Audi S3 Sportback quattro (2021) Review
The hot hatch market in South Africa has proven to be resilient against the onslaught of the SUV. With many sedan models being discontinued in favour of elevated ride height it is refreshing to see manufacturers continue to make and release high end performance hatch backs. Audi has recently unleashed its exciting new S3 locally. Is this S3 even better than the last?
Yellow Mamba
Our test of the new Audi S3 commenced with its delivery, which is usually something of a lucky draw, you can never be absolutely sure what will arrive, and in this case the bright yellow model with its large wheels and "go faster" bits set the tone for the next few days. It is rather hard to be inconspicuous in a sporty hot hatch which basically shouts out " Hey - look at me!". These types of vehicles undoubtedly garner attention wherever they go, wether popping down to the shops or are blasting down an open freeway.
Related: 7 Audi S3 Sedan accessories you didn’t know you needed
And so our week went, strangers stopping us to gawk or throw the standard line of questioning at us, how fast?, how much?, and then needing to argue for their chosen hot hatch. The latter revealing that the hot hatch wars are still very much alive, this is a good sign!... Saffa's may like SUVs, but they are all still suckers for a performance hatch! So indeed then... how is the new S3 from Audi to live with?
Styling
Outside all the performance and tech that we will get to shortly, the S3 is unmistakable, resplendent in its metallic Python Yellow paintwork and black trim, Audi has worked their magic and has updated the S3, all over, in small ways that add up to a big change. Upfront the new larger grille with raised elements and black trim ring is flanked by a set of LED Matrix headlights that feature the signature S3 LED lightbars. Closer inspection also reveals the 3 vents below the bonnet lip that is the homage to the Audi Quattro rally car from the 80's, even further investigation will reveal that one of the deep set side airdams and grilles is actually functional.
Certain trim pieces such as the wing mirrors, bumper inserts and side skirts have been colour coded black along with the lower splitter to add to the aggressive styling, around the back its very much the same with the quad exit exhaust tips, which are in fact real, and an integrated aggressive looking rear diffusor located at the rear bumper. To top off the package you can include the blacked out panoramic sunroof and finally, no hot hatch is complete without a set of stylish rollers and the S3 doesn't disappoint, offering up a set of 19" matte titanium gray sports wheels shod in sticky Bridgestone rubber for traction.
The Drive
Not that you need to worry much about traction though, the quattro system takes care of any slippage that may occur while effortlessly putting down the power. The steering in particular intrigued me with its progressive nature, the sure-footedness of the suspension, power delivery and heaps of traction, inspired one to attack corners in a way that made passengers reach for the OS handle (not available on this model).
On one particular freeway onramp that features a fast closing 360 degree cloverleaf turn-in, applying the power to soon would normally see the vehicle thrown out towards the Armco, but the S3 hunkered down, held its pose and actually continued to accelerate until launching itself out onto an open freeway and in the blink of an eye reached highway limits. Fantastic!
To put it mildly this is probably one of the best cars I've driven this year, the power delivery was smooth and effortless with whisper quiet, lightning quick shifts from the transmission
Performance
The S3 is powered by a 2l turbocharged 4 cylinder petrol engine, mated to a 7-speed S tronic transmission. The figures don't lie or if they do, they are underreported as this 4 pot belts out a healthy 213kW and 400Nm, that will rocket you to 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds, and you will very realistically reach its limited top speed of 250km/h if you don't reign it in time. This has the downside of absolutely atrocious fuel consumption, but we will get to that later. The road holding is simply amazing thanks to the Dynamic Drive Select and Adaptive Chassis control capabilities that adapt to differing driving conditions.
Strangely enough the S3 has a very similar engine note to that of the Audi R8 I tested few months ago , its aggressive and raspy, and it has the familiar high rev shift backfire that has become the hallmark of hot hatches in SA.
Space and Comfort
The best part is that the S3 isn't just a one trick pony, it has a lot of premium fitments that will appeal those that want luxury with their performance. Principal amongst those are the fine Nappa leather draped seats with red cross-hatch stitching which are also heated and multi-way electrically adjustable with lumbar support. Rear passengers are also treated to this fitment and will also get a surprising amount of space for a low slung hatchback. 3 Zone climate control can cool things down if it gets to hot, while the Bang & Olufsen sound system will keep all entertained. Boot space is limited to 325l due to the rear quattro differential, but you can drop the 60/40 split rear for more space if needed.
As for infotainment. Audi has fitted its latest generation MMI Navigation system with MMI haptic touch that features 3D maps and wireless functionality for smartphones.
Safety
The S3 is all of the above and more, and is now even safer than before. A host of drive controls keep the running gear pointed in the right direction the standard ABS, EBD, TSC are present, but Audi has now also included systems such as Pre Sense, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear View Camera and Park Assist.
The S3 comes with 6 airbags, ISOfix, auto dimming mirrors and interior comfort / mood lighting.
Fuel Consumption
Audi's claimed consumption figures are 8.0l/100km on the combined cycle. We were initially very skeptical of these figures but were quite surprised when we returned low 8.0s while cruising around the city. Although this was bang on we quickly realized after pushing around on some open back roads that those numbers were as good as it was going to get, The figures plummeted to low 12's / high 18's when under medium to high exertion. This means that you can expect roughly 450-500km from its 55l tank under mixed use.
Price
The Audi S3 Sportback Quattro has a list price of R 795 500 but as with most German marques you can chase the price up by adding options. Our test unit was no exception though so be wary of the extras!
| Audi S3 Sportback Quattro | R 795 800 |
| Options fitted | R 190 900 |
| Unit as tested | R 985 900 |
Verdict
The only real downside that the S3 faces is its price, it is a fantastic motor vehicle and fits perfectly into out local hot hatch line up, however it faces stiff competition from the likes of BMW's 128ti , Hyundai's i30N and off course its stablemate the new Golf 8, which we know has a cult following in SA. The S3's appeal is its premium status that sets it one tier above the venerable GTi. We will just have to wait and see if older hot hatch drivers perhaps want to take a step-up when it's time to trade in their performance hatch.
