The Audi S3 takes the same fundamental ingredients of the A3 and adds a dash of spice on top. While it is not lairy as theRS3, the S3 is more chameleon-like in the way it can change its personality to blend in with its surroundings. The S3 aims to be both an understated family hatchback and a rewarding hot hatch all-in-one. But does it offer enough sparkle to outshine its more sensible A3 sibling while remaining comfortable enough to use day-to-day? It’s certainly fast, refined and practical, yet for the most part the S3 lacks a sense of drama, and it arguably hides its sporty credentials a little too well… unless you find yourself on a twisty open road, that is. Should you buy one over the
Mercedes or BMW equivalents? It’s a close call and the VW Golf R is also a tempting option.
The S3 might not be as hardcore as its RS3 sibling, but it is still very much a hot hatch intended to be driven with gusto. As such, the S3 is heavy on fuel and emits considerably more CO2 than a regular A3. However, it’s better news at brand level. Audi is part of the wider Volkswagen Group which has some ambitious commitments to sustainability with the aim of a 90 per cent reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions from production sites by 2040 compared to 2018 and to achieve net carbon neutrality by the same year. This sounds positive, but there’s still more to do and we would love to know whether the LCAs are third-party approved.
Running costs for an Audi S3
“It’s no surprise to find correspondingly high fuel and insurance costs”
The cost of the S3 is in line with the Mercedes-AMG A35 and the BMW M135i, and even the closely related Volkswagen Golf R commands a similarly chunky sum. It’s no surprise to find correspondingly high fuel and insurance costs, too. This is all part and parcel of a sporty hot hatch, mind, and you’ll get around 30mpg on a good run, but expect that figure to plumet in stop-start traffic – our test car averaged around 20mpg during our congested commute and in one particularly bad traffic jam it dropped as low as 12mpg. If this doesn’t faze you, make sure you also factor in the ‘luxury car tax’ you’ll have to pay for the first five years after your car’s initial registration.
Expert rating: 2/5
Reliability of an Audi S3
“The S3 has plenty in common with the A3 and the VW Golf which should give confidence parts have been tried and tested”
Despite its premium standing, Audi as a brand is often found in the bottom half of reliability survey rankings. However, the S3 has plenty in common with the A3 and the VW Golf which should give confidence parts have been tried and tested. Plus, while Audi’s standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty is not as generous as Kia or Toyota, for a fee you can extend the standard cover to four or five years giving you extra peace of mind.
Expert rating: 4/5
Safety for an Audi S3
“The pièce de resistance, however, is Audi’s quattro-branded all-wheel drive system which inspires plenty of confidence when conditions take a turn for the worse”
The S3 is packed with the usual suite of mandated safety tech with each driver aid primed to step in if it detects something you’ve not seen. Thankfully we didn’t find the array of systems too intrusive, and the interior layout still features plenty of physical buttons (hurrah!) so you can adjust the heating while keeping your eyes on the road. However, despite the S3 being a step up from the standard A3, you’ll still have to pay extra for the Technology Pack Pro. This adds the really useful stuff like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera along with other features to enhance comfort and convenience. The pièce de resistance, however, is Audi’s quattro-branded all-wheel drive system, which inspires plenty of confidence when conditions take a turn for the worse and can even enhance grip further by adjusting amount of power supplied to each rear wheel.
Expert rating: 4/5
How comfortable is the Audi S3
“Interior elements including the shiny black plastic centre console and gear selector aren’t as premium as you might expect from an Audi”
The waft of real leather as you open the door feels like a rare treat compared to the widely used synthetic alternatives, yet other interior elements including the shiny black plastic centre console and gear selector aren’t as premium as you might expect from an Audi. There is an old-school sporty vibe with a colour palette of black, grey and a touch of red, but the overall effect is a little gloomy. However, the S3 ticks the box for practicality as there is plenty of space. The front seats are supportive and cocooning, while the back provides ample room for two adults, although adding a third will become cosy. The boot is also a good size, and the small lip makes it easier to unload heavier items. While the S3 has sports suspension and a lower stance than the A3, comfort is still a priority. Our Black Edition test car didn’t come with the adaptive suspension you’ll get on range-topping Vorsprung models, however its fixed set-up was firm enough to be engaging to drive, while still being soft enough to cope with rough surfaces and bumps in the road – Audi’s decades of experience shines through here.
Expert rating: 4/5
Features of the Audi S3
“There is of course a beefed-up exhaust system which looks impressive, but unless you are pushing the car hard, it is not as noisy as you might expect.”
The S3 is more traditional in its layout than its premium rivals, but refreshingly it does provide you with plenty of physical controls in logical places – we will take this as a win even though they don’t feel as high quality as we would have hoped. We also like the clear head-up display, Sonos sound system and the responsive central touch-screen. However, we were less keen on the dull graphics and the multi-stage data collection policy you need to agree to every time you fire up the infotainment. Like other ‘S’ models in Audi’s range you also get extra touches including a black styling pack, a roof spoiler, the iconic red Audi Sport rhombus badge on the back and matching puddle lights. Additionally, there is of course a beefed-up exhaust system which looks impressive, but unless you are pushing the car hard, it is not as tuneful as you might expect.
Expert rating: 4/5
Power for an Audi S3
“We loved the silky-smooth power, but for normal everyday driving the S3 is almost a little too tame and refined for its own good”
The S3 now boasts 333 horsepower, which can be unleashed with a nudge of the accelerator making joining motorways and overtaking a breeze. Audi knows how to set up a car, so in Comfort or Efficiency mode the S3 is relatively calm, while in the Dynamic setting it stiffens the steering, adjusts the throttle response and tweaks the gear changes allowing you to enjoy chucking the car around a twisty road with total confidence. The automatic gear box is particularly slick, and we liked using the gear-shift paddles on the back of the steering wheel, though it still lacks the satisfaction of a good old-fashioned manual. We loved the silky-smooth power, but for normal everyday driving the S3 is almost a little too tame and refined for its own good, so if you are after more drama, you may prefer the full-fat RS3.
