2020 Audi S3 Review

　　

2020 Audi S3 Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The current generation S3 — a sportier variant of the Audi A3 — has been on sale for a few years now. But outside of some minor equipment and trim changes, it's basically the same small sport sedan we've known for years. Thanks to 288 horsepower and other sport-oriented upgrades, the S3 offers more performance than the standard A3, yet it's more comfortable (and affordable) than the sharp-edged RS 3 model.

　　The S3 shares more than a little with its corporate sibling, the Volkswagen Golf R, but that's hardly a bad thing. The Golf R is one of the most entertaining cars on the market, and that fun-to-drive nature carries over to the Audi. Think of the S3 as a Golf R sedan with an even nicer interior, though we wish Audi would offer the Volkswagen's manual transmission.

　　Overall, we think the S3 is worth a look if you want a nimble and relatively subtle luxury sedan. But checking out the competition will be a good idea. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class, in particular, offers a newer design, more advanced technology features, and a new performance-oriented AMG A 35 trim level that's every bit a match for the S3.

　　

Which S3 does zzdcar recommend?

Of the two available trims, we suggest going with the top-level Premium Plus. It's marginally more expensive than the base Premium model but includes more standard equipment such as an upgraded audio system and more USB ports. It also opens up more available options compared to the Premium.

　　

2020 Audi S3 models

The 2020 Audi S3 is offered in two trim levels: Premium and Premium Plus. They are pretty similarly equipped but, as the name suggests, the Premium Plus offers more standard features and equipment. All S3s have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (288 hp, 280 lb-ft) that's shared with other Audi models. That power is put to the ground through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

　　Standard features for the Premium include 18-inch wheels with summer performance tires, keyless ignition and entry, LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats and full leather upholstery.

　　For the Premium Plus model, you get all that plus a wireless charging pad, an upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system, rear USB ports, blind-spot monitoring, and more power adjustments for the front seats.

　　For both trim levels Audi offers an S Sport package that adds red-painted brake calipers and an adaptive suspension. For the Premium Plus only, you also can find packages offering sport seats, adaptive cruise control, integrated navigation and the Virtual Cockpit, a slick fully digital instrument cluster.

　　

2020 S3 Highlights

Trim: PremiumPremium PlusPremium

　　

Base MSRP	$43,000
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$188/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles