2022 Audi S3 Evaluation and Video

Rising up sucks.

OK, possibly that’s a bit robust, nevertheless it’s actually not as carefree as being a child – again earlier than critical obligations and troublesome selections grew to become a part of the day by day routine. Enjoyable is your first precedence while you’re younger, after which it’s relegated to one thing to your free time, of which there’s treasured little to go round anymore.

After all, it’s doable to attain some semblance of steadiness in life, which is exactly why the 2022 Audi S3 exists. This little luxurious sedan initiatives the identical sort of seriousness as some other, nevertheless it’s additionally able to chopping free for uncommon however rewarding moments of gleeful motoring that may make you glad you’re grown up sufficient to get behind the wheel.

Styling: 9.5/10

After a brief delay reaching North American shores, the fourth era of Audi’s smallest sedan is right here, and it seems – effectively, it seems just about the identical because it did earlier than. Eager observers will be capable of spot the variations, like the marginally extra angular and aggressive character strains and exterior lighting, however the Volkswagen Group’s sometimes evolutionary design method is on full show right here.

To be truthful, the S3 – in addition to the A3 on which it’s primarily based – didn’t actually need a lot so far as an exterior overhaul. The cabin, nonetheless, is one other story altogether, with a feel and look that’s totally modernized. Easy stuff just like the window switches carry over from earlier than, however nearly every little thing else is new – and higher. Designers went a bit overboard with the gloss-black plastic panels, nevertheless it’s a way more streamlined house, with a distilled simplicity to go along with shapes that tie in properly with what’s occurring outdoors.

Practicality: 8.5/10

Given its slight stature, this S3 sedan affords spectacular inside lodging each back and front. No, it’s not fairly as spacious because the so-called sportback model of this compact that’s bought elsewhere, nevertheless it’s roomier than it seems from the surface, with good use of house all through.

Contemplating the variety of small sedans, premium or in any other case, that don’t provide a lot rear head- or legroom (or each), the usability of the S3’s again seat is commendable. Not even the bigger Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan affords as a lot rear-seat headroom as this – a real testomony to the intelligent packaging employed right here.

The entrance half of the cabin affords lodging which might be roomier nonetheless, though small-item storage isn’t precisely ample. The door pockets are a good measurement, however there’s just one really usable cupholder on the centre console, with one other hidden underneath the sliding armrest, whereas the console bin itself is a bit slim and shallow. Likewise, at 325 L, the trunk isn’t particularly beneficiant, with the all-wheel drive system’s parts leaving a excessive load ground to take care of when packing it with stuff.

Energy: 10/10

These are the performance fundamentals, however so far as enjoyable goes, it begins underneath the hood. The two.0L turbocharged four-cylinder carries over from the earlier S3, with a punchy 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque to play with. Higher nonetheless, all that torque kicks in at simply 2,000 rpm, which implies it doesn’t take a lot pedal play to succeed in fever pitch.

With the powertrain in its most riotous setting, and the torque directed to all 4 wheels, the 2022 S3 will dash from a standing begin to 100 km/h in a claimed 4.8 seconds. Extra principally, it additionally means passing manoeuvres are hilariously abrupt, with a slap or two of the left-side steering wheel paddle sending the seven-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission downward in a rush, spiking the revs into the heartiest a part of the powerband within the course of.

Driving Really feel: 10/10

Like a newly anointed step-parent, the optionally available adaptive suspension is agency but forgiving in its two softest settings, whereas sport skews significantly in direction of a inflexible experience. The identical degree of adjustment may be utilized to the steering and drivetrain, in addition to how a lot engine noise – enhanced or in any other case – is piped into the cabin.

It’s all a part of the steadiness the S3 strikes, with a character that’s equal elements subdued and sinister. With the drivetrain set to sport, throttle response goes from knife-sharp to hitting with the brute power of a meat cleaver, whereas transmission mapping is tweaked to carry gears longer between up- and downshifts.

With torque distributed to all 4 wheels, getting locations in a rush isn’t an issue for the S3, whereas brake-based torque vectoring ensures that’s the case even when the highway begins to wind. The system is straightforward, with the within brakes utilized imperceptibly when cornering, permitting the automobile to show extra sharply. It’s solely unnoticeable in motion, and that’s the entire level.

Consolation: 9.5/10

When playtime is over, the S3 behaves an terrible lot just like the A3 on which it’s primarily based. It’s luxuriously demure, with a casualness to the way in which it cruises round. It’s largely quiet, with this tester’s low-profile winter tires sending some undesirable highway noise into the cabin, however that’s about it.

The long-slung sport seats wrap up occupants simply sufficient to maintain motion to a minimal whereas concurrently offering good commuting consolation and assist. Each entrance seats are heated, too, though conspicuously absent is a heated steering wheel – even on this prime Technik trim that begins at $56,600 earlier than tax. Ditto front-seat air flow, which competitor merchandise provide on this value vary.

Gasoline Financial system: 7/10

There’s additionally the matter of the premium-grade fuel this pocket rocket runs on, which is an added expense that may’t be ignored. Granted, the identical is true of its direct opponents; however the associated fee will undoubtedly add up over time – particularly at in the present day’s costs.

If the 2022 S3 has something in its favour on the gasoline pumps it’s a barely much less insatiable urge for food for the costly stuff, with a mixed consumption fee of 8.8 L/100 km making it the one automobile prefer it to return in under 9.0. Higher nonetheless, throughout an preliminary analysis drive that spanned a highway-heavy 160 km or in order that was extra passive than playful, the mixed fee rang in at simply 8.1 L/100 km. In the meantime, the complete week of testing completed at 9.4 L/100 km throughout some 360 km – not unhealthy contemplating the snow-filled enjoyable that was had alongside the way in which.

Worth: 6/10

For all of the PG-13 enjoyable the 2022 Audi S3 is able to, it actually carries an R-rated price ticket. The most affordable strategy to get into one is to purchase the bottom Komfort trim that begins at $50,600 earlier than tax however together with a non-negotiable $2,700 freight cost. That’s rather less than the comparable Mercedes-AMG A 35 sedan’s beginning value, and fairly a bit cheaper than the bottom BMW M235i four-door, whereas the Cadillac CT4-V begins under $50,000.

This Technik tester, in the meantime, was finished up with a premium paint job ($890), in addition to a number of different choices just like the Superior Dealing with package deal and its adaptive suspension ($1,600), all of which noticed the value swell to $63,000. In equity, it’s straightforward to run the value of one among its fellow German opponents into comparable territory, however that’s chilly consolation for anybody purchasing on this section.

Options: 9/10

With that lofty price ticket looming, the S3 counters with most – although not fairly all – of what you would possibly anticipate from a contemporary sport compact that begins above $50,000. Leather-based upholstery, heated entrance seats, a sunroof; there’s additionally a ten.1-inch touchscreen, subscription-based satellite tv for pc radio, and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto connectivity.

The Progressiv trim will get barely higher tools for its $53,100 beginning value, together with energy adjustability for the entrance passenger seat (solely the driving force’s seat is powered within the base trim), a handful of superior security upgrades, and a few aluminum inside accents and ambient lighting. Then there’s the Technik trim that provides an upgraded stereo, built-in navigation, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, driver’s seat reminiscence settings, and rear USB ports for its $56,600 beginning value.

Notably absent from any of the three trims is a heated steering wheel, whereas ventilated entrance seats aren’t obtainable – even optionally, as they’re within the rival AMG A 35. Likewise, heated rear seats aren’t supplied.

Security: 7/10

Superior security options are one other method the S3 delivers some however not all of what’s fairly anticipated as of late, with solely ahead collision warning and computerized emergency braking coming customary, together with rear parking sensors and a government-mandated back-up digicam. The Komfort trim may also pre-emptively shut the home windows and sunroof and tighten the entrance seatbelts in anticipation of a crash.

The Progressiv trim provides blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a self-parking system, lane departure warning, and an exit alert system that may warn of oncoming visitors from behind, whereas the highest Technik trim provides computerized high-beam headlights. These two trims can be had with an optionally available adaptive cruise management system that works in stop-and-go visitors as a part of the Superior Driver Help package deal ($1,300).

Person Friendliness: 9/10

Regardless of the utterly new path taken inside, the S3 stays approachable and easy to make use of. The entrance half of the cabin seems and feels as driver-centric as a automobile like this could, with the centre stack angled a handful of levels to the left for improved ease of use. The highest trim’s built-in navigation can be known as up in a full-screen view on the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Tactile controls nonetheless rule the day, with nothing touch-based past the infotainment show and a console-mounted quantity controller. It nonetheless seems good, however the inside doesn’t really feel overwhelming or unfamiliar in any method. It’s significantly welcome given the frustratingly touch-heavy path sister model Volkswagen took with the brand new Golf R and GTI. It’s solely the push-pull gear choice knob that betrays the general intuitiveness of the inside, however even that doesn’t take a lot time to (largely) grasp.

The Verdict

The 2022 Audi S3 is a efficiency sedan with large focus – a masterful machine that’s been refined to the purpose of being extremely predictable, and but it’s nonetheless brilliantly, explosively enjoyable to drive. It’s additionally equally docile and simply tamed when desired, delivering a satisfying duality that makes it a really perfect answer to the single-car storage dilemma.

It’s costly, sure – significantly on the prime of the lineup. It may additionally use a heated steering wheel and ventilated entrance seats (and heated rear ones, too, for that matter). However amongst its friends it stands out as probably the greatest, with the proper variety of enhancements in its fourth era to go along with a sure familiarity in kind – and enjoyable.

Dan has been working within the automotive business for the higher a part of the final decade, splitting his time between automotive media and public relations. Dan graduated from Toronto’s Humber Faculty with a complicated diploma in journalism – print and broadcast. His work as a journalist spans from newspaper to tv and the online, reviewing automobiles in writing and in entrance of the digicam. In his function as Street Check Editor, Dan supplies knowledgeable perception and evaluation of the Canadian new automobile market.