Audi S3 Sportback
We’ve run all of its main rivals on the Fast Fleet. Can the new S3 make a bigger impression?
REGULAR READERS WILL SEE A PATTERN emerging here. I’ve been banging on about the benefits of premium hot hatches for a while now in Fast Fleet, having spent a good amount of time in several of them, from the benchmark Volkswagen Golf R to BMW’S latest M135i. In recent times this class of car has become a real boxticker for me, despite having a demanding family who need transporting all over the place, because design developments have meant it’s possible to get all the practicality needed for that role without compromising on the power and fun we crave. (Well, that’s what I tell Mrs Browne anyway.) So when the chance came along to run the new Audi S3 Sportback, I was quick to put my name forward.
The first thing you notice about KY70 CMF is the colour: it’s Turbo Blue apparently, but looks more like a 100 per cent Pantone Process Cyan to my designer eyes. It certainly stands out. Audi has given the S3’s exterior a slight refresh for this fourth-generation version, with changes including a more aggressivelooking nose and more stylised light clusters front and rear to accompany the revised bodywork that’s shared with the lesser A3. Interestingly, and to my surprise, of all the evo long-termers I’ve run it’s the S3 that has attracted the most admiring glances and comments from friends and family. Maybe it’s a combination of the colour and that badge?
Under the bonnet sits a version of the VW Group’s EA888 2-litre turbo engine with 306bhp and 295lb ft of torque (up 10bhp and 15lb ft on the previous S3) and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The claimed 0-62mph time is 4.8sec, which is a dead match for the M135i and puts it a negligible tenth of a second behind the Mercedes-amg A35 and the upcoming Mk8 Golf R. Like all of those rivals the S3 is also four-wheel drive, and with ‘quattro weather’ here for a while yet, I’m more than happy with that. Although trying to find winter tyres in the right fitment has proved fruitless.
Inside, the S3 feels spacious, and if you get on with VW Group interiors this one won’t disappoint: like putting on an old pair of slippers it’s immediately comfortable and everything is where you expect it to be, so visits to the owner’s manual ought to be rare. However, you could argue that it’s a bit predictable, making it one area where the M135i and A35 steal a march on the S3 by being more bold. The Audi’s infotainment console can be a little fiddly to navigate whilst keeping your eyes on the road, too, but the driving position is better than the BMW’S – the diamond stitched nappa leather sports seats look and feel the part – and the steering wheel isn’t pointlessly chunky either.
Curiously, the S3 isn’t available with parking cameras, just sensors, which seems unusual at this level, but our car does have the Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System upgrade (£865), which is
very welcome. This, the blue paint (£575), 19-inch wheels (£770), Matrix LED headlights (£430) and a few other minor options take our S3’s price up to £41,200 from £36,315 basic.
With lockdown having kept my mileage in CMF relatively low so far, it’s a bit early to be making any definitive statements about its dynamics, but from the start I’ve enjoyed the way it picks up speed with ease and makes all the right sounds to go with it (admittedly enhanced by fake noise through the speakers). As is common these days the lane assist system needs turning off immediately, and the Pre-sense can be weirdly temperamental. The ride offers a good blend of smooth and firm – although I fear some of my colleagues may disagree with that statement – and as you’d expect there’s plenty of grip on offer, giving you great confidence in the corners and on twistier B-roads. It all combines to make the S3 a very flexible performer.
So far so good, then. But I’m keen to push our S3’s performance more, to find out what it’s really capable of, so next month I’ll be taking it to Bedford Autodrome to put it through its paces. In the meantime, I’ll be enjoying those essential journeys that lockdown allows and hoping for further opportunities to enjoy more of what the S3 Sportback has to offer.
Date acquired December 2020 Total mileage 2198 Mileage this month 145 Costs this month £0 mpg this month 28.1
‘Everything combines to make to make the S3 a very flexible performer’