Compare the BMW M2 vs Audi RS3

Quite big for a small coupe, but joyous to drive
2026
Pleasure of Driving Award
Highly Commended
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
9/10
Sensible family hatch, with a rocket of an engine
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
9/10

AI generated from our expert reviews

Both of these performance cars give you lots of grip and the confidence to power out of corners, while their comfort modes allow each to soak up bumps in the road admirably well. Out on the motorway, you will notice a bit of tyre roar from the big alloy wheels in both cabins, though neither is unbearable. Where they differ on longer journeys is driver assistance: the Audi RS3 comes with adaptive cruise control as standard, whereas you will find a lack of standard adaptive cruise control on the BMW M2. You also get a more powerful engine and a bigger boot in the M2 than in the RS3.

AI results may contain inaccuracies. Please check the details before making any financial decisions.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

Compare the specs

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M2 480 Step Auto Petrol Automatic

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Standard RS 3 TFSI Quattro 400 S Tronic Petrol Automatic

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Standard kit

  • Android Auto
    Mirrors your Android phone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Apple CarPlay
    Mirrors your iPhone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Climate control
    Automatically keeps the cabin at a set temperature, rather than a manual heater dial.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Heated seats
    Warms the seat itself on cold mornings.
  • Leather seats
    Leather (or leather-look) seat upholstery instead of cloth.
  • Navigation
    Built-in sat nav on the car's own screen, no phone needed.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.
  • Android Auto
    Mirrors your Android phone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Apple CarPlay
    Mirrors your iPhone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Heated seats
    Warms the seat itself on cold mornings.
  • Leather seats
    Leather (or leather-look) seat upholstery instead of cloth.
  • Navigation
    Built-in sat nav on the car's own screen, no phone needed.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.

Key information

Body type Coupes, Saloons, Sports cars Body type Hatchbacks
Available fuel types Petrol Available fuel types Petrol
Number of seats 4 Number of seats 5 Best
Boot space, seats up 390 litres (3 suitcases) Best Boot space, seats up 282 litres (2 suitcases)
Boot space, seats down — Boot space, seats down 1,104 litres
External dimensions (L x W x H) 4,587 mm x 1,887 mm x 1,404 mm External dimensions (L x W x H) 4,389 mm x ?? mm x ?? mm
First year tax rate £4,850 First year tax rate £3,420 Best
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
28.8 mpg
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
30.1 mpg Best
Drive type Rear wheel drive Drive type Four wheel drive
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 40 · very high
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
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View full specs Hide full specs

Drivetrain & power

Engine name 480 Step Auto Engine name RS 3 TFSI Quattro 400 S Tronic
Engine size 3.0 L Petrol • 480 BHP Engine size 2.5 L Petrol • 400 BHP
Body type Coupes, Saloons, Sports cars Body type Hatchbacks
Fuel type Petrol Fuel type Petrol
Transmission Automatic Transmission Automatic
Drive type Rear wheel drive Drive type Four wheel drive
Forward gears 8 Forward gears 7
Acceleration 4.0 s (0-60 mph) Acceleration 3.8 s (0-60 mph) Best

Dimensions & space

Number of seats 4 Number of seats 5 Best
Number of doors 2 Number of doors 5
Boot (seats up) 390 litres Best Boot (seats up) 282 litres
Boot (seats down) — Boot (seats down) 1,104 litres
Length 4,587 mm Length 4,389 mm
Width 1,887 mm Width —
Height 1,404 mm Height —
Wheelbase 2.75 m Wheelbase 2.63 m
Turning circle 12.1 m Turning circle 12.0 m

Full features list

  • 19" front / 20" rear M light alloy wheels Double-spoke style in jet black 930 M with mixed tyres and track tyres
  • 19" front / 20" rear M light alloy wheels double spoke style 930 M Silver with mixed tyres
  • 19" front / 20" rear M light alloy wheels double spoke style 930 M Silver with mixed tyres In combination with M race track pack
  • 19" front / 20" rear M light alloy wheels double spoke style 930 M Silver with mixed tyres and track tyres
  • 19" front / 20" rear M light alloy wheels double spoke style 930 M Silver with mixed tyres and track tyres In combination with M race track pack
  • 19" front / 20" rear M light diamond polished alloy wheels Double-spoke style in jet black 930 M Bicolour with mixed tyres
  • 19" front / 20" rear M light diamond polished alloy wheels Double-spoke style in jet black 930 M Bicolour with mixed tyres and track tyres
  • Active cruise control
  • Aluminium rhombicle anthracite M interior trim
  • BMW Individual paint
  • BMW Individual special request paint
  • Electrical glass sunroof
  • Full Merino leather - Black/Exclusive with M colour highlighter
  • Full Merino leather upholstery
  • M Alcantara steering wheel
  • M Carbon bucket seats
  • M Compound brake in high gloss red
  • M Interior decor fine-brushed aluminium
  • M carbon fibre roof
  • M interior trim finishers carbon fibre including carbon applications on the steering wheel and carbon shift paddles
  • Metallic paint
  • Model designation deletion
  • Special solid paint
  • Vernasca leather - Black with Red
  • Vernasca leather - Black with contrast stitching Blue
  • Vernasca leather - Exclusive Black
  • 4 x 3 point seatbelts
  • Anti lock braking system (ABS) with cornering brake control
  • Automatic Stability Control (ASC)
  • Centre airbag
  • Cornering brake control (CBC)
  • Crash sensor
  • DSC - Dynamic Stability Control
  • Dry braking
  • Dynamic brake control
  • Electromechanical parking brake
  • Emergency door unlock
  • First aid kit
  • Front airbags for driver and front passenger
  • Front passenger airbag deactivation
  • Head airbags for all 4 outer seats
  • Height adjustable front seatbelts
  • M brakes with blue calipers
  • M seat belts
  • PC iBrake (Post crash approach control warning with light braking function)
  • Seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters
  • Seatbelt reminder
  • Side airbags for driver and front passenger
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system
  • Warning triangle and first aid kit
  • 12V power socket in front centre console with blanking plug
  • 2 cupholders
  • 2 rear head restraints
  • 2 rear seats
  • 3 spoke leather M multi-function steering wheel
  • Black sun visors
  • Black velour front and rear floor mats
  • Compartment in front of cupholder
  • Driver and front passenger heated seats
  • Driver/passenger electric lumbar adjustment
  • Drivers seat with seat memory
  • English handbook
  • Folding rear seat head rests
  • Front M Sport seats
  • Front centre armrest
  • Front door pockets with bottle holders
  • Front door sill strips with aluminium inlays and M2 labelling
  • Front seats electrically adjustable seat height, backrest tilt, seat position and seat base tilt
  • Glove compartment
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Height adjustable front headrests
  • Isofix child seat for two outer rear seats
  • M Accent Surfaces Illuminated: Highlighters in the door trim inlay panels and light module in the instrument cluster with M stripes
  • M headliner, parcel shelf, pillar trim panels in anthracite
  • Manually adjustable steering column
  • Rear armrest
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Storage compartment in rear doors
  • Storage tray and compartment with cover in centre console
  • Through loading system with 40/20/40 split folding rear seat
  • Two zone automatic air conditioning
  • Vanity mirror lights
  • Vernasca leather upholstery
  • Alarm system
  • Drive away door locking
  • Immobiliser
  • Locking wheel bolts
  • Remote central locking
  • Active guard plus
  • BMW ConnectedDrive online services
  • BMW Live Cockpit Professional including Full colour Head up display with configurable HUD contents
  • BMW Teleservices
  • BMW legal emergency call
  • Check control system
  • Configurable dashboard display
  • Control Infotainment
  • Cruise control with braking function
  • Digital owner's manual
  • Drive off assistant
  • Driver attention warning
  • Engine start button
  • Exterior temperature display
  • Flat tyre monitor
  • Fully digital 12.3" multifunctional instrument display and a high-resolution 14.9" control display with Navigation function
  • Language version English
  • Oil sensor for level and grade
  • On board diagnostics
  • On board documentation English
  • Park distance control (PDC)
  • Power assisted steering
  • Service interval indicator
  • Shifting point display
  • Storage for wireless charging
  • Travel data recorder
  • Trip computer
  • Voice control for audio, climate, telephone, navigation
  • Widescreen display
  • Adaptive LED Headlights
  • Automatic headlamp activation
  • Automatic headlamp levelling
  • Door mirror integrated indicators
  • Dynamic brake lights
  • Electric adjustable heated door mirrors
  • Exterior mirrors with memory function and automatic parking function
  • Fading support
  • Follow me home headlights
  • Front and rear bumper system
  • Front electric windows
  • Headlight beam throw control
  • Heat protection, sun protection glazing
  • High beam assistant
  • Interior rear-view mirror with automatic anti-dazzle function
  • LED 3rd brake light
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED indicator lights
  • LED number plate light
  • LED rear lights
  • M high gloss shadowline extended
  • M high gloss shadowline exterior trim in mirror triangle cover, mirror cover panel, mirror bezel and window border
  • M lights shadowline
  • Rain sensor
  • Rear boot
  • Solid paint
  • Sun protection glass
  • Trailer stabilisation logic
  • Variable front intermittent wipers
  • 19" front / 20" rear M light alloy wheels Double spoke style in jet black 930M with mixed tyres
  • Tyre repair kit
  • M Adaptive suspension
  • M Drive Professional including track mode, laptimer, traction control & Drift analyser
  • M Sport differential
  • M steptronic sport transmission with drivelogic
  • Start/stop system
  • DAB tuner
  • Harman/Kardon surround sound audio system with 464W power digital amplifier, 9 channels and 14 speakers
  • Personal eSim
  • Ambient light pack - M2
  • BMW Live cockpit plus pack - M2
  • Comfort access pack - M2
  • Connected package professional - M2
  • Driving Assistant package - M2
  • Interior and exterior mirror package - M2
  • Parking assistant package - M2
  • Storage compartment package - M2
  • Interior trim finishers dark graphite matt
  • 19" 10 cross spoke silk matt grey alloy wheels
  • Audi 1 year extended warranty: up to 4 years or 75,000 miles whichever is exceeded first
  • Audi 2 year extended warranty: up to 5 years or 90,000 miles whichever is exceeded first
  • Audi exclusive matt paint
  • Audi exclusive paint
  • Black roof rails
  • Body colour exterior mirrors
  • Dinamica microfibre/leather - Black/Black stitch and honeycomb pattern and RS logo on the front seat backrests/RS bucket seats
  • Dinamica microfibre/leather - Black/Express Red stitch with honeycomb pattern and RS logo on the front seat backrests/RS bucket seats
  • Dinamica microfibre/leather upholstery with honeycomb pattern and RS logo on the front seat backrests/ RS bucket seats
  • Fine nappa leather with honeycomb pattern - Black with contrast stitching in black + RS embossing front sport seats
  • Fine nappa leather with honeycomb pattern - Black with contrast stitching in express red + RS embossing front sport seats
  • I-size and top tether child seat mounting for the outer rear seats
  • Metallic paint
  • Panoramic roof
  • Pearlescent paint
  • RS ceramic brake system with brake calipers in anthracite grey
  • RS ceramic brake system with brake calipers in blue
  • RS ceramic brake system with brake calipers in red
  • Rear side airbags with head airbag system
  • Red brake calipers with RS emblem in front
  • Special metallic paint
  • Tool kit and Jack
  • Anti theft alarm
  • Anti-theft wheel bolts
  • Electronically operated child locks
  • Immobiliser
  • Remote central locking
  • Acoustic glass windscreen
  • Audi beam LED projection of RS logo on ground as you exit
  • Auto dimming frameless rear view mirror
  • Black door mirror housings
  • Body colour roof spoiler
  • Electrically adjustable, heated and folding + automatically dimming exterior mirrors
  • Exterior model badging
  • Front electric windows
  • Heat insulating glass windscreen
  • LED 3rd brake light
  • Light and rain sensors
  • Memory function for door mirrors
  • Privacy glass - dark tinted rear window, rear door and side windows
  • RS sport exhaust system - dual branch with flap control and gloss black oval tailpipe trims
  • Rear electric windows
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Rear wiper
  • Solid paint
  • 12V socket and storage compartment in front centre console
  • 3 Spoke flat top and bottomed black leather multi function steering and gear shift paddles
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • 3-zone deluxe automatic air conditioning
  • 4 way electrically adjustable lumbar support for driver and front passenger
  • 40/20/40 split folding rear seat bench
  • Black cloth headlining
  • Black front and rear floor mats
  • Electrically adjustable front seats with driver memory
  • Fine nappa leather upholstery with honeycomb pattern + RS embossing front sports seats
  • Front and rear headrests
  • Front centre armrest
  • Front door sill trims with RS 3 logo
  • Heated front seats
  • Height and reach adjustable steering wheel
  • Interior door handles,door trim,door power latching and steering wheel trim in Vanadium look
  • Luggage compartment lid with convenience opening
  • Rear centre armrest with cupholder
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Stainless steel pedals and front footrest in black
  • i-Size child seat mounting on the front passenger side and outer rear seats, i-Size and top tether on the outer rear seats
  • Active front assist system
  • Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
  • Adjustable speed limiter
  • Audi connect emergency call and service with audi connect remote and control
  • Audi drive select comfort, auto, dynamic and efficiency
  • Automatic start/stop system with recuperation
  • Bluetooth interface
  • Camera based traffic sign recognition
  • Collision avoidance assistant
  • Driver attention and fatigue detection
  • Fully digital 11.9" Audi Virtual Cockpit plus with additional RS layout
  • In-car video calls
  • Intersection assist
  • Lane departure warning including emergency assist
  • MMI navigation plus with MMI touch with 12.8" MMI touch display
  • Parking system plus with distance display
  • Progressive steering
  • RS specific driving modes - RS Individual, RS Performance and RS Torque rear
  • Reversing camera
  • Service indicator
  • Smartphone interface with app store includes wireless Apple carplay, Android auto and Amazon alexa integration
  • Trip computer
  • Voice control system with natural language interaction
  • e-Call (emergency call)
  • 19" 5 Y spoke matt black alloy wheels
  • Tool kit
  • Tyre repair kit
  • Audi Phonebox light with wireless charging
  • DAB Digital radio
  • 3x3 point rear seat belts
  • Convenience key with safelock
  • Driver and front passenger airbag with passenger airbag deactivation
  • Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) including ABS, ASR and EDL
  • First aid kit with warning triangle and 2 safety vests
  • Front interaction airbag
  • Front side airbags with head airbags
  • Hill hold assist
  • Pre-sense front with pedestrian and cyclist detection
  • RS steel brakes with brake calipers in black and RS logo on the front calipers
  • Seatbelt monitoring
  • Tyre pressure loss indicator
  • Black dashboard
  • Inlays in black dinamica microfibre
  • Black Styling plus package - RS3
  • Extended ambient lighting package Pro with Multi-coloured contour lighting of instrument panel - RS3
  • RS exterior pack - RS3
  • RS sport suspension pack - RS3
  • Storage package - RS3 Sportback
  • Technology pack with Matrix LED headlights - RS3
  • quattro permanent all-wheel drive with torque splitter

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

*Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term and 8000 miles annually, VAT included.