LOOKS
From the outside, the S3 is an attractive but not stunning ride, though the bright red paint job on my test model was a nice look. It’s not too different in design from the more pedestrian A3 model, but Audi’s strength is in what its cars can do on the road, not necessarily topping the charts on looks. It does look sporty, though.
Inside you get the traditional sparse Audi setup -- The infotainment screen disappears into the dash when you exit, buttons are small (and sometimes nearly hidden).
The back seat is tight, though you can fit back there -- I just wouldn’t recommend people do it for long drives.
The steering wheel has a racecar look to it, recalling what you might see in a Formula 1 car in its design, and that’s fitting considering how the car drives.
Audi is a luxury line, and you can see that in the materials used in the S3; while not the absolute top-of-the-line, nothing feels cheap here, and you get comfortable leather seating.
ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
What’s under the hood is essentially the whole story of why people buy this vehicle. It’s a fast mamma-jamma.
The numbers on the S3’s power plant are as follows:
You get a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 engine that provides 292 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque.
It features the quattro all-wheel drive system.
I’ve driven plenty of fast cars, some with a lot more horsepower than the S3, but this is among the best I’ve experienced in terms of getting up to speed and maneuvering through traffic deftly and swiftly.
In the rare occasion where you have open road ahead of you and get a chance to start from a stop and gun it, the Audi S3 is one of the best in the business. Zero-to-60 speed is 4.7 seconds, and it feels that fast too.
The ride isn’t the most quiet you’ll find, but that’s part of the deal when you’re driving what is essentially a racecar. This vehicle isn’t competing with your mom’s minivan.
The experience when driving the S3 in proper conditions is, to use a word I rarely write -- Exhilarating. It’s truly powerful, and gets you going alarmingly fast. You have to police yourself very much in a vehicle like this.
Handling is another high point, with the S3 maneuvering through holes in the highway adeptly.
The one downside: If you have terrible road conditions (as is the case in Michigan, where I was driving the S3), you have to be real careful where you’re driving. Those potholes can ruin the ride real quick, so you often have to hold back and not let the car do what it really wants to do.
TECH, SAFETY
Audi’s tech interface is easy to use (with reliable voice commands and an easy-to-use dial in the center console for controlling things in a pinch), and sticks with the German automaker’s simple approach; no flash, just effective design and function.
Some of the upscale safety features you’ll find on family rides aren’t offered on the S3, but you do get a full array of air bags, car seat connector and rear child safety locks.
MPG
For a car as racy as the S3, the fuel mileage isn’t nearly as bad as it could be. Official numbers are 23 city/31 highway/26 combined. I was a few mpg below these numbers, but I tried to push it to the limit so that’s understandable.
PRICE
The 2015 Audi S3 sedan with all-wheel drive starts out at $41,100. With extra features that I had on the test vehicle (Navigation system, a performance wheels package and the rearview camera), the total came to $48,045.
BOTTOM LINE
It’s definitely not the family car, but if you’re someone who loves driving and is looking for a fun little luxury ride to take out on the open road and push to the limit, the 2015 Audi S3 may be one of your best options, though it’s also worth testing out alternatives from Benz/BMW/Lexus/Infiiniti/etc., and seeing which one is more to your style.
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Matt Myftiu can be foundon Twitter @MattMyftiu
