Small but mighty, Audi S3 delivers exhilarating performance

John Cole, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·4 min read

Oct. 22—German automaker Audi is fond of offering certain models in a range of performance enhancements that Goldilocks might recognize.

Take this week's tester, for example. The 2022 Audi S3 Sedan occupies the middle ground in a model range that runs from the basic A3 to the fire-breathing RS3. The first is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four making 201 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The RS3, meanwhile, gets a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder powerplant that makes a rated 401 horses and 369 lb-ft of twist.

The S3, meanwhile, contents itself with a tuned version of the A3's four-banger, huffing up 306 horsepower and 295 ft-lbs of torque, which I'm confident that the titular character from the children's bedtime story would find to be "just right."

Audi's diminutive four-door is a unicorn of sorts in the U.S. market — a subcompact performance-and-luxury-minded four-door sharing the roadways in a land dominated by hulking sport-utes, pickup trucks and crossovers. Still, demand exists for fleet and fun-to-drive vehicles on this side of the Big Pond, and thank goodness Audi and others are there to satisfy it.

After taking the 2021 model year off, the A3 and its more-potent variants have returned as all-new 2022 models. There are three trim levels offered for the S3 — Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige — all of which are equipped with the aforementioned turbo-four, Quattro all-wheel drive, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission complete with steering wheel-mounted shifter paddles for drivers who feel like rowing their own gears.

Entry-level models are fairly well-equipped, with a list of standard kit that includes a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, LED headlamps, heated front sport bucket seats, a 10.1-inch infotainment interface, leather seating surfaces, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, and a range of safety-sensing and collision avoidance tech.

Prices rise with tonier trim levels and additional option packages. Our S3 tester's $44,900 base MSRP included a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, Audi DriveSelect (for choosing economy or sport performance), 18-inch alloy wheels, heated sideview mirrors, tri-zone automatic climate control, a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seatbacks, and more.

The bottom line soared with the addition of the $2,800 Premium Plus trim package, which added a number of items that one expects in this exclusive automotive neighborhood. Among the goods are adaptive cruise control, a longer list of safety-sensing tech, driver's seat memory, auto-dimming rearview and side-view mirrors, driver's seat memory, and a motion-sensing alarm system.

But wait, as they say in the commercials, there's more! Our tester also included the $2,250 Technology Package (satellite navigation, a larger digital gauge cluster, traffic sign recognition and Bang & Olufsen premium sound), the $1,950 Black Optic Package (19-inch alloys shod in summer performance tires, a black-out roof and assorted exterior bling), the $1,250 Nappa Leather Package and the $1,150 S Sport Package (sport suspension with damper control and red-painted brake calipers).

Toss in $595 for the attractive Tango Red paint job (no one does that shade better than Audi) and the $1,045 delivery tab, and the final MSRP comes to a sobering $55,895.

Like any modern-day production sports car, the S3 strives to be all things, whether the task at hand calls for a run to the grocery or blasting down some twisty backroad. The performance-selection function ranges from Comfort, delivering decidedly more docile and fuel-efficient performance, to Sport, which keeps the gearing high and the engine on the boil. Properly set, the S3 will hit 60 mph in a reportedly brisk 4.3 seconds (we'll note just for fun's sake that the RS3 does the same trick about a second quicker). All of this is accompanied by a sonorous exhaust howl and right-now responses from the weighty-feeling steering system. The tightly tuned suspension system might be a tad too firm for some folks (potholes in particular are pretty noticeable), but we think the overall ride quality strikes a good balance between comfort and performance. Our observed 24 mpg fuel efficiency in mostly in-town driving came in slightly higher than the EPA estimate.

Instrumentation and controls are clearly marked and easy to rear and operate, although the console-mounted shifter toggle switch took a bit of getting used to. The interior intimate cabin requires a bit of a head-tuck to enter, but otherwise offers plenty of adult-sized head and legroom. The firmly cushioned and bolstered sport seats feel all-day comfortable. Cramped rear-seat accommodations (no legroom to speak of with the front seats slid back) and a dinky 8.3-cubic-foot trunk are the price one pays for the S3's small proportions, though.

JOHN COLE reviews automobiles for The Times-Tribune. When he's not driving cars he's driving the pen behind Times-Tribune editorial cartoons. Contact him at johncoletoons@gmail.com.