2023 Audi RS3 vs 2021 Audi RS4

What's the difference?

After teasing us with the S3, all-wheel-drive version of its A3 sedan and hatch (Sportback in Audi-speak), Audi has finally given us the full-fat, RS3 variant of the same car. Any time you see an `R’ and an `S’ on the badge of an Audi, you know it’s the full nine yards in terms of all-wheel-drive grip and engine performance. And the RS3 is no different.

The power is enormous, the grip prodigious and the attitude is way tougher than any other A3 variant. It’s also well equipped, safe and nicely put together. But is that extra `R’ worth the added price of admission? And is this more Audi A-Series than you really need?

The other question is, given that the S3 is such a resolved package with its own shot of high-performance, do the numbers stack up for the RS3 version? How much is too much?

Station wagons might have fallen out of favour in Australia over the past 10 years or so, with their market share gobbled up by SUVs, but if anything can lure buyers back it will be vehicles like the Audi RS4 Avant. 

The speed of a genuine performance car, the space of a family wagon, and, in our opinion, stunning looks. What more could you want?

The question, though, is does this updated-for-2021 version still deliver on its dual promises of practicality and performance? Let's find out.