2022 Audi S3 review

What We Like

Performance: When you join a powerful engine to a small, dynamic chassis, you get the Audi S3. The turbocharged engine packs a wallop of power, especially given the car’s size, while high-performance tires and all-wheel drive grip the road through tight turns and fast cornering. The taut suspension, firmer than the Audi A3 counterpart, squashes body roll. Enthusiast drivers may find the steering lacks some feel, but casual drivers will appreciate its responsiveness and precision, especially when avoiding the occasional road hazard. This is an easy car to drive fast.

Comfort: The S3’s front seats are roomy and wide, with firmer cushions and a more sculpted sport shape than the A3 buckets. Additional side supports, new for 2022, help keep you in place through quick curves and cornering. The standard sport suspension is firm, with aggressive tuning, but the ride remains comfortable considering the S3’s handling capabilities. Models with the adaptive suspension deliver a smoother ride, smoother even than the A3. Stick with the standard 18-inch wheels, though. The optional 19-inch versions only stiffen the ride.

Interior: The S3 might be an entry point into Audi ownership, but there’s nothing entry-level about it. Supple leather, pliable panels, aluminum and carbon-fiber accents, and a futuristic dash design make the S3 feel like a car from higher up the Audi food chain. The S3’s interior was updated for 2022, with crisp lines and edges, and the old infotainment dial controller was replaced with a high-resolution touchscreen angled slightly toward the driver. In place of a traditional gear shifter there's a stubby lever, which takes some getting used to. The 2022 model retains excellent outward visibility.

What Needs Improvement

Roominess: The S3 faces the same spatial challenges as the A3. Even though it’s longer than its predecessor, its supportive rear seats lack legroom. All-wheel-drive hardware, the bulk of it under the back of the car, also limits cargo space. The trunk measures a meager 8.3 cubic feet, almost 2 cubic feet smaller than the previous-generation model, and smaller even than the Mercedes-Benz AMG A 35’s tiny 8.6-cube trunk. Where Audi put the extra length remains a mystery.