2025 Audi S3 Sportback review
Tired of being beaten up by its smaller sibling, Audi’s affordable performance car is back with a huge swag of extras.
Luxury
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Audi’s S3 isn’t the first middle child to miss out on parental affection.
Less athletic than its sporty little brother in Volkswagen’s Golf R, it also missed the charisma of its big brother in the Audi RS3.
Like a guilty parent making up for an underwhelming Christmas by going all-in at Easter, the Audi S3 has received a basket full of tasty goodies intended to even the score.
So this year’s model matches the rapid VW and RS3 with the addition of an active rear differential that makes it more fun to drive than before.
Last year’s model was competent and predictable when pushed, though it didn’t have the talent to engage keen drivers.
The old car had a limited skill set.
Bowl it up to a bend, breathe out of the brakes and get to the gas, and it would – at best – faithfully follow the arc set by the steering wheel, or push its nose wide with safe and predictable understeer.
The new beast can push power across the rear axle to help the car rotate under power. So if you come to that same corner and pour on the power, it sends drive to the outside rear tyre to help the car scythe through a turn.
It’s a neat trick that allows you to get to the gas sooner, using less steering lock to rip through a bend.
It delivers exactly the sort of driving satisfaction that was missing from last year’s model.
There are other improvements.
Beefed-up brakes do a better job of resisting fade, extra camber at the front end helps its Goodyears bite into the tarmac, and reworked steering offers more precision than before.
Software tweaks include a revised dual-clutch gearbox tuned to deliver snappier shifts, as well as increased clutch pressure and a higher idle on sporty modes that return faster getaways.
Retuned to deliver a little more power than before, the S3’s 245kW and 420Nm peaks help it rip to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds.
Take it easy on the throttle and you can expect to use 7.8L/100km.
An optional sports exhaust adds snap and crackle to the standard car’s pop.
It’s lovely on the inside.
Generously bolstered sports seats do a good job holding you in place, and the ergonomics are sound, with decent room for larger drivers.
Tweaks to the digital dash and central infotainment screen make it easy to live with, and we like that the car employs plenty of physical buttons, as opposed to relying on the touchscreen for everything.
Audi regulars might miss the squared-off, flat-bottomed steering wheel of older RS3 models – or the VW Golf R. But they will love the 15-speaker Sonos hi-fi system fitted as standard, along with wireless smartphone mirroring and inductive phone charging.
The stereo is a cracker. It helps drivers lean in to the S3’s split personalities as a car that offers premium everyday transport and occasional driving thrills.
Other tech elements include fancy matrix LED headlights and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance tech.
This is an impressive car. More complete than before, it builds on the previous model’s impressive prestige credentials with a breadth of driving ability missing from its predecessor.
That’s good news.
fter all, this is not a cheap car. Priced from $78,800 plus on-road costs (about $88,000 drive-away) plus optional extras in hatch form – and another $3000 as a four-door sedan – the S3 isn’t a budget option.
But it is one of the cheapest tickets to a European performance car.
And when rivals such as Mercedes-Benz are winding down production of the A-Class, it remains a desirable compact performance option for driving enthusiasts.
VERDICT
Audi’s S3 is better than ever, delivering driving thrills to match its prestige appeal.
4 stars
Audi S3 Sportback
PRICE: About $88,000 drive-away
ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, 245kW and 420Nm
WARRANTY/SERVICE: 5-yr/u’ltd km, $2890 for 5 yrs
SAFETY: 7 airbags, auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert
THIRST: 7.8L/100km
CARGO: 325 litres
SPARE: Repair kit
Originally published as 2025 Audi S3 Sportback review
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