Compare the2023 Audi RS 3VS 2023 Lexus IS

Both the RS 3 and IS 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 IS’ 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the RS 3. But it costs extra on the IS.

Both the RS 3 and the IS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The RS 3’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the IS’ (12 vs. 6 years).

There are over 25 percent more Audi dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the RS 3’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the RS 3’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the IS’ camshafts. If the IS’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The RS 3’s 2.5 turbo 5-cylinder produces 160 more horsepower (401 vs. 241) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the IS 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The RS 3’s 2.5 turbo 5-cylinder produces 141 more horsepower (401 vs. 260) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 236) than the IS 300 AWD’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The RS 3’s 2.5 turbo 5-cylinder produces 90 more horsepower (401 vs. 311) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the IS 350 F Sport’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi RS 3 is faster than the IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8:

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

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 much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The IS doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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 IS doesn’t offer launch control.

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

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 IS doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the RS 3 has larger tires than the IS (F:265/30R19 & R:245/35R19 vs. 235/45R18). The RS 3’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the IS (265/30R19 vs. 235/40R19).

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 IS 300’s standard 45 series tires. The RS 3’s tires are lower profile than the F Sport Design’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 IS 300.

The RS 3 handles at .94 G’s, while the IS 500 Performance pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The RS 3 is 6.6 inches shorter than the IS, making the RS 3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 IS doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The RS 3 offers an optional 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 IS doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the RS 3 and the IS 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 IS prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 IS’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 IS 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 IS doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 center console. The IS doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The RS 3’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The IS doesn’t offer an automated parking system.