Driven: Audi S3 Saloon Review with Video

We’ve driven the Audi S3, the latest high-performance version of Audi’s popular family car, to see if it’s a proper hot hatch (or saloon) or more of a rapid and luxurious people mover. Read on, or scroll to the bottom of the page for the video review.

The Audi S3 has a tough job to do. It has to be all things to all drivers. It must be fun but not harsh. It must be comfortable but not wafty. Most of all, it must be stylish but not in your face. As a result, it is a car that cannot please all people, but I think it nails the job it was meant for.

I’ve driven and reviewed the A3 saloon here on Average Joes before, so I won’t go into too much detail about the overall design. Suffice it to say, it’s essentially the same inside with a few extra ‘S’ bits of trim and much nicer seats. In short, though, it’s a well-appointed car that feels cut above cars from the likes of Volkswagen. It’s very ‘Audi’ inside and out. If sales are anything to go by, that is a very good thing. On the outside, it’s also indistinguishable from an A3 with S-Line trim, but look closely, and you’ll spot the more pronounced front grill, larger wheels and quad tailpipes. I appreciate the subtlety of it.

The driving experience is similar to the standard car, but everything is turned up a few notches. The ride is a little firmer, the steering is a little heavier, and the performance is substantially more. In fact, on paper, this car is rapid. It takes less than five seconds to reach 62mph, and the top speed is 155mph, thanks to the 300+hp turbo four-cylinder engine up front. It drives all four wheels, which means the S3 is rapid all of the time.

Unfortunately for some, the do-it-all nature of the car means that the performance can sometimes feel a bit tame. The lack of engine/exhaust noise doesn’t help that. But you have to remember what this car is trying to achieve. It isn’t a hardcore B-road blaster. It’s a comfortable, practical and very fast saloon that is easy to live with every day but will fly if you press the loud pedal.

The handling is much the same. It is very capable and has more than enough grip, but you’ll be left feeling a little cold compared to a Golf GTi or Civic Type R. However, this isn’t what the car is meant for. It’s more autobahn than Nurburgring, if you get what I mean.

The S3 is very fast, almost as comfortable as an A3, is as stylish as an Audi should be (even if that grille is a little on the large size) and has all the tech you could need. Sadly, it leaves me a little cold as I want something more dynamic from a hot hatch, but that’s not a bad thing. We are allowed to like what we like, and if what you like is a car that is very usable every day but very rapid when you’re feeling racy, then the S3 might just be the perfect car for you.