2018 Audi S3 Review

Name: 2018 Audi S3 Review
Brand: Audi

Price Range: $21,300 - $27,995

Audi S3 2.0 TFSI Prestige quattro Sedan Exterior Shown

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$25,032 avg. price

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Appraise My 2018 Audi S3

Audi S3 model years

Audi S3 for Sale

Edmunds' Expert Review

by Calvin Kim^{Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.}

Pros

Powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine
Upscale interior that looks and feels expensive
Precise handling that makes it a joy to drive on twisty roads
Standard all-wheel drive for enhanced traction

Cons

Small trunk won't fit much more than a couple small suitcases
Adults will feel cramped in the back seat
No manual transmission option

What’s new

The 2018 Audi S3 is pretty much unchanged other than minor adjustments to feature availability.

Vehicle overview

If you want the easy-to-drive qualities of Audi's entry-level sedan, the A3, but also desire greater acceleration and handling, shop the 2018 Audi S3. The S3's more powerful engine, performance-oriented tires, sport-tuned suspension and bigger brakes combine to deliver an exhilarating performance without degrading the car's all-around usability.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale nearby

5 listings

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New Listing
2018 Audi S3
2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro Sedan
$21,300
good price
$878 below market
- 87,755 miles
- 1 accident, 1 owner, personal use only
- 4cyl automated manual
- Driveway (1,379 mi away)
- Home delivery*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Nanuet, NY
CarFax 1-Owner,High Demand,Rare Find,Back-Up Camera,Blind Spot Monitor,Bluetooth,Brake Assist,Heated Seats,Keyless Start,Leather Seats,Navigation Syst...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
25 Combined MPG (22 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUB1GFF5J1042053
Stock: SE006877SB
Certified Pre-Owned: No
New Listing
2018 Audi S3
2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro Sedan
$23,998
fair price
$794 below market
- 71,978 miles
- 4cyl automated manual
- CarMax West 104th Ave (635 mi away)
- Delivery available*
- AWD/4WD
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
Close
Located in Federal Heights, CO
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary Unavailable.
Features and Specs:
25 Combined MPG (22 City/28 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: WAUB1GFF1J1016355
Stock: 26921858
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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True, the S3 isn't as roomy as its more expensive sibling, the S4 sedan. But there's enough space for most uses, and the S3's cabin is still handsome and upscale. You can even get it with Audi's trick Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster. Fuel economy remains respectable, too. Factor in the S3's standard all-wheel drive and dual-clutch automatic transmission and you've got a very user-friendly — and reasonably affordable — luxury sport sedan.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

8.1 / 10

The 2018 Audi S3 is an excellent choice if you're looking for an engaging luxury sport sedan that's more affordable than the norm. It packs a big punch from its turbocharged engine and is tremendously fun to drive around turns. It's easy to drive every day, too.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2015 Audi S3 Prestige Quattro Sedan (turbo 2.0L inline-4 | 6-speed dual-clutch automatic | AWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Audi S3 has received a few revisions, including packaging changes and a revised in-car entertainment system. Our findings remain broadly applicable to this year's S3.

Scorecard

Overall	8.1 / 10
Driving	9.0
Comfort	7.0
Interior	7.5
Utility	6.0

Driving

9.0

What happens when you combine a fantastic engine with a sensational chassis? You get the incredibly capable S3. The turbo-four is smooth and eager to rev, with a wallop of midrange torque. Handling is stunning, the steering near-perfect. Low-speed drivability could be improved.

Acceleration

9.5

The turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder feels stronger than 292 hp. Although it can be reluctant leaving the line, once it builds revs, it sprints forward, hitting 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth and quick-shifting.

Braking

9.0

Excellent braking abilities; the pedal is always firm. It's a bit touchy at low speeds, but in most situations the brakes feel powerful and confidence-inspiring. In our panic-brake test, the S3 needed 107 feet to stop from 60 mph. That's a typical result for a car with performance-rated tires.

Steering

9.5

Incredibly sharp steering. It's quick without being darty. More importantly, it gives good feedback to the driver, meaning the electric assist steering doesn't completely isolate the road or the grip level of the tires from the driver.

Handling

9.5

This car is glued to the road, thanks to the sticky tires but also the stiff suspension that keeps body roll nearly nonexistent. Aim this car at a corner and it goes exactly where you point it.

Drivability

7.0

Drivability is marred slightly by touchy brakes in stop-and-go traffic and some delay from the engine and transmission when leaving a stoplight. But it has great passing power, feels light and small, and is generally an easy car to drive.

Comfort

7.0

The S3 doesn't coddle you like a luxury sedan. The seats don't have an abundance of cushioning. The ride is firm and not as supple as that of most BMWs, but the suspension is adjustable, and it never gets truly objectionable. Interior noise is kept to acceptable levels.

Seat comfort

7.0

The front seats have firm cushions, but they are wide and roomy, with less lateral support than most sport seats. The door armrests have soft cushioning. The rear seats provide enough support, but the seatback is quite upright.

Ride comfort

7.0

If you like a floaty ride, this isn't your car. Even the suspension's Comfort mode can feel stiff over rough roads. But some sport sedans are even less comfortable.

Noise & vibration

7.5

There's some tire hum on most surfaces, but wind noise is well controlled. You can hear the engine just slightly at highway speeds. The turbo-four makes exciting noises during acceleration.

Climate control

The standard dual-zone climate control uses a simple three-knob system for controls.

Interior

7.5

The interior is much like the A3's but with sportier, S3-specific touches throughout. Most controls work well, although the boost gauge is gimmicky. The trunk is small for the segment.

Ease of use

9.0

Despite the A3's minimalist interior design, the controls are where you expect them and are easy to use. We always turn the MMI knob the wrong direction, though. Love the infinitely swiveling circular dash vents. The optional finger-writing recognition is cool.

Getting in/getting out

5.5

The front doors are relatively long and open wide. The roof isn't too low, and you only have to stoop a bit. On the downside, the door sills are wide, and you can catch your foot on them when getting out. The rear doors are small.

Roominess

6.0

There's decent but not abundant front headroom, partly because the seat height is higher than you'd expect. Door-side elbow room is excellent. The center console infringes on the driver's right knee space. Rear headroom will be tight for most adults.

Visibility

7.5

The windshield roof pillars are very narrow, though the side pillars obstruct lane changes. The rear roof pillars are also thick, and the rear window is short. Our test car had the optional rearview camera and front and rear parking sensors.

Quality

9.0

Interior materials are high-quality, and they look good, too. Beautiful thick-rimmed steering wheel. The knobs and buttons have heft. We did notice a squeak from the plastic center console if we rubbed our knee against it.

Utility

6.0

It should be no surprise that trunk volume in a compact car is limited. But the rear seat folds down, and the available cubbies and cupholders are welcome.

Small-item storage

7.0

The door pockets are decent size, but the front bin is a tiny sliver. The center armrest bin is just large enough to be useful. The cupholders have good anti-tip design.

Cargo space

7.0

The 10-cubic-foot trunk is small, but the opening is wide. The rear seats fold down, and the pass-through is large.

Technology

The cool retractable center screen is intuitive, and it commands the MMI system. Bluetooth is standard, and the S3 is available with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot system.

Compare 2018 Audi S3 trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2018 Audi S3 models

The 2018 Audi S3 is offered in two trim levels: Premium Plus and Prestige. They are pretty similarly equipped, but the Prestige offers more standard technology features. All S3s have a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 292 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. That power is put to the ground through a six-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

Standard features for the Premium Plus include 18-inch wheels, summer performance tires, keyless ignition and entry, front and rear parking sensors, selectable driving settings (known as Audi Drive Select), LED headlights, automatic wipers, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, power front sport seats, driver-seat memory settings, leather upholstery and 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks.

For the Premium Plus, you also get a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, Audi's MMI electronics interface (with a console-mounted controller and a power-retractable display), Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, a USB port, and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player and satellite radio.

Optional for this trim is the Technology package, which includes an expanded digital instrument cluster (Virtual Cockpit), an upgraded MMI system (with an improved display and a touch-sensitive controller), Audi Connect online services (with 4G LTE mobile Wi-Fi), native voice controls, a navigation system and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The Prestige adds the contents of the Technology package as standard plus heated and power-folding exterior mirrors (with driver-side auto-dimming), LED interior lighting, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and intervention, and two additional USB ports for the rear seating area.

Optional on both the Premium Plus and Prestige are a Black Optic Dynamic package (19-inch wheels with special exterior trim), an S Sport package (red brake calipers with adaptive suspension dampers) and an S Sport Seat package (manually adjustable front sport seats with premium leather upholstery). Stand-alone options include rear-seat side airbags and 18-inch wheels with all-season tires.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Audi S3 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD w/Prod. End 6/18 (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.49 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas

$177/mo

$141/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3/5Above Average

#15 out of 26 among Luxury Compact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Audi S3 from 2008-2022.}

$785/yr

vs. $554/yr
for Average Luxury Compact Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.31x/yr

vs. 1.57x/yr
for Average Luxury Compact Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

12.3%

vs. 11.1%
for Average Luxury Compact Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Audi S3 Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.8

37 reviews

5(86%)

4(11%)

3(3%)

2(0%)

1(0%)

Write a vehicle review See all 37 reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

How Ended Up with the Audi S3

cheetah77, 05/12/2015

2015 Audi S3 2.0T Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)

I did not set out to buy an Audi & I don't care about having a "prestige brand"...in fact I'd prefer not to have it. However we needed AWD, fast (300ish hp), high quality, cargo space, fun, cool looking, DSG type auto transmission car. Audi is the only one building that and it's the S3. Considered S4 but MPG too low; Golf R has too little cargo room but nice car. S3 combines amazing … refinement, quiet ride, taut but comfortable euro sedan ride, throaty exhaust when punched, great looks, good MPG, driver assistance that can be shut off, & much more. The 2015 S3 is dual personality and you decide which one you want: rip roaring sports car or a easy driving luxurious touring sedan. Amazing. Update 11/2017: Still love this car and will never sell it. It draws many compliments and I never seem to see that many S3s running around. I like this 2015 styling better than the "update." The update has more "check mark" style of headlights which I do not prefer. I ran the S3 at the track and it was 100ºF that day. With Nitto NT05 tires it performed well but wasn't scary fast; cornered very well however. For me though it's not a track car but a perfect street car. 298hp Is adequate (and I'd like more). But the S-Tronic transmission is the win in the S3: it uses the power very efficiently and you'll be able to beat a lot of cars that should be faster (I know b. I've done it). Interior is amazing still, very comfortable and upscale showing very little wear with the high class materials. No reliability problems whatsoever have cropped up although my car is fairly low miles. MPG is around 25 which is amazing for an AWD sports car with this power. When the warranty wears out I will put a Stage 2 APR chip in it to easy and safely unlock more power. Guys who've bought the RS3 say the cars run about the same until you hammer the RS3 which on public roads is ill advised. Anyway, I'd buy this car all over again and I don't say anything out there that I like better. If I did I'd buy it. Update 11/2018: I still own this car and have no plans to sell it. I've had no reliability problems with it although it is still pretty low miles. Still getting 25 mpg overall. This 2015 S3 version appears to be very rare on the road; I see VERY few. I like the styling better on this model vs the newer headlights that look like check marks. I get lots of comments on the car and it seems to be popular.

Best of all worlds

steve_in_az, 07/07/2015

2015 Audi S3 2.0T Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)

I picked up this car on 5/30/15. So far, I am amazed literally every time I drive it. Full disclosure: this is my fifth Audi in 30 years, so I am definitely a fan. The S3 is an incredible amalgam of power, speed, comfort, features and appearance. It includes Homelink (garage door opener), manual sport seats (Recaro quality), nav system, and a "jukebox" (hard drive) that will hold up to …

Pocket Rocket

ssincl3, 01/30/2015

2015 Audi S3 2.0T Prestige quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)

I really love this car! Gorgeous looking inside and out. Probably my biggest impulse buy of all time. I wanted a Golf R but didn't want to wait much longer. Got the Sepang Blue and everyone falls in love with the color. It has all the options included, makes me nervous to see it practically drive itself. Of course the downsides. I really wish it had a manual trans. My drive gets boring …

Best (and most fun) car I have ever owned!

Christopher Manning, 05/02/2019

2017 Audi S3 2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)

This car, all around, is best car I have ever owned. This car feels like it could handle a track well - haven't tried that yet. Acceleration is nothing to laugh at with this 2.0 TFSI engine (except on my test drive... I giggled a couple of times!!!). There is no way that the 0-60 time stated on this car is correct. Audi claims 4.7 s. I would say it is closer to 4 seconds than it is …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 Audi S3, so we've included reviews for other years of the S3 since its last redesign.

See all 37 reviews of the Audi S3

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2018 S3 Highlights

Trim:

2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$43,650
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$177/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	10.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the S3 models:

Audi Adaptive Cruise: Maintains a set distance between you and the car ahead of you. Automatically accelerates and brakes as needed, with the ability to stop.
Audi Virtual Cockpit: Lets you keep your attention on the road by providing route guidance in the instrument panel right in front of you.
Rear Cross-Traffic Assist: Warns you if a vehicle may hit you as you're backing out of a spot. Perfect for small urban parking lots.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.9%

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2018 Audi S3 Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

For sale nearby

2018 Audi S32.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro Sedan

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2018 Audi S32.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro Sedan

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Technology

Which S3 does Edmunds recommend?

2018 Audi S3 models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Audi S3 Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

How Ended Up with the Audi S3

Best of all worlds

Pocket Rocket

Best (and most fun) car I have ever owned!

2018 S3 Highlights

Safety

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2018 Audi S3
2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro Sedan

2018 Audi S3
2.0 TFSI Premium Plus quattro Sedan