Kentish Express Ashford & District
Standing out from the crowd
The revamped Audi S3 has more power and tech than ever before – but can it still deliver a great experience? Jack Evans finds out.
The Audi S3 is one of the smash hits of practical performance cars in the UK. It’s immensely popular, owing to its everyday practicality and well-made interior, as well as its variety on the used market too. Now there’s a new one. With an updated platform, more power and better tech than before, it’s certainly well-equipped to make as many waves as its predecessor ?
WHAT’S NEW?
Off the bat, things look quite, well, familiar. We’ve got the must-have quattro all-wheeldrive system, as well as a lowered ride height over the standard A3. The trademark quad exhaust outlets have been retained too. We’re driving the in saloon – as opposed to the traditional hatchback (or Sportback, in Audi-lingo), which means it does look longer and sleeker than usual. But the power across the S3 range has been beefed up, while the car’s ride has been revised to make it easier to use on a daily basis.
WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?
The interior is designed around a new architecture – one we’ve already seen applied to the regular A3 and the VW Golf. We’re not huge fans of the stubby gear selector – which appears on all of these models – but a by-product of its fitment is that the central area of the car feels spacious and decluttered. This feeling continues upwards, where there’s minimal use of physical buttons. The build quality is excellent with wide use of tip-top materials which combine to create a well-balanced and high-quality feeling interior. When it comes to boot space, there are 325 litres of seats-up space to play with.
WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?
The S3 seems like good value when it comes to on-board technology, with the car’s sub£40,000 starting price bringing a host of additions to keep even the keenest of tech fans happy. The bulk of it is centred around the infotainment display, which is now your main access point for the key controls. It’s easy to use, while retaining the clear fonts that we’ve seen on other recent Audis. But thankfully, the S3 has kept physical controls for the heating and ventilation, which makes them far easier to adjust than with a touchscreen setup. It might not be as high-tech as other models in this respect, but we think that this is one area of a car’s cabin which is worth keeping old-school. In contrast, the old volume knob has been replaced by a touch-sensitive circle; it’s less effective than the older control, so why change it?
THE VERDICT
The new S3 brings just what you’d want from this kind of Audi – solid, secure performance, wrapped up in a package that’s both pleasing to the eye and well-built throughout. However, the driving experience it delivers isn’t the most exciting. That said, as a car to bring a touch more zip to your daily drive, the S3 does remarkably well, while thanks to a spacious interior and a well-sized boot, it’s more than up to the task of being used each and every day.
There’s a good chance that when filling up, you’ve noticed premium fuels on offer. They’re often more expensive than ‘regular’ petrol and diesel, commanding more pence per litre with the promise of better efficiency, among other things. But are premium fuels really worth it? And what do they actually do?
Let’s take a look…
SO JUST WHAT ARE PREMIUM FUELS?
So-called premium fuels promise better engine response, smoother running, lower emissions and improved fuel economy. When it comes to petrol, premium options deliver a higher octane rating. Whereas regular unleaded has an octane rating of 95 in the UK, super unleaded increases this to between 98 and 100.
This higher rating unlocks the engine’s full potential and allows it to run more effectively. Many petrol retailers offer premium fuels. There’s Shell V-Power, BP Ultimate and
Esso Synergy Supreme, for example. Diesel, meanwhile, features a higher cetane rating in premium versions compared to standard ones. It means that the fuel ignites quicker when subjected to pressure in the engine.
WHAT DO THEY PROMISE?
Premium unleaded is said to have an effect on throttle response, engine smoothness and emissions, too. They’re mostly pitched towards use in performance cars, as more highly tuned engines react more favourably to higheroctane fuels. There’s a good chance you’ll notice that the powertrain responds more keenly to throttle inputs when it’s using premium fuel. Premium diesel, meanwhile, can’t have too much of an effect on engine responses but does promise cleaner running with fewer particulates being emitted through the exhaust.
SHOULD I USE PREMIUM FUELS THE WHOLE TIME?
It depends. If you’ve got a highend sports or performance car, then you’ll likely notice the switch to premium fuel. That’ll particularly be the case when it comes to longer trips, where the fuel has more opportunity to work through the engine’s system. Diesel owners will most likely see the benefit of premium fuel if they’ve been struggling with a sooty engine. These fuels can do well to ‘clean’ the engine of any deposits left over, so if you’re trying to rid your car of any sooty emissions from the tailpipe, then using a premium diesel could be a good option.
WHAT IS THE PRICE DIFFERENCE?
The difference between regular and super unleaded is often quite large. In fact, at the time of writing, petrol was at an average price of 114p a litre, while premium commanded 129p per litre. That’s quite the increase in price and will certainly make quite the difference over a whole tank of fuel. In fact, if you filled up a regular family-sized car with regular fuel, a 55-litre tank would cost £62.70 to brim. Do the same with premium fuels, and you’ll have to stump up £70.95 for the privilege.
SHOULD I USE PREMIUM FUELS AS A WAY OF MAINTAINING MY CAR INSTEAD?
It’s a good idea. Rather than using a premium fuel each time you fill up, look at instead as a way of preserving the life of your engine. Perhaps prior to undertaking a longer journey fill up with super unleaded or premium diesel and allow it to effectively work through the engine. By doing this, you allow these fuels to clean your engine. Over longer trips, your engine can properly warm up and clear any deposits. It’s a good technique to use prior to an MOT, too, when engines have to be at their cleanest in order to meet emissions tests.