Is the old Audi RS3 better than the new one? I’m going to find out…

The Audi RS3 is one of my favourite hot hatchbacks, and it’s recently been updated with refreshed styling and new tech. It’s also been given a new price tag of over £60,000, and that got me thinking.

You can pick up an original Audi RS3 from 2012 for as little as £10,000 these days, so should you save yourself £50,000 and just buy one of those instead?

To find out, I’m going to compare the design, interior and performance of these two cars.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Old Audi RS3 vs new: design

Let’s start with the way these cars look. The new Audi RS3 has been facelifted recently with updated styling, and it certainly looks aggressive.

It has a deeper front bumper than before and they’ve fitted it with their new badge – although I prefer the old one. This car also has new daytime running lights with a feature that allows you to change the design from the infotainment system.

Moving down the side you get 18-inch alloy wheels and a lot of creases – it almost looks like a piece of origami. This car is the Carbon Black Edition, meaning it has carbon fibre wing mirrors and side skirts, as well as a massive rear wing extension. The new RS3 is also slightly wider at the rear than the standard A3.

The old Audi RS3 is much more subtle by comparison, which I kind of like. It has more of a Q car vibe – you don’t necessarily know it’s a fast car just from looking. Whereas the new car has blacked-out trim everywhere, this one has plenty of shiny silver bits – such as the front grille and emblem.

It also has widened wheel arches which are made out of carbon fibre, so a car park scrape could prove to be a costly error. You get 19-inch alloy wheels with a much simpler five-spoke design, and the rear wing looks much more sensible.

Overall the new RS3 looks a lot more aggressive than the old one, and there’s a good reason for that. These days even the standard 1.5-litre Audi A3 S-Line looks pretty sporty, so the RS3 has to look totally bonkers by comparison to stand out. I do slightly prefer the old RS3’s more subdued styling.

Old Audi RS3 vs new: interior

There’s something else I really like about the old RS3 as well, and that’s the cabin. I think this was peak interior design from Audi. Everything is simple and clean, but the quality is also really good. Back in 2012 Audi’s interiors really stood out compared to BMW and Mercedes, but I don’t think that’s the case anymore.

The digital bits are what really date this car, because the 13 year-old infotainment system and the LCD displays do look old-fashioned by modern standards. I do like the simple, clear physical dials though.

Moving to the new car, it feels much more modern. That’s good in some ways, but bad in others. The infotainment system is miles ahead of the old cars, but the touch sensitive buttons on the steering wheel are a pain to operate.

I also think this interior is slightly overdesigned. There are loads of creases, angles and scoops in the dashboard – there’s just too much going on. I do like the Sabelt sports seats though, which look great and hold you in place through the corners.

Overall I just think the feeling of quality is greater in the old Audi RS3. The leather and soft touch plastics extend to the rear seats, whereas in the back of the new car you get scratchy materials.

Old Audi RS3 vs new: performance and driving

Under the bonnet of the old Audi RS3 you’ll find a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine with 340hp and 400Nm of torque, and I think this is one of the best engines of the past 20 years.

It feels so special and full of character, and the noise it makes is epic as well. It also works really well with the dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which is really responsive when you pull one of the paddles or plant your right foot.

However, don’t buy an old Audi RS3 if you’re after a nimble hot hatch to chuck through corners – because this car loves to understeer. It just always feels like it wants to run wide when you go into a bend, even at moderate speeds.

The new RS3 is a very different animal. It’s still powered by a 2.5-litre five cylinder engine, but here it has 400hp and 500Nm of torque, and it just feels more ferocious when you floor it. It retains the old car’s character, but the handling is absolutely miles better.

While the old RS3 was a festival of understeer, this one just bites into the road and feels much more planted. You can even get the rear end to come around like in a rear-wheel drive car – it’s just much more capable on a country road or a racetrack.

Old Audi RS3 vs new: my final verdict

The old Audi RS3 is a bit of a bargain nowadays. It’s worth £10,000 just to own that engine, and be grateful that you get some wheels and a body to move it around in.

However, the new RS3 gets a great engine and brilliant chassis. Audi’s engineers have taken all the complaints people had of the old car and just eradicated them. The original Audi RS3 was a good car, but the new RS3 is a great car, which is why it wins this test.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.