Compare the2026 Audi RS 3VS 2026 Subaru WRX

The RS 3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The WRX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the RS 3 and WRX have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS 3 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The WRX’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi RS 3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The WRX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RS 3 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The WRX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The RS 3 has a standard Top View Camera System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The WRX only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The RS 3 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the WRX Premium/Limited/GT/tS/Series.Yellow offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RS 3 has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Assist and Automatic Brake Activation automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the WRX Premium/Limited/GT/tS/Series.Yellow offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the WRX’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the RS 3 and the WRX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The RS 3 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The WRX’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The RS 3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the WRX’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the RS 3 for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Audi will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the WRX.

The RS 3’s 2.5 turbo 5-cylinder produces 123 more horsepower (394 vs. 271) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi RS 3 is faster than the Subaru WRX (automatics tested):

	RS 3	WRX
Zero to 60 MPH	3.2 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter Mile	11.7 sec	14.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	118 MPH	101 MPH
Top Speed	180 MPH	134 MPH

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Audi RS 3 was clocked 19.1 seconds faster than the Subaru WRX Limited (172.5 sec. vs. 191.6 sec.).

On the EPA test cycle the RS 3 gets better mileage than the WRX:

			MPG
RS 3
	Auto	2.5 turbo 5-cyl.	20 city/29 hwy
WRX
	Manual	2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/26 hwy
	Auto	2.4 turbo flat-4	18 city/25 hwy

The Audi RS 3 comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the WRX.

The RS 3 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is more internally efficient than a CVT but just as easy to drive. The WRX doesn’t offer an SMG.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the RS 3 has a standard up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The WRX doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

The RS 3’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The WRX doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the RS 3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the WRX:

	RS 3	RS 3 CCB	WRX	WRX tS/Series.Yellow
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	15 inches	12.4 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	12.2 inches	11.4 inches	12.8 inches

The RS 3 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The WRX doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The RS 3 stops much shorter than the WRX:

	RS 3	WRX
100 to 0 MPH	313 feet	319 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	152 feet	159 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	98 feet	112 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the RS 3 has larger front tires than the WRX (F:265/30R19 & R:245/35R19 vs. 245/40R18).

The RS 3’s 265/30R19 front and 245/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the WRX’s standard 40 series tires. The RS 3’s tires are lower profile than the WRX tS/Series.Yellow’s 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS 3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the WRX.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RS 3 is 1.2 inches wider in the front than on the WRX.

The RS 3 handles at 1.01 G’s, while the WRX Limited pulls only .96 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RS 3 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the WRX tS (23.7 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 25.3 seconds @ .76 average G’s).

The RS 3 is 5.3 inches shorter than the WRX, making the RS 3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the RS 3 is quieter than the WRX Limited:

	RS 3	WRX
At idle	42 dB	49 dB
70 MPH Cruising	71 dB	71 dB

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the RS 3 easier. The RS 3’s trunk lift-over height is 26.7 inches, while the WRX’s liftover is 28.7 inches.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the RS 3’s power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The WRX doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

When two different drivers share the RS 3, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The WRX doesn’t offer a memory system.

The RS 3 has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The WRX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The RS 3’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The WRX has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the RS 3 and the WRX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the RS 3 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The WRX prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The RS 3’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The WRX’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the RS 3 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the WRX can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The RS 3’s standard Audi Advanced Key allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start standard on the WRX doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The RS 3’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The WRX’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the RS 3 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The WRX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS 3 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The WRX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield, the RS 3 has standard extendable sun visors. The WRX doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RS 3’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the WRX Premium/Limited/GT/tS/Series Yellow.

When the RS 3 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The WRX’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the RS 3 and the WRX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the RS 3 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The WRX doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Audi RS 3 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Subaru charges extra for Homelink® on the WRX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi RS 3 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The WRX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The RS 3’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The WRX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.