Audi S3 Review (2021- present)
Audi S3 cars for sale
2.0
Expert review
Pros
Safe handling
Strong performance in all weathers
Practical, well made cabin
Cons
Dull steering and fussy ride
Nothing like as enjoyable to drive as the Volkswagen Golf R
Expensive to buy
The CarGurus verdict
We know Audi Sport is more than capable of building great driver’s cars. The R8 RWD and RS6 Avant in particular prove as much. The new S3, however, falls short not only of the class best, but also of Audi’s own standards. The S3 has never been a true driver’s car, but it has always found a loyal following among the kind of buyer for whom easy performance, predictable handling and an upmarket interior are all that matters.
This latest version does all of that, but it also steers poorly and it can ride harshly, too, undesirable traits the previous model wasn’t afflicted by. Perhaps Audi feels its customers’ brand loyalty will be enough to carry the S3 along. For those who aren’t devoted to the Ingolstadt marque, there are four-wheel drive hot hatches out there that are no more expensive to buy, but far better to drive and every bit as fast.
What is the Audi S3?
The latest Audi S3 is the fourth in the series. The original version arrived at the tail end of the Nineties and it defined a technical blueprint that’s remained ever since: a hatchback body, four-wheel drive and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. And just like the first-generation S3, the latest model is billed as a more rounded and refined performance car, rather than a hair-raising hot hatch.
The basic S3 recipe has evolved over the years. Power has risen from 207bhp in 1999 to 306bhp in this fourth-generation model, for instance, and whereas the original version was only sold with a manual transmission, the new S3 is offered with a dual-clutch paddleshift gearbox only. It goes on: the original S3 was a three-door, the current S3 a five-door.
How practical is it?
Since 2014, however, Audi has offered a four-door saloon version of the S3 as well, and such a car remains a core part of the line-up. Audi refers to the five-door hatchback model as the Sportback, while the four-door is simply the Saloon.
No matter which version you choose, you get a big boot, though obviously, the 380-litre boot space of the hatchback model is the more practical of the two as it allows for the loading of larger items through its wider opening. With that in mind, it’s probably the one to go for if you regularly have to wrestle a buggy into the luggage compartment.
Further forward the space on offer is adequate if not exceptional; the S3 doesn’t have as much room in the back as a Volkswagen Golf R or a Ford Focus ST, and the low roof line makes it slightly harder to buckle a child into a child seat.
What's it like to drive?
Across two and a bit decades, the S3 has carved out a niche for itself. It has tended to blend strong straight-line performance with relatively subtle styling; a high-grade and well-equipped cabin with secure, sure-footed handling, whatever the weather. But at no point has the S3 ever challenged the established hot hatch order in terms of driver involvement or interactivity. It’s just never been that sort of car.
What’s curious about the S3, or more precisely where Audi Sport has chosen to pitch it, is that beneath the skin it’s very closely related to Golf R, which as well as being classy, fast and sure-footed, is an altogether more enjoyable thing to drive. So there’s nothing inherent about the S3’s platform or powertrain that prevents it from being a true driver’s car. Audi, it seems, doesn’t believe that’s what S3 buyers want.
And this latest version? For the most part it’s more of the same, but in some regards it represents a sizable step backwards compared to the previous version. The steering, for instance, has become duller and less incisive, while the ride quality (at least on the bigger 19-inch wheels and without adaptive dampers) is far busier than it was before. But that old sure-footedness in all conditions remains, as does the strong performance and the premium cabin with bundles of comfort and convenience equipment.
The powertrain remains as effective as ever, the 2.0-litre TFSI turbo engine marrying good throttle response with strong mid-range torque and a fizzy top end. Meanwhile, the paddleshift gearbox is lightning fast in manual mode and smooth and refined in automatic mode, while the all-wheel drive system means the S3 can use every horsepower it has at its disposal even in very wet weather.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
Both versions of the S3 are available in two trim levels. The basic one comes with 18-inch wheels, Nappa leather, MMI Navigation Plus with a 10-inch touchscreen and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which features a second digital display, plus cruise control and rear parking sensors.
Vorsprung specification adds 19-inch wheels, adaptive dampers (a must-have with the bigger rims), electrically-adjustable heated front seats, a bigger Virtual Cockpit display, more driver assistance systems and a Bang and Olufsen hifi. You’ll pay almost £8,000 more, though.
Audi S3 running costs
You should expect to fork out more each year to keep a performance car like the S3 on the road than you would a conventional family car, but the Audi’s running costs needn’t break the bank. You’ll pay the premium rate of £475 for Vehicle Excise Duty every 12 months, for instance, while an insurance group rating of 36 (out of 50) is par for the course for this type of car.
Audi says both versions will return around 35mpg in mixed driving, which should mean an mpg figure in the low thirties should be easily achievable in the real world. Of course, with more spirited use that could drop into the mid-twenties or even lower, but that’s true of all such cars. Meanwhile, a full set of tyres for the optional 19-inch wheels is likely to cost around £500.
Audi allows customers to spread the cost of servicing over 24 months with a service plan. This costs £22 per month – a standard rate for all Audis with engines smaller than 2000cc – and includes one oil service and one fuller oil and inspection service. The upfront cost is £529.
Audi S3 reliability
The S3, which only hit UK roads at the end of 2020, is still far too new for any commonly occurring faults to have made themselves known. However, the powertrain is very familiar by now having also served in the previous car, as well as various other VW Group products, and it’s known to be tough and dependable.
Audi doesn’t tend to excel itself in owner satisfaction surveys, although much the same is true for Mercedes and BMW as well. It’s worth knowing, though, that the previous S3, and the A3 it was based upon, turned out to be very reliable cars with only a handful of minor issues.
The new S3 is covered by a three-year/60,000-mile manufacturer warranty. Owners can pay extra to extend their warranties for up to two further years, choosing between two levels of cover: Named Component or All Component.
- Sportback or Saloon? For many people the deciding factor will be the way the two cars look. In terms of practicality there isn’t a great deal in it. Both offer 325 litres of boot space, although with its hatchback boot, the S3 Sportback’s storage compartment is perhaps a more versatile shape. The S3 Saloon, meanwhile, is longer by 153mm thanks to its bigger rear overhang. The Saloon is heavier, too, although only by 5kg, entirely unnoticeable without a set of scales.
- Whether your chosen S3 has four or five doors, its 1984cc turbo engine will deliver 306bhp and 295lb ft of torque to all corners. It’ll do so via a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox. Its Quattro four-wheel drive system will help it sprint to 62mph in 4.8 seconds before hitting a top speed of 155mph. Rivals such as the Mercedes-AMG A35 and Volkswagen Golf R have almost identical power and performance, plus very similar front-biased four-wheel drive systems.
- There is a certain glossiness about the Audi badge on the S3’s nose, plus that model designation on its rump. But if you haven’t longed to drive or own an S3 until now, don’t expect that to change any time soon. The Audi S3 will find favour among a certain band of buyers, but other comparable cars, not least the BMW M135i xDrive, match it for everyday appeal while being significantly more rewarding to drive.
- On a budget: the cheapest S3 in the line-up is the Sportback model without the Vorsprung upgrade package. It starts at £38,475 (at the time of writing), undercutting the Saloon by around £600. Worthwhile optional extras include the £995 Comfort and Sound Pack, which adds heated seats, a better stereo and a reversing camera.
- Top of the range: splashing out on an S3 will land you a Saloon with the Vorsprung goodies. It doesn’t come cheap at £46,790. In fact, when the new five-cylinder RS3 arrives with more than 400bhp, it’s likely to cost only a few thousand pounds more than a high-spec S3.
- The BMW alternative: until recently, BMW hot hatches were set apart from their competitors by being rear-wheel drive. The latest M135i – properly known as the M135i xDrive – is four-wheel drive with a transverse four-cylinder turbo engine, just like the competition. Fast, good to drive and expensive-feeling inside, but not that pretty to look at.
- The Mercedes alternative: yet another five-door hot hatch with four-wheel drive and a 2.0-litre turbo engine, the Mercedes-AMG A35 is an effective but somewhat unremarkable car. Dynamically it’s beaten by the BMW, but it does have the best cabin in the category.
