Goodwood Test: 2021 Audi S3 Review

We recently posited that the car industry has moved beyond the mere hot hatch and entered the age of the ‘hyperhatch’; compact family cars with the power and ability to outpace supercars of merely a decade or so past. With in excess of 400PS (294kW), all-wheel-drive and under four-second 0-62mph times these extreme machines carry premium badges and price tags to match as exemplified by the Mercedes-AMG A45 and Audi RS3. So, where does that leave the original all-wheel-drive hot hatch, the Audi S3? Is it suddenly the sensible one? And unlike the more rarefied niche in which its big brother sits, the S3 has some serious competition from Mercedes, BMW and even its Golf R stablemate.

The current generation of A3 is already at the assertive end of the hatchback styling spectrum with its convex grille, deep front and rear bumpers and steroidal wheel arches. The S3 builds on the theme with ur-Quattro aping slots between bonnet and grille, gaping lower intakes, big wheels, quad tailpipes and the obligatory fake rear diffuser. Clearly however Audi needed to leave clear air for the range-topping RS3 which leaves the S3 looking a bit half dressed; it’s neither a subtle sleeper nor a stand out speed demon.

The fact that Audi’s second tier hot hatch can sprint to 62mph in 4.8 seconds – within touching distance of the original R8 – is, quite frankly, a bit bonkers. It will go on to reach 155mph thanks to the ubiquitous VAG EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four that here produces 310PS (228kW) and 400Nm (295lb ft). As it is, this feels like the most you would want to comfortably wring out of the engine and gearbox combination. Lag is apparent from rest and when creeping out of junctions, not helped by a sometimes slow witted gearbox. Right gear, right time however and the S3 is an absolute flyer, directing power to all four wheels via a new multiplate clutch system from Haldex that can direct more power to the rear wheels as dictated by Audi’s Modular Dynamic Handling Control system. The result is a touch more entertaining than Audi hot hatches of old but the overwhelming sensation delivered by the S3 is one of capability in all conditions.

There is the ability to tweak individual settings for gearbox, steering, throttle response and so on but the basic setting provides a good balance. Left in Comfort mode and the S3 really is an ideal daily driver; almost absurdly quick but relaxed in its power delivery and almost cosseting. Turn the dial up to Dynamic and the car reveals enough of an edge to entertain, although anyone wishing to play fast and loose will be disappointed as there is grip and traction in such abundance that exceeding them will only happen at very antisocial speeds.

Audi interiors were once a byword for a kind of technical simplicity; they looked the way they did because buttons and controls were ergonomically, sensibly placed and made from high quality, hard wearing materials. The most oft used comment was usually that the Audi interior looked classy but plain when measured against competitors.

Today the best word to use about the S3’s interior is, well, busy. There is an abundance of different shapes – including once again the hexagon – and a proliferation of surfaces at slightly different heights. The result looks somewhat disjointed, not helped by Audi’s pursuit of touchscreens and voice activation which leaves large areas devoid of any obvious function. Even the gear lever, now a small oblong resembling a zippo lighter looks lonely in the centre console.

The seats however are a refreshing change, offered in a technical looking grey leather rather than all-purpose black and finished in a diamond stitch pattern which adds a luxury touch.

Audi has long been seen as the technocrats choice, ploughing its own furrow distinct from Mercedes’ luxury and BMW’s ‘ultimate driving’ but with the escalation of the tech race in the last few years, it is difficult for the firm to still stand out as it used to. There is of course the Virtual Cockpit that replaces the instrument cluster with a stunning 10.25-inch multifunction screen supplemented by an almost equally large display in the centre console.

The sheer amount of adjustability offered can mean wading through submenus and GDPR-style data warnings. A couple of techno-frustrations are the fact that some of the centre console toggle switches are two-way while others are single function, and the fact that the S3 has keyless ignition but not entry which is somewhat baffling.

Our test car also came equipped with the excellent Bang & Olufsen sound system as part of the Sound pack. Also fitted were Audi’s Digital Matrix headlights which are quite possibly the finest out there but come with an overly theatrical start-up sequence.

The hot hatch has traditionally been the pinnacle of a manufacturer’s sensible small family car range; more powerful, quicker and cooler than the humdrum variants. The Audi S3 is most definitely a hot hatch but sits on the second rung of the ladder, beneath the rowdy RS3 with its quirky five-cylinder engine. So where does that leave it? The answer is perhaps that it is one of the most capable all-round, daily drivers on sale today. It has plenty of space and practicality for a couple, even for a small family at a pinch and it will get you to work in the worst of weathers with utter dependability and rapidity. It might actually be an unsung performance hero.