in this segment with the release of the 2022 Audi RS3 sedan, and it is worth checking out when it comes to buying performance-oriented sedans.