After a rocky begin, the Audi S3 actually discovered its ft within the final era.
Not solely was it quick in all climate, it was sharp to take a look at from the skin and, due to the most effective small automobile cabin designs within the enterprise, the within was a beautiful place to spend time too.
Revealed in 2020 however solely launched to Australia earlier in 2022, the brand new S3 doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel. It’s nonetheless crisp and compact to take a look at, and it nonetheless packs turbocharged petrol energy and quattro all-wheel drive traction.
What has modified, then? There’s extra know-how inside, due to the identical suite of screens rolling out throughout the broader Audi vary, and the promise of a sportier drive from an up to date 2.0-litre engine and quattro all-wheel drive system.
How does that play out in the actual world?
How a lot does the Audi S3 Sportback value?
The S3 Sportback (or hatchback) is the cheaper of the 2 fashions within the vary, with a sticker value of $70,700 earlier than on-road prices. The S3 Sedan is $2500 costlier, with a $73,200 sticker value. Each fashions had been hit with an $800 value rise earlier within the 12 months.
Rivals are thick on the bottom. The BMW M135i xDrive Pure wears a $67,900 sticker, with a extra generously-equipped mannequin sitting above it at $72,900 earlier than on-roads, whereas the Mercedes-AMG A35 kicks off at $77,869 earlier than on-roads.
Over at Volkswagen, the brand new Golf R packs extra efficiency than the S3 for the same value. It’s at the moment $65,990 earlier than on-road prices, and has a extra highly effective model of the identical 2.0-litre engine mated with a extra superior all-wheel drive system.
2022 Audi S3 pricing:
- Audi S3 Sportback: $70,700
- Audi S3 Sedan: $73,200
All costs exclude on-road prices.
What’s the Audi S3 Sportback like on the within?
Like the broader A3 vary, the brand new S3 seems and feels extra fashionable than its predecessor.
Gone are the curves and pared-back, easy seems of the final mannequin, changed with an angular cockpit house to a pair of fantastic screens.
We’ve criticised the supplies in lower-end Audi A3 fashions for feeling a bit low cost, however the S3 justifies its larger value with Nappa leather-based seat trim and crimson quilted stitching, and what feels extra like metallic trim in entrance of the passenger on the dashboard.
The door tops are nonetheless completed in tougher plastic, nonetheless, and the plastic paddles behind the steering wheel really feel a bit low cost after experiencing the chilly, metallic items within the Mercedes-AMG A35.
It’s a horny cabin, however it nonetheless will get the basics proper. The driving place is superb, even should you’re tall, and the seats supply the appropriate stability of assist for lengthy journeys and bolstering once you’re in a rush. They’re additionally heated, an important contact for Melbourne’s icy winter.
The driving force is confronted with a high-resolution digital instrument cluster that’s barely bigger than that of the common A3 vary, able to displaying Google Maps, a visit pc, details about your media, or a traditional speedometer and rev counter. The S3 will get distinctive graphics relative to the remainder of the vary.
The central touchscreen is superb, with the identical slick graphics and lightning responses you get within the larger, costlier A6 and Q7. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay connects shortly and doesn’t drop out, and the inbuilt navigation gives reside visitors and wonderful satellite tv for pc maps.
There’s one thing very satisfying concerning the little haptic click on you get after urgent an icon, too.
Sitting beneath the touchscreen is an easy local weather management pod with buttons (good), however not one of the satisfying knurled dials that made the final A3 really feel like a top quality merchandise (unhealthy). I additionally miss the times of Audi screens retracting into the dashboard.
There are many storage areas round. Together with the slot on the base of the dashboard the place the wi-fi charger sits, there are two cupholders (with no sliding cowl), a compact under-arm house, and doorways with loads of house for drink bottles.
The house across the stubby little gear selector has been wasted, although. It’s an enormous expanse of gloss black plastic, and may very well be higher utilised for storing keys or cash.
The actual fact you’ll be able to’t use the shifter to flick by way of the gears can be a loss. Though there are paddles, there was at all times one thing enjoyable about dwelling out your DTM fantasies by snapping by way of sequential shifts.
Rear seat house is respectable, given the A3’s compact dimensions. Legroom is tight behind me at six-seven, however a regular-height grownup will be capable of squeeze behind a regular-height grownup if wanted, and children can be snug again there.
The chunky sports activities seats within the S3 do eat into ahead visibility, however Audi would argue it gives higher vehicles at an analogous value if you wish to haul a household round. There are two ISOFIX factors and three top-tethers.
The S3 Sportback has 325 litres of boot house with all 5 seats in place, down some 60L on the front-drive A3 Sportback as a result of all-wheel drive {hardware} below the boot ground.
It’s nonetheless a usable house, however you’ll must fold the rear seats flat to fit in a set of golf golf equipment. It doesn’t transfer the sport ahead relative to its predecessor.
What’s below the bonnet?
Given this can be a compact Volkswagen Group efficiency automobile, the Audi S3 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.
Australia now will get the identical energy outputs as Europe, which means our S3 pumps out 228kW and 400Nm. It’s despatched to the street by way of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and quattro all-wheel drive.
Audi says the all-wheel drive system is quicker to react than earlier than, shuffling energy rearwards extra shortly than that of its predecessor.
The brand new S3 Sportback and S3 Sedan will sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, and quote a high velocity of 250km/h.
Gas use is a claimed 7.4 litres per 100km, however we noticed 8.0L/100km in per week of combined freeway and metropolis driving. The Audi S3 contains a 55-litre gas tank in each physique types, with strictly premium unleaded gas required.
How does the Audi S3 Sportback drive?
Prod the red-rimmed begin button on the transmission tunnel and the S3 fires to life with extra of a bark than its predecessor.
Even in Consolation it has a pleasant background burble, and in Sport it has a synthesised sound that pulls inspiration from the five-cylinder RS3.
The Volkswagen Group continues to get higher at making its 2.0L turbocharged engines really feel extra alive, which has paid off within the S3.
Little or no of what characterised the final S3 has modified right here. It’s nonetheless a refined little automobile across the metropolis, with loads of low-down punch from the turbocharged engine and immense traction from the quattro all-wheel drive system in fairly horrible climate.
Trip high quality is healthier than you’d count on of a small automobile on 19-inch wheels with slim, sporty sidewalls. In Consolation mode it does an excellent job filtering out tough metropolis roads, though enlargement joints and sharp velocity bumps can undermine the serenity.
Up the velocity and the S3 is a grown-up cruiser. There’s a touch of wind and street noise at freeway speeds, particularly on coarse-chip nation highways, however in comparison with the shouty Mercedes-AMG A35 and BMW M135i it’s very quiet.
Audi’s driver help features are easy and sensible, particularly the lane-centring system which feels simply the appropriate degree of hands-on.
Regardless of its diminutive proportions, you’d fortunately spend a very long time behind the wheel – though the very fact you’ll be able to solely modify the adaptive cruise in 10km/h increments is simply foolish in such a dear automobile.
After all, the S3 is about greater than snug cruising. In contrast to the associated Golf R, the S3 doesn’t have a torque-vectoring rear differential. As an alternative, it contains a Haldex all-wheel drive system and brake-based torque vectoring.
Audi says it’s a better system than earlier than, nonetheless, by performing sooner when torque must be shuffled to the rear axle. In apply, the automobile feels roundly much like its predecessor.
The nostril is eager to show in, and also you’re in a position to get on the ability assured within the data there’s at all times going to be traction from the quattro all-wheel drive system. It by no means feels significantly adjustable relative to the Golf R, however offered you’re practical with how briskly you flip right into a nook, the S3 will cling on faithfully.
The engine and transmission come to life in Sport mode. You get extra noise piped into the cabin, and the dual-clutch transmission snaps by way of shifts sooner and tougher than in Consolation.
The paddles reply shortly to inputs, though they don’t really feel all that flash in your fingers, and throttle response is sharp once you’re within the meat of the engine’s torque.
It’s a really succesful approach to cowl the bottom shortly, and there’s enjoyable available
What do you get?
S3 highlights:
- 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Qi wi-fi cellphone charging
- 15-speaker, 680W Bang & Olufsen sound system
- DAB+ digital radio
- Adaptive suspension
- Semi-autonomous parking help
- Matrix LED headlights
- Keyless entry and begin
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Nappa leather-based upholstery
- Energy entrance seats with four-way energy lumbar
- Heated entrance seats
- Color-adjustable ambient lighting
- Palms-free energy boot lid (Sedan)
- Computerized headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Chrome steel pedals
- 19-inch alloy wheels
The $3990 Premium Plus package deal provides:
- Panoramic sunroof
- Head-up show
- Encompass-view digicam
- Energy driver’s seat with reminiscence
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors with reminiscence
Standalone choices embrace:
- Privateness glass
- Panoramic sunroof
- Palms-free energy tailgate (Sportback)
A black exterior styling package deal can be accessible for $1500.
Is the Audi S3 Sportback protected?
Solely front-wheel drive variations of the Audi A3 have a security ranking from ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
They earned a five-star ranking primarily based on class scores of 89 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 81 per cent for baby occupant safety, 68 per cent for susceptible street customers, and 73 per cent for security help.
Normal security options embrace:
- AEB with pedestrian/bicycle owner detection
- Lane-keep help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Secure exit warning
- Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Reversing digicam
Along with the above security tools, there’s twin frontal facet chest and facet curtain airbags as customary, in addition to a front-centre airbag in step with the most recent ANCAP and Euro NCAP standards.
How a lot does the Audi S3 Sportback value to run?
Audi moved to a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee earlier in 2022, matching Mercedes-Benz and placing it forward of BMW with its three-year guarantee.
Upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, and Audi is providing a five-year servicing plan priced at $2580.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Audi S3 Sportback
Audi hasn’t revolutionised the S3, however it didn’t must.
With the appropriate mix of consolation, luxurious, and efficiency, it’s the consummate all-rounder.
Though the Golf R has moved to occupy an analogous house within the Volkswagen Group world, the S3 nonetheless units itself aside with a extra luxurious inside and polished look that enchantment to a barely completely different crowd.
The place a few of its rivals really feel like cut-priced variations of their larger, costlier vary mates, the S3 seems like a full-blown Audi – only a smaller one.
That’s to not say it’s excellent. Like numerous the Volkswagen Group’s newest vehicles there are hints of cost-cutting across the cabin, and the tight boot and rear seat haven’t actually improved relative to what was on supply earlier than.
That wouldn’t be sufficient to discourage me, although. The S3 is a type of vehicles I didn’t wish to give again.
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