If you love driving but you want to blend performance with some practicality, then you should be the owner of a sports sedan. Even though the public has been gearing towards SUVs for a long time, it is refreshing to see that a few manufacturers, especially from Germany, are still making sports sedans. The finest and most recent example is the latest 2022 Audi A3 and it’s S3 sporting sibling. For the purpose of buying used cars in the UAE, visit the CarSwitch website.
Dimensions, Exterior, and Interior
The Audi A3 is the brand’s smallest 4-door sedan but the latest model has been made a bit bigger. In terms of figures, it is 0.8 inches wider, 1.2 inches longer, 0.5 inches taller than the previous model. The latest model has the same width and is only a bit shorter than the E90 BMW 3-series.
Audi A3 is surrounded by sheet metal, similar to the outgoing model. Boasting an elegant exterior, there’s a big grille at its front face, with minor sculpting. Likewise, the S3 variant is also low-key. It’s profile includes bigger and wider wheels, a denser grille, and a subtle rear spoiler. The drag coefficient is reduced by 10% due to the improvements in underbody cladding and mirror style.
On the inside, things are different due to the addition of an angular motif which is expanded through the armrests, dash, door handles, and vents. This is a fresh and appealing look which pairs with 10.1 inches of the touchscreen.
The driving position is great and there’s an optional 12.3 inches of Virtual Cockpit Plus located at the upper steering wheel. As for the standard screen, it’s smaller and comes with fewer configuration options. Even though a standard panoramic sunroof is available, the legroom and headroom are decent in the two rows.
The back seats can be folded in 40/20/40 increments which boosts the practicality of the 11 cubic feet trunk. The standard interior features are leather upholstery with contrasting stitching and heated power front seats. The stitching is available in the options of brown, grey, and beige. The seats offer great lateral support and are comfy. The seats in S3 have bigger side bolsters.
Refined Powertrains
Both A3 and S3 models utilize the VW’s 2-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine. This engine runs on an updated Miller cycle which refines part-throttle fuel efficiency and is mated to a 48-volt hybrid powertrain to better improve efficiency. The total output is 201 ponies and 221-pound feet of torque.
It comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which boosts 2 mpg for fuel economy. Even if the other automakers are drilling out EVs, Audi still has faith in internal combustion engines. The A3 demands 6.3 seconds to reach 60 mph.
However, if you need more power output, you should head over to S3 whose engine’s delivery is 306 hp from 288 horses. Its torque is boosted from 280 to 295-pound feet. As opposed to the slower A3, the S3 only needs 4.5 seconds to reach 60 mph and it’s fuel economy is boosted by 2 mpg.
Sporting Suspensions
The greatest change is that the optional and adjustable S3 suspension now adopts the standard hydraulic dampers. A somewhat similar system is also optional in A3. Both vehicles enthusiastically do the hard-driving, especially the A3 Quattro revs boldly to its 6250 rpm redline.
Its gear selector smoothly switches from the drive, sport, standard, and manual positions. The chassis boasts great control, brakes are strong and paddle shifters work amazingly. S3 is definitely tauter comparatively due to the harder brake pedal, firmer ride, satisfying engine sound, and stronger engine.
The transmission works ideally in both models and the different driving modes come with their varying feelings and weight distribution.
The 4-cylinder engines of both A3 and S3 are hushed and silky smooth. Moreover, they don’t emit sounds with the smoothness of 6- and 8-cylinder powertrains. The ride quality is also great but the usual harsh bump crashes through the suspension.
During the Comfort mode, the models will remind you that these are beasts with a sporting orientation. The comfort, efficiency, and performance of Audi A3 and S3 is unrivaled by bigger cars.
