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Audi S3 Sportback 2014 review

EXPERT RATING
8
Real estate has its three golden Ps -- position, position and position. The car game can also boast its own Ps -- power, performance and personality. Audi's hot hatch the S3 Sportsback has them all.

Real estate has its three golden Ps -- position, position and position. The car game can also boast its own Ps -- power, performance and personality.  Audi's hot hatch the S3 Sportsback has them all in spades. There's a fourth P as well -- price -- and this one is a very attractive proposition.

VALUE

Audi has priced both the twin-clutch six-speed auto with manual shifting (Audi calls it the S tronic) and the six-speed manual at $59,900. This is Audi's cheapest hot hatch and its sharp pricing, on paper at least, gives it a hefty edge over its rivals. Mercedes-Benz's mighty AMG A45 is listed at $74,900, BMW's 135i is $64,900, and Subaru's WRX Sti Spec R and Mitsubishi's Evo MRSST are both $65,990.

But wait, you can spend more. Our S3 came optioned with metallic paint ($1050) and a performance package ($4990) lifting to the price tag to $65,940 before on-road costs, bringing it lineball with most of its rivals. The lesson here is that you have to carefully compare spec with spec to get the true comparison.

The S3 does, however, come well packaged -- one of its party tricks is that it will steer itself into a tight parking spot using the front and rear parking sensors. You take your hands off the wheel and control the speed with the brake and accelerator but the car does the rest. Spooky.

You also get a superb navigation screen that rises magically from the dashboard, keyless entry and starting, power adjustable front seats that can also be heated, rear view camera and benchmark quality to the fit and finish to the excellent cabin layout.

The extra five grand Audi demands for its performance package buys five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, big bright red brake callipers, sports seats in Nappa leather, a spectacular Bang and Olufsen audio system, Audi's magnetic ride (more on that later) and LED headlights. That's still not bad value and worth getting if you can stretch the budget.

TECHNOLOGY

The high-revving 2.0-litre, which gets additional indirect as well as direct fuel injection this year, packs a wallop -- 206kW, peaking between 5100 and 6500 revs and 380Nm of torque at 1800 to 5100rpm. This car's numbers are impressive: a claimed zero to 100km/h in 5 seconds and a claimed fuel consumption of 6.9l/100km -- obviously when driven sedately. Call me a lead foot but I couldn't get anywhere near that figure, returning 10-12l/100km over a week of mixed city and spirited country driving.

This time round, the engine gets dual injection and the electromagnetic dampers, which despite the wizard-like name work a treat. This engineering masterpiece uses a synthetic oil in the damper pistons containing tiny magnetic particles. When a voltage is applied to the dampers the magnetic particles align themselves to restict the flow of oil to the pistons. Clever stuff.

DESIGN

This is the third generation of the S3 with Audi this time round concentrating largely on what's under the bonnet, redesigning the 2.0-litre engine. Importantly, it is about 70kg lighter than the previous version -- think about it, that's the dead weight of a passenger.

There's been some tweaking to the styling and the hand crafted look to the cabin is impressive. Nice touches include an F1-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel, an easy to use and logical "mouse" controller in the centre console to drive the onboard functions, a generously sized digital speedometer to keep you on the straight and narrow and one of the best satellite navigation systems just in case you get lost.

DRIVING

The driver has a fair bit of control over how the S3 behaves, thanks to comfort, auto or dynamic settings that alter the engine, gearbox steering and even exhaust note. The dynamic setting is probably too brutal for normal road conditions; comfort is best with the car's dynamics not as soft as expected on such a setting.

The S3 can be both exhilarating and frustrating. Off line performance in the automatic is mildly handicapped by an initial hesitation unless you can master the launch control system. But as the revs build the S3 hunkers down, offering the push-in-the-back experience you expect.

Handling from an all-wheel drive, is poo on a blanket, glue to the road reassuring with the Audi showing fine poise and balance, helped by impressive braking performance. However excessive road noise on coarse chip surfaces is annoying.

But best of all is the exhaust note as a bypass opens to dump excessive pressure. Throttle blips on auto gear changes add to the sensory feast.
And there's a been a big improvement in this version in steering feel, the Achilles heel of previous versions.

VERDICT

The S3 may be small but it proves good things can come in small packages. It comes big on the thrill factor.

Audi S3 Sportback
Price: from $59,900
Engine: 2.0-litre direct injected turbo petrol, 206kW/380Nm
Transmission: 6 speed manual or 6 speed dual clutch auto, AWD
Thirst: 7.0L/100 (manual), 6.9L/100km (auto)

Pricing guides

$31,973
Based on 23 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months
Lowest Price
$23,990
Highest Price
$37,980

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
2.0 TFSI Quattro 2.0L, PULP, 6 SP $30,360 – 36,520 2014 Audi S3 2014 2.0 TFSI Quattro Pricing and Specs
2.0 TFSI Quattro 2.0L, PULP, 6 SP $32,890 – 39,160 2014 Audi S3 2014 2.0 TFSI Quattro Pricing and Specs
Sportback 2.0 TFSI Quattro 2.0L, PULP, 6 SP $29,150 – 35,090 2014 Audi S3 2014 Sportback 2.0 TFSI Quattro Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
8
Keith Didham
Contributing Journalist

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