Compact and fast, Audi S3 has proven to be a popular destination in the world of European high-performance cars for 25 years.
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S3 Sedan
More than 10,000 have been sold in Australia since the first generation S3 arrived as a performance variant of the A3 bloom. The S3, which has also been available as a four-door sedan since 2014, now accounts for about 25% of all A3 sales here.
On the surface, there aren't many differences between the revised S3 2025 and its predecessor. The sheetmetal is unchanged, but the new front fascia features a wider and flatter single-frame grille with body-colored trim below and strut-like structures supporting the front splitter. The new grille is surrounded by larger, more square vents with vertical outer edges.
Matrix LED headlights now feature 24-pixel elements arranged in three rows on the top edge. This allows owners to choose between four digital daytime running lights using the MMI infotainment system.
At the rear are redesigned taillights and a new rear bumper with vertical reflectors and a bolder faux diffuser nestled between the signature quadrangular exhaust pipes.
New colors available include District Green, Ascari Blue and Progressive Red metallic, and the iconic Daytona Gray is now available in matte finish, which comes with redesigned alloy wheels.
That doesn't sound like much of a fuss, and perhaps only eagle-eyed Audi fans will notice. But these cosmetic improvements also herald some important mechanical upgrades that greatly improve performance and handling.
How Audi S3 compare?
See detailed analysis on Audi S3 against vehicles of similar size.
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S3
How much does the Audi S3 cost?
Like the current version, the 2025 Audi S3 will have two variants: Sportback hatchback and four-door Sedan. The sedan is a slightly more popular model, accounting for 54% of total S3 sales.
The 2025 models aren't expected to arrive in Australia until the fourth quarter of this year, so Audi hasn't released any pricing details yet – but current prices suggest the Sedan will be available. Price is about 3.0% higher than Sportback.
What's inside the Audi S3?
As with the exterior, there are no major modifications to the interior architecture.
But in response to criticism from the media and customers, Audi spent some money to make the S3's cabin look more premium than before. For example, Audi's Virtual Cockpit dashboard is now standard on the S3 in all markets.
When you sit in the S3's sport-reinforced bucket seats, you'll notice the new flat-bottomed three-spoke sport steering wheel.
You'll also notice a new shift lever in the reconfigured center console.
In place of the previous car's gear lever, there's a smooth flat button that's pulled to steer and pushed to select reverse. New chrome trim on the air conditioning vents helps the cabin look larger.
The S3's interior is moody, its dark color palette enhanced by silver accents and beautifully contrasting red stitching.
An optional interior lighting package, most notably door panels with 300 laser-cut perforations that are backlit from light sources inside the doors, adds color and visual interest to the cabin .
What's under the bonnet?
The 2.0-liter turbo four Under the hood the S3 has been tweaked to improve responsiveness and deliver more grunt.
The fuel injection system now runs at 350 bar pressure and a revised engine management system now keeps the turbocharger spinning at a constant speed under light throttle and part load to deliver power more quickly.
Peak power is now 245kW, increases by 17kW and is generated from 5000rpm to 6500rpm. Torque up to 20Nm 420Nm, all available from 2100rpm to 5500rpm. The calibration of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission has been revised to handle higher starting torque, making the compact Audi start harder when starting from a standing position.
Audi claims the S3 is now 1/10th of a second faster to reach 100km/h than before, with the clock stopping at 100km/h. 4.7 seconds. Top speed remains electronically limited 250 km/h.
How does the Audi S3 drive?
With a powerful turbo engine, smooth transmission and all-wheel drive traction; The Audi S3, whether in four-door sedan or five-door hatchback form – Sportback in Audi-speak – has previously impressed as a great all-rounder, more fun than its A3 siblings and good value than the RS3 – the revised Audi S3 is built on that platform.
Chassis upgrades include new front suspension couplings that double negative camber at the front axle to 1.5 degrees and larger 357mm front brake rotors.
The most important change, however, is the adoption of the rear axle torque split system used on the hotter, faster RS3 – and it's this that takes the new S3 to new heights in terms of dynamics. steering force.
Simply put, the torque split system uses two multi-plate clutches, one located directly on either side of the rear differential, to vary the amount of torque delivered to each rear wheel.
Each clutch has its own electronic controller, using data such as wheel speed, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, steering and throttle angle, gear selected and yaw rate – the speed at which the car is rotating around its straight axis its stand – to calculate how much torque to send to each wheel.
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S3 Sportback
In theory, the torque splitter is designed to improve both agility and stability, sending more torque to the outside rear wheel to help the S3 corner better and to the inside rear wheel. to help prevent oversteer when adhesion limits are exceeded. exceed.
And you just need to launch the little Audi down your favorite driveway to feel the theory in action. Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system has for years given its performance cars high cornering grip, though often at the cost of initial turn-in response and tightness your midline. The torque-split rear axle turns the S3 into an apex predator.
The change in the S3's demeanor is so profound that you'll need to recalibrate your driving style to get the most out of the torque splitter. The trick is to power up much earlier than you would normally do in an all-wheel drive car with 60% of the mass on the front axle and use the extra torque sent to the outside rear wheel to whip the tail around effectively. and tuck your nose into the top of the corner.
We are not talking about power managers here; It all happens quickly and precisely without any squeal from the tires. S3 just goes where you point it, with minimal fuss.
That said, Audi has used a torque splitter to add to the S3's fun factor. The level of system intervention depends on the selected driving mode, and to make the most of its capabilities, Audi has added an additional driving mode, called 'Dynamic Plus'.
In addition to further sharpening the drivetrain's response, this mode ensures as much torque as possible gets to the rear axle and that most of the torque is sent to the rear wheels on the outside of the curve. You don't have to be Isaac Newton to figure out the results: As Audi engineers dryly observed, Dynamic Plus mode gave the S3 a “tendency to oversteer.”
The S3 is one of those rare performance cars that feels comfortable at almost any speed on almost any road with one of the sportier driving modes – in this case Dynamic. In fact, in Comfort mode, the S3's suspension can sometimes feel under-damped.
If you find Dynamic mode's steering feel too tight at low speeds, you can always use Individual mode to keep powertrain response sharp but switch up the spring and damper rates to the most comfortable setting. That said, Audi's drive mode selection protocol isn't exactly easy to use, requiring you to cycle through all the options until you get the one you want.
What do you get?
Befitting its price, the Audi S3 is a well-equipped compact car.
Standard equipment includes:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Red brake pads
- Matrix LED headlights
- Keyless entry
- Audi Plus virtual cockpit
- Connect Audi Plus
- DAB+ digital radio
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Induction smartphone charger
- USB-C ports are front and rear
- Nappa leather seats with diamond stitching
- Front heated seats
- Illuminated door sills
- Comfortable 2-zone air conditioning
- Ambient light package with 30 customizable colors
Options include:
- The display heads up
- Driver's seat memory function
- Panoramic sunroof
- Premium Sonos sound
- 360 degree camera
Is Audi S3 safe?
Only the front-wheel drive version of the Audi A3 is available five-star ANCAP safety rating based on Euro NCAP testing carried out in 2020.
It received an adult protection score of 89%, child protection score of 81%, vulnerable road user protection score of 68% and safety assistance score of 73%.
Standard safety equipment includes:
- Automatic emergency braking (AEB)
- Detect pedestrians
- Detect cyclists
- Audi basic sense
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic warning
- Warning for safe escape
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Active lane assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go feature
- Semi-automatic parking assistance
- Reverse the camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
A surround-view camera is available but not standard across the lineup. However, you get this standard on the range-topping RS3. Seven airbags are also included – dual front, front, center front and full-length curtain.
How much does it cost to run an Audi S3?
Audi Australia offers all of its vehicles – including the sporty S and RS models – with 5 year warranty, unlimited km.
There's also a 5-year warranty on the body and paint, as well as a 12-year warranty on the body's anti-corrosion coating.
Scheduled maintenance can be included in an Audi Original Care Package, which lasts five years or 75,000km, whichever comes first – this package costs $2890 for the current model.
CarExpert reviews the Audi S3
At first glance, the 2025 Audi S3 is more evolutionary than revolutionary; A reasonable mid-cycle upgrade seems to address perceived quality complaints and throw some more performance into the mix for good measure.
But appearances can be deceiving. The decision to equip the S3 with a torque split rear axle as standard has revolutionized the car's dynamic capabilities. The new S3 feels sharper and responds a lot faster when hit hard.
No, it doesn't have the raw power of the 294kW/500Nm five-cylinder RS3 when you mash the throttle. But that new rear axle means the S3 won't be much slower than its muscular sibling on any winding roads out in the real world.
Since it can be at least $15,000 cheaper than the RS3, that means the revised S3 is now a real benefit to you.
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