Used 2025 Audi RS 3 for Sale near Illinois

Is the 2025 Audi RS 3 a good car?

The 2025 Audi RS 3 earns a 7.8/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Performance at 10/10.

It’s Audi’s sportiest compact sedan, and the data backs that up: you get four-door practicality, sports car-rivalling performance, and an interior that lives up to the brand’s name. For 2025, updated chassis tuning makes it even easier to drive fast, and the subtle facelift keeps the RS 3 feeling current.

The trade-offs are just as clear. Cargo space is limited, and it’s poor value for money.

For you, that means the RS 3 makes the most sense if you want serious speed without giving up everyday usability. The market signal is moderate, with 39.2% of listings priced as good or great deals.

Is the 2025 Audi RS 3 reliable?

The 2025 Audi RS 3 is described as a special performance model that still combines thrills with everyday refinement. Its turbocharged five-cylinder, dual-clutch transmission, and AWD setup are presented as a familiar recipe for drama-free performance, and the chassis tuning is tuned to make the car easier to drive fast without losing its engaging character.

It also comes with the same four-year/50,000-mile new car warranty and four-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty as other Audi models, which helps support ownership confidence. The performance hardware is substantial, but the car is still a derivative of Audi’s entry-level model, so long-term ownership risk for used buyers is tied more to performance complexity and running costs than to basic usability.

What should I look for when buying a used 2025 Audi RS 3?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially because this is a high-performance model with specialized hardware. Focus on overall condition, signs of hard use, and whether the car has been maintained consistently.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The RS 3’s exterior and interior details make it immediately clear that this is a performance model, with heavily bolstered front seats, Alcantara, RS-specific styling, and available appearance upgrades like the Carbon Optic Package and Design Plus Package.
• Powertrain: The RS 3 uses a unique turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and AWD. It produces 394 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, and Audi says it can reach 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, Park Assist Plus, a 360-degree camera system, and automatic lane-centering. There is not a hands-free option.
• Infotainment: You get a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.1-inch touchscreen, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, and a 15-speaker Sonos audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: The RS 3 is rated at 23 mpg combined, with 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. Our observed fuel economy was 22.8 mpg.

Which 2025 Audi RS 3 trim should I buy?

The 2025 Audi RS 3 is offered in 1 trim level: RS 3.

Here's the short version:

The RS 3 is the one to buy because it’s the only trim, and it already includes the core RS hardware and luxury-tech mix that define the car. You get the unique turbo five-cylinder, AWD, adaptive damping, the RS Torque Splitter, the standard safety suite, and the full infotainment setup without needing to climb a trim ladder.

The safety package is standard, so there isn’t a lower trim with meaningful feature gaps to worry about.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2025 Audi RS 3?

This is a moderate, selective-buyer market, so you have room to shop carefully rather than rush.

• Deal availability: 39.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 102 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 96.1% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2025 Audi RS 3 safe?

The RS 3 comes standard with expected driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Also standard are Park Assist Plus automated parking assistance, a 360-degree camera system that provides overhead, front, rear, and side views. Automatic lane-centering is included as well, but there is not a hands-free option.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

The named driver-assistance suite includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, Park Assist Plus, a 360-degree camera system, and automatic lane-centering. There is no hands-free driving system.

Should I buy a 2025 Audi RS 3 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2025 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2025 if:

• 39.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 96.1% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• For 2025, it gets updated chassis tuning that makes it even easier to drive fast, plus a subtle facelift.

The bottom line: If you want the sharpest version of this compact RS sedan, the 2025 is the one to target because it adds updated chassis tuning and keeps the formula focused on speed, handling, and everyday usability. If you’re more price-sensitive, a nearby model year may still deliver much of the same core experience, but the 2025 is the better pick if you value the latest tuning and can justify the premium.

How does the 2025 Audi RS 3 compare to the 2025 BMW M2?

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from November 3, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.