Compare the2023 BMW M3VS 2022 Audi RS 3

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M3 offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The RS 3 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The M3 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The RS 3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The M3 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the RS 3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M3 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the RS 3.

The M3’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M3 and the RS 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the RS 3.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the M3’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 74 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 2 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The M3’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 72 more horsepower (473 vs. 401) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 369) than the RS 3’s 2.5 turbo 5-cylinder. The M3 Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 102 more horsepower (503 vs. 401) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 369) than the RS 3’s 2.5 turbo 5-cylinder.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the M3’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The RS 3 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The M3 has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 3 (15.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW M3 Competition, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the RS 3.

For better stopping power the M3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RS 3:

For better traction, the M3 has larger tires than the RS 3 (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. F:265/30R19 & R:245/35R19).

The M3’s optional 285/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RS 3’s 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M3 offers optional 20-inch rear wheels. The RS 3’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M3’s wheelbase is 8.9 inches longer than on the RS 3 (112.5 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the M3 is 1 inch wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than on the RS 3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M3 a Compact car, while the RS 3 is rated a Subcompact.

The M3 has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 3 (95 vs. 87).

The M3 has 3.8 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the RS 3.

The M3 has a much larger trunk than the RS 3 (13 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RS 3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M3 offers cargo security. The RS 3’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The engine in the M3 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RS 3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The M3 Competition offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the M3 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RS 3 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The M3 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The M3’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The RS 3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Both the M3 and the RS 3 have standard heated front seats. The M3 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the RS 3.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the M3 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The RS 3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the M3’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The M3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RS 3’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The M3 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost 11 to one during the 2021 model year.