2024 Audi S3 Expert Review
Reviewed by Bob Hernandez
For a luxury subcompact sedan with a little more spice than the A3, Audi has the sporty S3. The small car comes with a big bump in output. The automaker began selling this model in the U.S. for the 2015 model year, and the S3 received a significant redesign for 2022. Competitors include the BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLA35 AMG 4Matic .
What's New
- In the cabin, carbon-fiber inlay trim replaces last year's standard aluminum inlays
- Fine Nappa leather seats are available à la carte on Premium Plus and Prestige trims
What We Think
If the A3 is Audi's entry-level car, the S3 is the brand's starter sport sedan. When we put a same-generation 2022 model through its paces, it was peppy and planted on and off the track. Thrust comes on smoothly, and the brakes are truly impressive, stopping the car from 60 mph in 108 feet, 11 feet shorter than the A3. We did encounter some impact harshness through the suspension on rough roads around town, but the ride is otherwise composed.
The S3's cabin is festooned in technology, and outside the four-door still looks as good as it did with the 2022 redesign. That said, competitors come with more standard driver assist features, plus the S3's trunk is smaller than even the A3's. But that presumably won't matter much to shoppers looking for a small driver's car with plenty of presence and performance at the more affordable end of the Audi lineup.
Performance and MPGs
Like the A3, the 2024 S3 receives a 2.0-liter turbo-four with mild hybrid boost and seven-speed automatic transmission. Output for the performance model is significantly greater, though, increasing 105 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque to totals of 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, the S3 is offered only with AWD.
Fuel economy comes in at 23/32 mpg city/highway. The 2024 BMW M235i—itself a performance variant of the 2 Series Gran Coupe—gets barely better efficiency ratings with the same sized turbo engine and AWD: 24/33 mpg city/highway.
Also check out the more potent RS3.
How Quick Is the S3?
When it was new for 2022, we hustled the current-generation S3 to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.6 seconds, just a 0.1 second off of the manufacturer's estimate. That's quicker than the rival M235i Gran Coupe's time, which we last clocked for the 2020 model. The BMW needed another two tenths—4.8 seconds—to hit 60 mph.
Driver Assist Features
The 2024 S3 models receives the same driver assist technologies as the A3. That means it comes with Audi's Pre-Sense forward automatic emergency braking, Park Assist semi-autonomous parking, a lane keeping system, and automatic high-beams. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring are standard on all trims but the base model.
Cargo Space and Interior Room
There's seating for five in the 2024 S3, and rear legroom is better than what's in the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and 2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. The S3's trunk is 2.6 cubic feet smaller than the A3's, though, which was already not as big as its two main German rivals.
Technology
Every 2024 S3 receives wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, powered and heated front seats, and ambient lighting. Higher trims are standard with wireless phone charging, a head-up display, and traffic sign recognition. For a touch of extra sportiness, the S Sport package is available with adaptive dampers.
Recommended Trim
The 2024 Audi S3 is available in three trims this year: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. As every grade of this performance sedan is equally equipped mechanically, we'd be OKrecommending the least expensive S3 Premium and maybe even adding the S Sport package if track days or canyon drives are in the owner's future. Pricing for the 2024 S3 starts at just over $48,000 for the Premium model and goes up to around $55,000 for the Prestige.
