Compare the2023 Honda Civic Type RVS 2023 Audi RS 3

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic Type R deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic Type R’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The RS 3’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Civic Type R and the RS 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Civic Type R 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the RS 3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the RS 3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Civic Type R for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Honda 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 almost 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Civic Type R’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Civic Type R has a standard 500-amp battery. The RS 3’s 320-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 56 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Honda higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Honda higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 9 places higher in reliability than Audi.

On the EPA test cycle the Civic Type R gets better fuel mileage than the RS 3 (22 city/28 hwy vs. 20 city/29 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Civic Type R uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The RS 3 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Civic Type R has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better traction and acceleration, the Civic Type R has larger rear tires than the RS 3 (265/30R19 vs. 245/35R19).

The Civic Type R’s 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 standard 35 series rear tires.

The Civic Type R offers an available space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the RS 3; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Civic Type R’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the RS 3 (107.7 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Civic Type R is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than on the RS 3.

The Honda Civic Type R may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 pounds less than the Audi RS 3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Civic Type R a Large car, while the RS 3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Civic Type R has 12 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 3 (99 vs. 87).

The Civic Type R has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear legroom and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the RS 3.

The Civic Type R’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The RS 3 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Civic Type R has a standard rear wiper. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Civic Type R’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.

The Civic Type R was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2 of the last 5 years. The RS 3 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Civic Type R was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2018. The RS 3 has never been an “All Star.”

The Honda Civic outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost 18 to one during the 2022 model year.