2018 Audi S3 Review

There's not much of a difference between the S3's two available trim levels. You could go with the Premium Plus trim level, but if you want the Technology package to get the useful Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster and premium audio system, you might as well just step up to the Prestige in...

Drivability is marred slightly by touchy brakes in stop-and-go traffic and some delay from the engine and transmission when leaving a stoplight. But it has great passing power, feels light and small, and is generally an easy car to drive.

The turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder feels stronger than 292 hp. Although it can be reluctant leaving the line, once it builds revs, it sprints forward, hitting 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth and quick-shifting.

Excellent braking abilities; the pedal is always firm. It's a bit touchy at low speeds, but in most situations the brakes feel powerful and confidence-inspiring. In our panic-brake test, the S3 needed 107 feet to stop from 60 mph. That's a typical result for a car with performance-rated tires.

Incredibly sharp steering. It's quick without being darty. More importantly, it gives good feedback to the driver, meaning the electric assist steering doesn't completely isolate the road or the grip level of the tires from the driver.

This car is glued to the road, thanks to the sticky tires but also the stiff suspension that keeps body roll nearly nonexistent. Aim this car at a corner and it goes exactly where you point it.

Drivability is marred slightly by touchy brakes in stop-and-go traffic and some delay from the engine and transmission when leaving a stoplight. But it has great passing power, feels light and small, and is generally an easy car to drive.

The S3 doesn't coddle you like a luxury sedan. The seats don't have an abundance of cushioning. The ride is firm and not as supple as that of most BMWs, but the suspension is adjustable, and it never gets truly objectionable. Interior noise is kept to acceptable levels.

The front seats have firm cushions, but they are wide and roomy, with less lateral support than most sport seats. The door armrests have soft cushioning. The rear seats provide enough support, but the seatback is quite upright.

If you like a floaty ride, this isn't your car. Even the suspension's Comfort mode can feel stiff over rough roads. But some sport sedans are even less comfortable.

There's some tire hum on most surfaces, but wind noise is well controlled. You can hear the engine just slightly at highway speeds. The turbo-four makes exciting noises during acceleration.

The standard dual-zone climate control uses a simple three-knob system for controls.

The interior is much like the A3's but with sportier, S3-specific touches throughout. Most controls work well, although the boost gauge is gimmicky. The trunk is small for the segment.

Despite the A3's minimalist interior design, the controls are where you expect them and are easy to use. We always turn the MMI knob the wrong direction, though. Love the infinitely swiveling circular dash vents. The optional finger-writing recognition is cool.

The front doors are relatively long and open wide. The roof isn't too low, and you only have to stoop a bit. On the downside, the door sills are wide, and you can catch your foot on them when getting out. The rear doors are small.

There's decent but not abundant front headroom, partly because the seat height is higher than you'd expect. Door-side elbow room is excellent. The center console infringes on the driver's right knee space. Rear headroom will be tight for most adults.

The windshield roof pillars are very narrow, though the side pillars obstruct lane changes. The rear roof pillars are also thick, and the rear window is short. Our test car had the optional rearview camera and front and rear parking sensors.

Interior materials are high-quality, and they look good, too. Beautiful thick-rimmed steering wheel. The knobs and buttons have heft. We did notice a squeak from the plastic center console if we rubbed our knee against it.

It should be no surprise that trunk volume in a compact car is limited. But the rear seat folds down, and the available cubbies and cupholders are welcome.

The door pockets are decent size, but the front bin is a tiny sliver. The center armrest bin is just large enough to be useful. The cupholders have good anti-tip design.

The 10-cubic-foot trunk is small, but the opening is wide. The rear seats fold down, and the pass-through is large.

The cool retractable center screen is intuitive, and it commands the MMI system. Bluetooth is standard, and the S3 is available with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot system.

To learn more about the Audi S3, read our updates from a full year of living with a 2015 Audi A3. Although the 2018 Audi S3 differs from our previous long-term A3 in terms of power and suspension tuning, many of our observations regarding the A3 still apply.