The New 2022 Audi S3 Is a Surprise Hit
We’ll admit it; the all-new 2022 Audi S3 came as a total surprise hit this year. We weren’t expecting Audi’s newest, smallest sedan to be this much fun. Blink and you’d miss the fact there’s an all-new S3. It’ll get overlooked in favour of more popular, more mainstream models like the Q3 SUV, and the slightly-larger A4 sedan. If it was our money though, we’d take the peppy S3 over all of them.
Why such a surprise?
To understand the S3, you’ve got to put it in context. Audi Sport, the people responsible for fast Audis, has been going in a more mellow direction recently. By that we mean its cars aren’t intended as track-day weapons like rivals from BMW M and Mercedes-AMG. If you ask us, Audi’s S cars, and even RS models, have been geared more towards day-to-day driving and practicality. But, we’ve always had a soft spot for the smallest Audi Sport model — the last-generation RS 3 — because it bucked that trend. It had a wild side. Still, we had no idea what direction the company would take for this all-new generation of sub-compact models.
What is the S3?
If it was hot sauce, it’d be medium. In Audi’s sub-compact sedan family, the all-new A3 is mild, and the upcoming RS 3 is a three-alarm fire in your mouth. The S3 is lively and fun, but not so high strung that it makes every journey an extreme sport.
The new 2022 models are a smidgen longer and taller than before, but it’s still a small machine. There’s space for adults in the back, but anyone taller than, say, 5’8” may have their knees against the front chairs. The S3 is the perfect size for wheeling around the city though. Tight alleyways and cramped parking-lots suddenly seem roomy in this thing. And, in winter, standard quattro all-wheel drives makes short work of snowbanks.
The price is reasonable too. At $47,900, the S3 a less costly than the Mercedes-AMG A 35 sedan and hatchback ($51,100). BMW’s M240 coupe is spectacular, but it’s $56,950 and only has two doors.
What makes the S3 so enjoyable?
From the moment you get into the driver’s seat, the S3 does everything right. The cabin is among the very best you’ll find in a small car. There’s plenty of storage, including a wireless phone-charging bin and the crisp digital displays are elegantly integrated into the avant-garde cabin architecture. It doesn’t feel cramped up front either.
Our car had the optional adaptive dampers, which are a must in our opinion. They offer a wide range of adjustability from comfortable to stiff. Frankly, we didn’t expect the S3 to ride this well over broken city streets, but it soaks up big ruts and bumps in its stride. The Audi seems cushier than rivals, so scooting around town won’t send you to the chiropractor.
Under the hood is a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill, which punches way above its weight class, pumping out 306 horsepower — 105 more than in the A3 — and 295 lb-ft of torque. The latter comes in at just 2,000 rpm and lasts until 4,750 which means this little motor is often running right in the fat bit of its torque curve. With the car in Dynamic mode, the engine is highly responsive and always ready to burst forward.
It’s complimented by the well-sorted chassis, which is happy to be pitched into corners and whipped around off-ramps. The steering is hefty, but accurate. Overall, the S3 feels eager — like it’s ready to go faster whenever you are — but it’s not in a hurry.
Lean on the throttle, and the engine has a characterful growl. It’s nicer to listen to than your typical four-cylinder mill. Audi cheated a bit here: an extra speaker amplifies engine sound. If we hadn’t just told you though, you’d probably never know. Besides, if it bothers you, you can turn the extra noise off.
So, overall, how does it rate?
Every car demands compromises, of course. The S3 is a sedan, so you sit lower down than you would in an SUV, if that matters to you, and we’ve already explained that the rear seats are tight. Then there’s the fact the mechanically-similar Volkswagen Golf R is available with a six-speed manual, which may tempt driving purists. And, there’s always the more-extreme RS 3 lurking in the back of your mind. If the S3 is this fun, wouldn’t the RS 3 be a riot? Well, yes, but driving a riot everyday could get exhausting.
In its short time in the SHARP garage, the 2022 Audi S3 left a lasting impression. As far as small, four-door luxury cars go, the eager and entertaining S3 is right at the top of its class.
Learn more about the 2022 Audi S3 here.
