Quick Answer: The 2026 Audi RS 3 at a Glance
The RS 3 is Audi's top-of-range compact sedan for 2026, sold in the United States as a single, fully loaded configuration — no Premium or Premium Plus tiers, just one build at $66,100 MSRP before the $1,395 destination charge. The engine is the RS 3's whole identity: a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder making 394 horsepower and 369 lb-ft, routed through a 7-speed S tronic® dual-clutch to standard quattro® all-wheel drive with an RS torque splitter at the rear axle. Audi quotes 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds; the EPA rates it 20 city / 29 highway / 23 combined on required premium fuel. New for 2026, the head-up display and Matrix-design LED headlights join the standard-equipment list, and the RS Technology package's navigation and traffic-sign recognition are now included rather than optional. It's sold in the borough at Audi Queens, 30-35 College Point Blvd in Flushing.
Total price, including every dealer-imposed charge: $67,670 all in for the 2026 Audi RS 3. That total includes the $1,395 destination charge and the $175 documentation fee (an optional dealer charge, not a New York State or DMV fee) on top of a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $66,100; it excludes state and local taxes, title, registration, and any optional equipment.
The five-cylinder that made this car famous
Most performance-compact shoppers cross-shop by spec sheet — horsepower, 0-60, lap times. RS 3 shoppers usually arrive already sold on one thing that doesn't fit neatly on a spec sheet: the sound. Audi builds the RS 3's 2.5-liter turbo with an odd-order firing sequence, 1-2-4-5-3, that gives the exhaust a lopsided, off-beat note nothing else in this price range replicates — not the German six-cylinder rivals, not the Japanese turbo-fours. It's the reason the car has a cult following that outlasts model-year changes, and it's still the first thing an owner mentions after the test drive.
What sits under that soundtrack is serious hardware. 394 horsepower and 369 lb-ft move through a dual-clutch gearbox and an RS torque splitter that can send power to a single rear wheel when the corner calls for it — the same trick that lets a small sedan rotate like it weighs less than it does. On the Cross Island Parkway on-ramp, or merging onto the Whitestone at rush hour, that translates into a gap that closes before you've finished checking the mirror. Off the highway, in Comfort mode, it settles into a car that fits a Flushing driveway and a Long Island City garage ramp without complaint. Both cars share one address at Audi Queens in Flushing.
One configuration, and it's the whole car
2026 Audi RS 3 · from $66,100 MSRP
The only U.S. configuration: 394 hp, RS torque splitter, Nappa leather, Sonos® audio, virtual cockpit plus, head-up display — all standard, with Dynamic plus, Carbon, and RS design packages available.
Audi has never split the RS 3 into a trim ladder the way the A3 and S3 are split. There's one car, extensively equipped from the factory, and the choices that remain are genuine options rather than a tier you have to buy your way into. The full RS 3 guide walks through everything included and everything optional, package by package.
Flared fenders and 19-inch wheels are standard on every 2026 RS 3.
What's actually new for 2026
Audi didn't touch the drivetrain this year — the current RS 3 body and chassis date to a 2025 mid-cycle refresh, and the numbers carry over unchanged. What did move is the standard-equipment line. The head-up display, previously part of an optional RS Technology package, is now included on every car, with RS-specific readouts for shift point and oil temperature. Matrix-design LED headlights with customizable daytime running light signatures and welcome/leaving animations are newly standard too, along with the rest of that former package — MMI® Navigation Plus and traffic sign recognition. None of it changes the RS 3's character; it just means the loaded car costs the same as last year's less-loaded one.
Inside: Nappa leather, two screens, and a Sonos® system built for the noise
The cabin runs Audi's driver-focused layout: a 12.3-inch virtual cockpit plus display with an RS-specific "RS runway" mode that highlights power and torque delivery in real time, ahead of a flat-top-and-bottom, three-spoke steering wheel with shift paddles and two dedicated RS satellite buttons. Nappa leather sport seats with honeycomb stitching come standard in black, and the standard 680-watt Sonos® premium sound system — 15 speakers, a 16-channel amplifier — has to compete for attention with a five-cylinder engine that most cars would consider noise pollution and the RS 3 treats as a feature. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ connect wirelessly, with a wireless charging pad built into the console.
What RS 3 owners say about this store
Audi Queens carries a 4.5-star Google rating across more than 1,250 reviews, and RS 3 owners show up in them by name. One driver, whose car was totaled and stolen in a prior incident, replaced it with a 2024 RS 3 from this store and came back for the follow-up service months later, writing: "I recently had my 2024 Audi RS3 serviced, and I couldn't be more impressed with the level of care and professionalism from the team at Audi... Audi even provided high-quality loaner cars while my RS3 was being worked on, which made the entire experience even more seamless." He returned again the following July for a hard-to-find backordered part and singled out the service manager by name: "thanks to the service manager Mr. John Partsinivelos, I was able to secure it quickly. He was efficient, answered all my questions, and provided a clear estimate."
Audi Queens, College Point Blvd, Flushing.
The showroom works in English, Spanish, and Mandarin, and the ownership loop — Audi financing, factory-certified service, genuine parts, a collision center — runs out of the same Flushing address, serving Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Long Island.
Frequently asked questions: 2026 Audi RS 3
Is there a 2026 Audi RS 3?
Yes. Audi's U.S. lineup includes the 2026 RS 3 as a single configuration at $66,100 MSRP plus $1,395 destination, currently in production and available to order or find in dealer stock. There's no announced plan to discontinue it — the 2026 model year simply carries the previous year's engineering forward with more equipment standard.
How much does a 2026 Audi RS 3 cost?
$66,100 MSRP before the $1,395 destination charge, in its single configuration. Audi's own "as-shown" reference build — with the RS design, Carbon, and Sport exhaust options — lists at $71,245, which gives a sense of how far the option sheet can move the number. The Flushing pricing & leasing guide covers New York taxes and current offers; the sticker itself is on the Audi Queens specials page.
Can you get an Audi RS3 in the U.S.?
Yes — unlike some Audi Sport models sold only in Europe, the RS 3 is a regular-production U.S. car, sold as a sedan through the Audi dealer network including Audi Queens.
Is the RS 3 faster than a Golf R?
On paper, yes: Audi's own numbers put the RS 3 at 394 hp and 3.6 seconds to 60, ahead of a Golf R's output figures, and the RS 3 adds the torque-splitting rear differential the Golf R doesn't get. The two share some VW Group DNA, but the RS 3 is the more track-focused, more expensive relative of the pair.
Is an RS 3 a good daily driver?
For most owners, yes. Adaptive suspension with damper control keeps the ride tolerable on rough pavement, the sedan body means real trunk and rear-seat space, and fuel economy — 23 mpg combined per the EPA — isn't punishing for the performance on offer. The trade-offs are the usual performance-car ones: premium-fuel-only, firmer than a standard A3, and the optional summer tires (if fitted) need a winter swap plan.
Where can I test drive a 2026 RS 3 in Flushing?
At Audi Queens, 30-35 College Point Blvd. Check live RS 3 inventory or book a test drive; showroom hours run Monday-Thursday 9-6 and Friday-Saturday 9-5, with staff working in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
The A3-family flagship, in one Flushing showroom
The RS 3 is what happens when Audi stops splitting the difference: one engine nobody else builds, one drivetrain tuned for corners instead of comfort, one fully loaded configuration instead of a trim ladder to climb. Read the full RS 3 guide for the complete equipment and package breakdown, the pricing & leasing guide for the Flushing math, and the service & repair guide before the odometer hits five figures. Or skip straight to current inventory — College Point Blvd is a short drive from anywhere in the borough.
All 2026 Audi RS 3 guides
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price excludes the $1,395 destination charge and the $175 documentation fee (an optional dealer charge, not a New York State or DMV fee), along with along with taxes, title, registration, license fees, and any dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are EPA estimates; real-world mileage varies with conditions and driving style. Acceleration and top-speed figures per Audi of America; always obey posted speed and traffic laws. Equipment and package availability can change with production timing — confirm current specifications with Audi Queens. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Audi Queens.