2022 Audi RS3 Sportback vs Mercedes-AMG A45 S | PistonHeads
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ค. 2024
- The latest 400hp RS3 is by some distance the best version Audi has ever made. But is it good enough to topple the 421hp A45 S from its super-hatch perch?
Read the full twin test here: www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-f...
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:36 What made the A 45 S so damn good?
2:00 A 45 S Engine and performance
2:47 A 45 S Dynamics and ride
3:23 A45 S Interior
3:47 RS 3 Exhaust sound
4:17 RS3 Interior
5:15 RS 3 Engine and performance
6:41 RS 3 Technical highlights
7:03 RS 3 Dynamics and ride
9:19 Is the RS 3 better than the A 45 S?
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Ace film! We rather liked the RS3 in our review. The RS3 feels complete now, just as that wonderful 5 cylinder engine's song is coming to an end 😭
Here's the link to our review in case anyone's interested: th-cam.com/video/vRLg7F6P-RA/w-d-xo.html
Catchpole for the win 👌
Hands down the best review of the RS3 I've seen. Keep up the fantastic work. Doubt we will see this 5 pot again sadly
What roads are those
Yeah major setback for the ttrs/rs3 is the understeer but now they completely solve it
That Audi 5 pot is worth any premium you might pay.......it's unique.
£70 big ones though not sure about that...
@@teabagtowers3823 £52 if you don't add all the optional extras
Leases on these from £4K and £450 month so decent value of keeping options real world,…which is just what I’ve done and awaiting delivery April.
@@cpandsooz Yeah I keep forgetting most people are going to lease these for a few hundred quid a month. But when he said £70k for an RS3 my jaw nearly hit the floor.
@@teabagtowers3823 well it has 400hp, 4wd, 5 cyl, prestige, premium materials... it's just the price you have to pay for the top of the line. If you want to pay less get a golf R. Enjoy haha
As a Mercedes fan, I’d naturally pick the A45s, but having that said I can totally see why people would pick the RS3 over it. In any way, the more to choose from the better! Competition makes automakers try harder :)
RS3 all day long. I own an A45s right now and agree with your review. Drove the new RS3 a few weeks ago and it is marginally the better car. Interior on the Audi is OK. Don't know why people keep moaning about it, it's an A3 underneath, Audi aren't going to put an A5 interior in it. Quality is fine, looks good, seats are nice, tech is really good. OK, we don't get to spec a bit of bling, but hey - I won't miss the rattles inside my Merc, that's for sure!
I have never understood the moaning also. But it's usually the ones that don't even drive these cars lol
I didn't know about them rattles you speak of that doesn't sound like the best build quality imo!
I was long hesitating between an A45s and the new RS3 - to me the interior feels a bit more spaceship-ish in the A45s, and the vent placement is a bit odd on the RS3. However, I could not let the 5cyl soundtrack go, and decided to order a RS3. The moaning about the interior comes from the fact that you got the same interior on the A3/S3 and now RS3. Doesn't feel super special while being good quality. It's all the same bits and bobs across the range, especially in the UK where those poor folks can't spec the red or green bits inside...
@@germanengineering204 Had our A45S for over a year and a half and covered 15K miles with no rattles at all.And that's with my kids using the back of the car like a playground.
The guy must have got a lemon.
@@TheTechGiantTH-cam Is the build quality high with very little plastics? I have heard that interiors in some Mercedes Benz models has gone downhill over the years!
If the RS3 is anything like my TTRS then I’d opt for Audi everyday over my ex AMG. The engine is glorious. People also forget that Audi’s AWD is exceptional at getting the power down on often slippery UK roads.
Other than sound, I think the M139 is the superior engine. More power despite being smaller and forged internals. No improvement in power at all for the RS3. Audi’s AWD has been so overrated. The Haldex was known for understeer. Finally they have a good AWD system in this RS3. Merc had this type of advanced AWD system since 2019.
@@nickm133 I think it goes like this
Rs3>>> A45S amg
C63S T S205>>> Rs4 avant
E63S T S213>>> Rs6 avant
@yamahayzfr15 nope. The previous RS3 was known for terrible understeer. The new one clearly is much more advanced and eliminates a lot of that so hats off to them. But the A45S had this type of advanced AWD years ahead of them (since 2019).
Great video! I love the smart commentary and amazing camera work and editing. Keep up the good work on this channel!! And I'd also take the RS3 myself, but €70k is steep af
Spectacular video. The Merc reminds me of watching a WRC car in the way it moves down the road. The ex EVO guys make the best videos. There must have been something special in that office back in the day.
Clearly, two exceptional cars (especially the RS3) but new prices seem to be getting rather 'ambitious'. I'd be tempted by a 12 month old RS4 for several thousand less...
Isn''t that a few thousand more? Ignore me, just heard the price!
12 month old RS3 will be cheaper than your 12 month old RS4.
You know that cars depreciate over time right?
@@TheEryk03 have you seen the price of used RS3s? It’s cheaper to get a brand new one at the moment 😂
@@TheEryk03 cossie.lancia delta intergrale went up..tbh i think the rs3 will hold its price better than the rs4
@@SerialGillers same with any other car because of silly lockdowns and destroying market by cov idiots.
Fantastic video on both these cars. The editing is really good. RS3 hands down the car for me. I love the Merc also
Excellent, informative and honest review. Awesome job!
Wonderful, as usual Dan. Happy Christmas and lets see an update on the Alpine, please.
Dan is killing it. Love the Intercooler app and his reviews give such good insight into what these cars are like to drive.
Lovely scenes with the cars in the rain!
Both lovely cars, but I'd choose the Audi, no doubt.
❤️ Best Piston Heads vid EVER! My two fav Cars 🔥
I would pick the A45s just because of that aggressive looking front and the beautiful interior, the CLA 45 in my opinion have the best looking design of this generation of cars.
Whatever you choose RS3 or A45 you can't get wrong, they are both great.
Both very nice. Thanks guys. Would have loved to see a drag race ending 😀
Ace review as always and can’t wait for my Vorsprung In January hopefully
Thank you! I just bought 2019 RS3. The new one looks great! I might buy it in next 8 years when it’s a bit more in my budget.
Nice! 19 RS3 still a mad whip
Great review. I will pick up my fully spec'd RS3 in a few days. The trade in is the AMG a45s (the current one). The AMG is always angry, pointy, hard which is a lot of, but the better daily qualities of the Audi and the 5 cylinder made me jump through the loop. The things which can get annoying with the AMG on longer drives is the very loud tyre/road noise, the artificial loud engine sound and the thinly padded bucket seats.
Thanks for the perspective and well delivered viewpoint on these cars. RS3 for me all day long with that engine note.
What I do find frustrating is how when a new version is released and reviewed, the previous ones failings are really highlighted.
It's great if the new car is markedly better, but it feels that reviewers truly explain a car's shortcomings from the rear view mirror of the new model.
I’ve got an 18 rs3 and it understeers yes but it’s an amazing car.
The old RS is a great car also. The only thing that bothered me was the out dated interior mainly the infotainment system and features that are really missing
Agree, it’s a shame that they are usually trying to keep the press arm of the car brand they are testing happy. I prefer people like Jay emm/Calvin’s car diary/ savage geese if you like the details as they tell it like it is! But they don’t always get the newest cars !
@@KainSwiss I disagree, the interior with virtual cockpit and quilted stitch seats is way better then the m2 comps or m340’s interior.
This guy has nailed it. These super hatches are all fast. VERY fast. Anybody here that continues to quote 0-60 or 0-100 times is just being ridiculous.
There is nothing between any of them performance wise really.
What it comes down to after that is looks and character. That 5 cylinder moves the hot hatch on and with the exception of the old Subaru Boxer, there isn't a 4 cylinder engine on the planet that sounds anywhere as good. What I mean is the competition isn't even close.
It's akin to a V8. Off beat, slightly creamy and woofly with a hard edge when you nail it.
when i graduate from school debt-free I'm treating myself to this and trading in the Golf
I'll take a standard RS3 with the Adaptive dampers. £53k belting..Cracking job Dan. Keep up the good work👍👍
Looks pants in standard trim, you need to go carbon to make it look like an RS, not an A3 with some shiny bits. Oh and it's £55k, not £53 for a bog car with AD's.
@@mauricetoussaint7283 imo it looks pants in Carbon or Vorsprung trim. I can't abide Black Alloys and I wouldn't pay extra for the shiny black plastic bits either. And your incorrect about it needing the Black Pack to look like an RS model as well. The Original RS models all had Satin Alloy look and no Black Pack. That's how people knew it was a RS. The Black Pack is a fairly recent addition. Price wise on the configurator it's £53305 excl OTR charges actually. £55365 including...
How much is the deposit & month payments?
@@mauricetoussaint7283 How much did you put down for a deposit? Also what can I expect to pay monthly?
@@pauln0371 so £55k as stated then as you don’t buy excluding otr
Great review, much appreciated.
Awesome video man
I think Audi had to be one of my favorite OEMs.
saw this video "heading" and THEN saw the pistonheads logo and thought, it`s gonna be chavs, covered in tatts, with backward baseball caps doing the review INNIT ! and what a PLEASANT surprise , 1 of my favourite reviewers doing the review, and a great video to boot, got a new subscriber INNIT!!!
We knew Chris Harris was going mad… no idea what he’s talking about with this car! Anyway, you articulated what we found with our new RS3 perfectly. Streets ahead of the old one. Spot on 👍🏼
Fancy seeing you here…you need to buy us all a breakfast 🍳
Chris Harris's idea of a fun car is Porsche GT territory, not everyone can afford to drive around in a car like that to have fun. Both these cars offer exceptional enjoyment for the price tag.
@@ad_2211 bs. He loved the gr yaris.
Rs3 has been dynoed at 430 bhp but audi claims it does 400
@@SH7SH7SH7 haha Lee said he will anytime 👀😂👍🏼
Great video Dan. One small suggestion. When you are driving one of the best sounding cars on the planet from the interior, and praising its sound so much, in the RS3 (and this is coming from an AMG owner) could you give us at least one few seconds long unbroken acceleration sound sequence without your voice over the top of it. Let a car that sounds that good sing in your video, without your voice, just for a few seconds at least.
Both amazing cars, I ended up going for the a45s, the RS3 has the better engine no doubt, but I liked the always angry character of the a45s, personal preference, if you get to daily drive either of them consider yourself incredibly lucky.
RS3 any day over a four cylinder. Five pot rules.
Intro deserves a thumbs up
Great review between two of the top priced high end hot hatches out there! Thank you for sharing 👍
I'd take the Audi just for the engine
Same
The best 3.0L> engine in a new car
@@QKvox its a 2.5L...
@@killerkhalsa27 less than 3.0L is what the symbol means
@@killerkhalsa27 negative IQ
Good review. Thank you.
I have the A45s, got the RS3 on order. You are right about the seats in the Merc, I find them a bit uncomfortable on longer journeys. Having now driven the new RS3, I think it has a better interior, albeit it's nothing special. Driving both cars back-to-back, the RS3 is for me the more engaging, I think it looks better too - in the right spec, that's carbon sportback in Tango Red BTW. The Audi sounds better too. They are both great cars, but the Audi simply moves things on a tad, the Merc is a couple of years old now. I'll probably switch back to Merc when they replace the current model with an RS3 beater, but for now, the new RS3 is King once more. Mine arrives mid March (based on my build date).
Good luck getting it by March
All the best with new car, I'll be sticking with my 8V for a little longer and may be upgrade mid cycle.
@@ad_2211 wait for the facelift, that’s when audis always improve their engines
Audi’s build quality is far better.
With the tougher regulations everyday, I doubt the next A45s would be any better unless it's hybrid. Audi can't even brig the new RS3 to Canada already. Buy lots of these RS3's folks!!! They will keep their value and will resell like hot cakes.
My biggest gripe with the last gen RS3 was the steering. It was soul less to say the least so I’m really glad to see AUDI has improved that
Brilliant review
I would take the rs3
I’m happy that they are shooting this in wales 🏴 especially the road they using is behind my house 🏠
I want to see the whole ride first person, please! Thank you! :D
Audi RS3 styling oozes testosterone and power.
RS3 no hesitation, just for the in-line 5 😍
60k for an RS3 and 80K for an M3 make a base 911 look like a bargain. These cars are 20-30k over priced
It doesn't matter they sell like hotcakes.I wouldn't buy one mind
Try and spec a new 992 for less than £90k. It’s hard. Porsche great but still not good value any more.
a base 911 is a bargain? $101k plus delivery destination and no options is a bargain? An Audi rs3 new cost new $56500. There is a $46000 gap. Porsche charges upwards of $4000 just for a set of 20-21" turbo wheel looks. It is known to be one of the most expensive brands to spec out. In fact, there was an article are they said that Porsche makes most of its profit on the options. I love Porsche, I owned a a 911Carrera4 (964) Cabriolet myself, I own a RS3 now and I had a few mercedes like the C63 AMG or a CLS 550 V8 TT. Mercedes is also very expensive with their options. Compare for instance a A3 and CLA, both compite in the same price range but Audi has HID lights, full big sliding glass which Mercedes still charges you for each one. I think Porsche offers true sports car but they are on a different league price wise, a "bargain " base 911 are rolling out of the dealerships closer to $125k by the time you include: base price of $101k plus $1500 delivery destination + around 6-8% on tax depending on the state plus any minimal option because no one orders base 911 with no options and the 911 that the dealers receive as allocations are already built with options.
Base 911 has 379hp, RS3 is almost 400, M3 is 510 but 550 on the dyno.
When you pay for a car, you pay for the engine. Baseline carrera is heavily therefore overpriced because the engine is weak. 0-60 at 4.2 is terrible...2 or 3 gen previous M3 was hitting that. The lower tier models can easily beat that.
And you actually get 5 usable seats and a boot.
If anything, BMW M3 slightly cheaper, and Audi RS3 which is cheaper still..is a better value with more car and a better all rounder.
Porsche you're only paying for the badge from the looks of it
@@ertugrulbae46 I agree
Absolute madness speccing the ceramic brakes on the RS3, it's a daily roadcar not a track weapon.
Actually it do very well at track driving
Fastest compact car around the nurburgring but ok...
RS3 AWESOME ❤
The M Man has gone to BMW passenger cars, could this be the ‘in’ for Audi Sport? Great review as always!
Thanks Mate!
I go up the bwlch probably every other day for a drive it’s a shame I didn’t see new rs3 I love it. Would of been fun to see if I could keep up in my fiesta st
The RS3's original interior options have suffered greatly due to COVID. In other countries you can still spec a much more engaging interior (360 camera, interior colours, seat options, stitching etc), but in order to deliver cars faster, a lot of that has been stripped out of the UK options at the moment.
It has been removed by audi uk decision
Nothing to do with Covid, you're making that up. The options we don't get in the UK, such as no coloured callipers, RS interior design pack, etc. are available in most other markets. It was a decision made by Audi UK and what a joke that was. Clueless morons and it's probably cost them sales.
Audi UK to blame for that unfortunately. dumbest decision ever considering they sell more of these in the UK than most other countries.
@@mauricetoussaint7283 agreed cluless
@@mauricetoussaint7283 perhaps I’m wrong regarding Covid and the interior options (although I’m confident that has influenced it), but it’s certainly true for other things like the 360 camera and some other tech. They’re even going to deliver the carbon edition without a spoiler now due to supply issues.
Would easily have the RS3 🐐 over the A45S
The prices are insane
Amazing car! Got mine on order :)
congrats!
Cant wait until I get mine delivered in April :)
Dammit! We don't get either of these gems here in the States.
RS3 all day long! Not only in its stock form is it the fastest compact saloon around the Nurburgring! But just get a Iroz Motorsport IMS850 kit fitted and be making nearly 900hp all day long, that 2.5l 5-cyl is a legendary engine matched with a legendary transmission! Love it!
Official Audi lap time attempt with a professional driver on Trofeo R tires.
I’d like to see the A45s time with the same setup. The 7:48 time it has set was by a car magazine, non-professional driver on stock tires. I reckon it would be very close. Also, Merc engine built stronger - forged and closed deck. 500cc/1 cylinder less and still more powerful.
Another great video chaps even if neither car really does anything for me. Nuts when a 400bhp barely registers any interest! I’m getting old and salty!
While i am not a big fan of the Interior look of the A-class ("i am not a fan of the 2 lost tablets on a shelf"), i think i have to criticize the complaining and comparing of the seats in those 2 cars. The seats in the A45S shown are optional AMG performance seats. For a few k€ less you get more comfortable seats.
Couldnt disagree more about the seats! The seats in the AMG are far more comfortable and adapatable for every day use. The RS3 seats are nice but not right for a super hatch or super saloon.
I've been waiting for this 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I still have the 2018 rs3 which is stage 2 530bhp and 700nm and sounds better than any newer rs3 . I don’t care how it handles round back roads when it’s as quick as most things on the road and sound awesome
Handling > straight line speed.
Stock RS3 is enough fast.
You don't care how a hot hatch handles 🙈😂 what kind of clown are you!?
New car envy, usual old car defense
Good comparison
Great video! But why does none talk about the fact that yea those torque vectoring AWD cars are great and balanced and stuff but torque vectoring differentials absorb and dissipate something like a quarter of the total power produced by the engine?
Hi, who won the Golf GTi?
Cracking video! I'm not sure the A45s has been at the top of the superhatch tree since it's arrival... It was the newest prior to the RS3 but I would actually argue (bias aside) that the Facelift pre-OPF 8V RS3 is a better car than both of them.
Drive both first and then I would like to hear your opinion! A45s is edgy, vigorous and fun. RS3 has a lot more turbo lag, it feels blunt! And the interior of the A45s is another level.
@@AndreGomes-of6ji RS3 just kills A45s in terms of specialness thanks to 5 cylinders and in term of driving experiences thanks to new AWD system.
It is also a bit quicker in the straight line and a lot faster at the track.
RS3 is much better.
@@TheEryk03 “new AWD system “? AWD system on the A45 s is state of the art! Nothing to do with the old version! Audi simply copied the idea! Audi meant understeer and the new system tried to fix that! A45s has better interior, its dual clutch keeps the turbo spooling all the way from 2000 rpm to basically redline! Almost like a aspirated engine. To Rs3 there is only the sound….
@@AndreGomes-of6ji Audi do better job with that AWD system. That's why it just killed the A45s at Nurburgring.
@@AndreGomes-of6ji If you look at the older rs3's and a45s id pick merc all day but this time audi done did an amazing job. The rs3 is a better daily driver, better price. About the same interior as the a45 but the a45 has it beat on that single thing tho, but audi also has Better AWD system and better 0-100 in most conditions and best of all best on the track.
that 5cil is crazy and a 4cil cant beat it
Great car. Probably the best all rounder! Don't care what Chris H or whoever says about it.
Hi Dan. Good review however when exclaiming how expensive the Audi was you might have added that over 6,000 pounds of that was ceramic brakes that as you said in your video "who would do such a thing". As this makes the two much closer on cost given few, in real life would ever go to that expense. Perhaps a quick breakdown at the beginning of the video for each car of the major options over base pricing and your advice as to worth of extra spend, might help. Otherwise good video. Thank you.
They're both an absolute rip off end of discussion
Lovely cars but still like the Mercedes AMG45 .
Well the fact is I could never afford one but still love to watch these special reviews of hot / hyper hatch cars .
Great reviews but a interior viewing would of been good and a 0 to 62 time dash just to wrap up the video.
Overall good video 😊
never say never bro
Dan does not miss !
“If the driving experience is all that matters to you, it has to be the A45s.”
Could you test skoda kodiaq vs VW tiguan
whats the song at 3:20
Is the steering in the cars numb?
Wish we got the hatchback rs3 in the US
Love both
That RS3 look like a good drive at long last, about time considering the price?
isnt the rs3 steering wheel usually alcantara
Mitsubishi had that kind of rear diff 25 years ago with the Evo IV!
Audi RS
no drag race???
The RS3 is coming out at just about the perfect time for me, I'm looking to get a new car like 2-3 years from now, so hopefully I can pick up a nice used one for around 35-40 USD!
No way
Good luck with that... used 2018 RS3's are still going for 50-55k USD
@@JohnDoe-mh5pr yeah…realization has definitely struck me, I just found a beautiful 2021 s4 for sale for 42 and it’s definitely tempting me!
Good review, I just would have thought tha comparing these two cars, speed and acceleration would have been on top of the list, so a quarter mile or at least a 0-100 would have been part of the comparison.
There comes a point where fast is fast, and fast is fine. I can't stand it when reviewers say 'car A is 0.1sec faster to 60mph than car B, so car A is better', it's so childish and missing 99% of the picture.
Could have filmed the interiors when it wasn't raining lol
Lovely cars, but unfortunately they are theft magnets too. You'd need really good security to keep hold of them.
Your commentary about the "front bias four wheel drive system scrabbling away at the front" is also incorrect - the A 45 has a very clever rear diff which can utilise 100% of torque available to the either rear wheel and it always feels rear wheel bias if anything in sport + or Race mode (ignoring drift mode)
I believe he was referencing the previous model RS3 when he said that. 👍
Definitely one of the better comparison videos between the two very good cars. The biggest thing for me has always been the engine, the AMG offers the 4 pots across it's entire A class range so no real big point of difference except bigger turbo, better components and more power, while only the RS3 offers the 5 pots across the A3 range that makes it a little extra special. I also find the bucket seats very comfortable on long drives even in my current RS3 although I can definitely tell from the video that the new gen is definitely quieter in the cabin.
You should read more about the engine on the A45s….
@@AndreGomes-of6ji still only a 2.0 4 pot
TT also has the 5
@@mohammadali4904 as the rally cars do!
@@mohammadali4904 I feel you have problems! Good luck with them! Peace.
Would take the RS3 in a heartbeat over the A45, even though the A45 is faster. They sound amazing, they say it's just an R8/Huracan engine cut in half and it really sounds just like 1/2 an R8.
Yeah, and RS3 is faster of these 2.
I can’t believe Audi removed the gear stick. I had an S3, then got an M2 Comp with a manual, but was thinking about getting the RS3. I actually used the stick for manual mode in my S3 all the time, and not the paddles. But now they have that stupid tiny switch instead. It’s actually going to keep me from getting one
It almost did haha
Am I overstepping the mark or is it just the 70k version of the RS3 that tops the a45s or would standard vs standard reap the same result??
You can spec both cars up to £70k. There is no 70k version only the normal version with optional extras. The Audi and Mercedes are essentially the same price.
@@almac9203 I meant optional extras. Better brakes, diff, etc. Would the RS3 still beat the a45s if neither had any extras
I had a look myself and specd them as high as I would with extras and the merc came in 6-7k cheaper
@@leigh982 I don't see the huge difference in price between the two. The Mercedes starts at £58k for the plus and the Audi at £53k to £61k depending on trim levels. I doubt the difference in price is going to sway anyone. The Audi is the newer car and reviews say it is better. Mercedes will likely face-lift their car next year.
A45s all day. 🔥❤️ It is a masterpiece
Doesnt matter how fast that 4 banger is....an offbeat 5 cylinder will forever be an amazing engine and is truly unique.
Sounds like a fart can!
RS3 FOR ME
I like the audi design more
A45 with the RS3 engine would be great
Other than the sound, the A45s engine is more powerful (despite being smaller) and built stronger (forged and closed deck). They also tuned it to drive more like an NA car which is more enjoyable to drive.
I agree. Since we all get cars for use on the road, the Audi RS3 is a much better choice. I do like the interior and infotainment of the Mercedes better though.
Lovely film, but £70k for the Audi?! I'd expect a driver thrown in too!!
Just left out some useless garbage and it's gonna be a bit cheaper.
2000 cc greatness
Rs3 🔥🔥🔥
How do you get it to 70k? Last time I checked on the Audi builder it wasn’t anywhere near that fully kitted out, have they really gone up that much 🤭
Just greedy pigs trying to sell cars over list. Prices did go up on Dec 1st by I think 6%. My RS3 carbon sportback fully specced and with RS pack, just over £60k, ordered September 21. Two grand more than my A45s plus I bought nearly 2 years ago.
I prefer the Audi RS3, design, sound, tech... Good video guys 😁🔝🔝🔝