Audi S3 2013 review

Audi's hot baby is back but three doors gives way to five. Nimble, a fiery disposition and remarkably roomy, Audi's compact five-door S3 gets ready to knock loudly on Australia's door.

It's a welcome return. In the short list of cars that thrill and delight, there is a smaller list of cars that live not only in our minds, but live on in remarkably fresh condition in our garages.

The Audi S3 is one of the rare, performance-oriented small cars that is built to levels of quality that few, if any, of its rivals can match. Now it's back - and on sale in December - with the same impressive perfection of construction but enhanced with more power, less fuel consumption and more features.

But some things do change. Australia is to miss out on the three-door, hot hatch Audi S3 and instead get the same dynamic drivetrain in the five-door Sportback body. “There's no sufficient market for a three-door in Australia,” says Audi Australia spokesperson Anna Burgdorf.

“We have found sales for the three-door model to be very slow. So the A3 is not available as a three-door and even the A1 has the bulk of sales as a five-door.” But there will be a four door. Buyer interest in sedans are strong so the A3 - and particularly the S3 - both arrive in the first quarter of next year.

Audi sold 880 S3 examples in its previous generation from 2007 to 2012. For 2014, it expects the latest generation to sell about 200 units.

VALUE

Pricing is yet to be fixed, Audi expects the S3 Sportback to slot in the $65,000 to $70,000 bracket. That makes it a bit cheaper than its aligned rival, the Mercedes A45 AMG hatch, that's due in September.

For a compact car the S3 is expensive but repays with exceptional build quality, clever engineering and driving dynamics that will make any critic rejoice. Equipment levels include a high-end sat-nav integrating Google Earth imaging, driver fatigue monitor, xenon headlights with LED tail lights, leather upholstery and 18-inch alloy wheels.

DESIGN

Audi design is as conservative as its parent Volkswagen but regardless, its cars are neatly balanced and always look as crisp and contemporary as a Zegna suit. The S3 makes up for a degree of muscle with its 20mm lower stance, wide fenders, 18-inch spidery alloy wheels, and deep rear diffuser with four oval tail pipes.

The cabin is leather and soft plastic, highlighted by large gauges, sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel and an overwhelming shade of black. The sports seats - there are options here including heavily-bolster quilted chairs - are superbly shaped and repeat the sense that even as a small car, the decor is of a standard normally applied to cars well beyond the S3's price.

TECHNOLOGY

The 2-litre engine is all new, despite having the same cylinder dimensions as the old model. It weighs 5kg less, too. The 221kW/380Nm output is up 33kW/50Nm on the previous unit, while fuel use for the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox is claimed at 6.9L/100km, down massively from 8.3L/100km.

It equates to a new 0-100km/h time (auto) of 4.8 seconds (previously 5.2). The chassis is the latest MQB design shared with Volkswagen's Golf Mk VII, and pushes the front axle further forward for better balance. The suspension is also new, as is tuning for the electric-assist steering. Magnetic dampers are optional.

SAFETY

The car is five-star crash tested, has seven airbags, electronic stability and traction control, all-wheel drive and a driver fatigue monitor. The option list is huge and includes lane-change assist, active cruise control, automatic parking and a preventative crash control system. Still no spare wheel, though.

DRIVING

If it wears an S - or RS - badge there's one aural quality shared with Audi's cars. Exhaust noise. The S3 is no exception, enhancing all the mechanical and gaseous conflicts with an exhaust system with a bypass, a sound box under the bonnet, plus the action of a high-revving four-cylinder engine.

That's the background and, many times, replaces the need to glance down at the tachometer. The performance is predictably rapid but the seemingly endless urge of the engine isn't. The dual-clutch gearbox has less slip and lag than most rivals, so all this urge is constantly on tap. The launch control is a neat addition. Handling is superb.

The S3 was tested back to back with the new RS6 Avant and the S3 is a sharper piece of work when thrown at some winding roads. Audi's new chassis feels immediately tauter than before but doesn't sacrifice ride comfort.

There's more suppleness right at the end of the bump stroke (this is the standard suspension tested, not the magnetic dampers) which makes bumpy bitumen roads less painful to occupant kidneys.

VERDICT

Still one of the best hot small cars. Build quality is outstanding but now competes with new-found performance and a delightfully tractable drivetrain.

Audi S3 Hatchback
Price: est. $65,000-$70,000
Warranty: 3 years/unlimited, roadside assist
Capped servicing: No
Service interval: 12mths/15,000km
Resale: 48%
Safety: 7 airbags, ABS, ESC, EBD, TC
Crash rating: 5-star
Engine: 2-litre 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 221kW/380Nm
Transmission: 6-spd dual-clutch auto; constant AWD
Thirst: 6.9L/100km; 98RON; 159g/km CO2
Dimensions: 4.3m (L), 1.8m (W), 1.4m (H)
Weight: 1430kg
Spare: None