Audi S3 review (13/09/2014)
I’VE tested many truly quick cars lately — the F-Type Jag and the Alfa 4C are both verging on super-car fast. This week, I’m testing a less-exciting-looking car that is, nevertheless, still ridiculously quick. It is the new Audi S3 saloon and while anything coming out of Ingolstadt that has an ‘S’ or an ‘R’ — or even an ‘RS’ — designation is generally ‘eye-popping’, the S3 is one of the best of them.
Regular readers will know I have an affinity for Audi and that I have driven plenty of their sporty versions, but this saloon is a stand-out.
Strangely, the S3 may burst the bubble of its stable-mate, the S4. It may be that the A4 range is due to be replaced and that will mean a new S4 soon. But, for now, the S3 saloon is trampling all over its bigger sibling. A quick comparison of the two cars: the S4 is powered by a 330bhp, V6 supercharged unit, while the A3 saloon has the 300bhp, two-litre turbocharged unit first used in the VW Golf R hot hatch. But even down 30bhp of power, the S3 will out-accelerate its big brother quite easily.
There is a substantial weight differential between the two cars, but, even so, the 4.7-second, 0-100kph acceleration of the S3 clearly outpaces the S4’s 5.0 seconds.
The S3 saloon has a very definite ‘stealth’ vibe. Although a very good-looking machine, the S3 does not differ wildly from any other A3 with an S-Line specification package. Some might see this as a failing, but I think that its relative anonymity is a positive. But the addition of unnecessary ‘quattro’ decals on the rear sills demeans the car with pretentiousness. Someone should have told the suits in the marketing department to back off, because this car does not need such fripperies.
No more so than the regular A3, the S3 looks like a scaled-down version of the S4, but that is no bad thing. It stands out because of its astonishing abilities. We’ve already mentioned the 0-100 kph capability, which is fairly impressive, but the limited top speed, of 250kph, does not really give you any idea of what the S3 can do. The test car was allied to Audi’s six-speed, S-tronic, dual-clutch automatic gearbox and the combination of engine and gearbox is nothing short of gob-smacking. And when you mate those factors with the quattro all-wheel drive system, you’ve a combination that will not disappoint too many punters — and especially not those who crave a brisk driving experience. But while you do have tuned exhausts — which provide a lovely bark on full-throttle up-shifts — and pretty bonkers performance on tap, that does not exclude the S3 from being a very acceptable day-to-day workhorse: it will troll its way around town like any normal saloon.
However, when you take out the big stick and prod this thing into action, it turns from Dr Jekyll into Mr Hyde in very short order.
Out on the road, the S3 is a damn fine companion. The ride is understandably stiff, given the performance on offer, but not crashingly so, as was very much the case with some of the earlier S3 hatchbacks. The traction is very palpable and the grip is unshakeable, and these combine to provide the sort of handling poise that has to be experienced to be believed. The refusal of the S3 to become unstuck, no matter what corner you’re taking, is truly impressive, as its consistency on any road surface. Throw in Audi’s usual, exemplary high-quality interior and there is little to quibble about here.
Sure, the leg and head room for adults in the rear seats is tight, but the boot space is surprisingly commodious and will even cope with a couple of golf bags.
For the driver and front-seat passenger, the sport seats are very cosseting and the flat-bottomed steering wheel adds visual appeal to what is an impressively delivered package.
The all-round ability of this machine distinguishes it from the pack, but do be warned (as is the case with so many premium brands): once you start adding specification the price veers upwards at a rate of knots. Given the specialised nature of the S3, not a huge amount of them will be sold, but people who do buy one will be rewarded by a car of exceptional abilities.
- Audi S3 saloon
from €52,720 — €64,656 as tested.
this two litre turbocharged petrol engine with 300 bhp on tap is fantastic and very difficult to get to the bottom of.
the standard kit on the car is pretty impressive, but so too are the extra costs when you start adding anything over and above.
A cracker.
