{"id":1815,"date":"2025-04-07T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/?p=1815"},"modified":"2025-04-29T14:17:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T14:17:17","slug":"the-2025-audi-s3-is-all-the-sports-sedan-you-need-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/07\/the-2025-audi-s3-is-all-the-sports-sedan-you-need-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2025 Audi S3 Is All the Sports Sedan You Need: Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

This is one of those cars that feels like hitting a reset button. In a world where we vacillate between too much and not enough, the 2025 Audi S3 is neither. It\u2019s one of the best answers to so many questions. And now, some notable tweaks below the surface\u2014including an important piece of hardware from the big-brother RS3\u2014make the S3 more fun without spoiling the livability that\u2019s always made it an appealing package.<\/p>\n

Even driving the S3<\/a> around town, you notice the improvements immediately. Audi<\/a> finally upped its steering game, moving past the overly light, vague feel that\u2019s characterized its cars for years now. Same deal with the brakes. The pedal is basically perfect, firm and with just the right amount of travel. It\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve ever thought about the brake feel in an Audi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Quick Specs<\/td>\n2025 Audi S3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Engine<\/td>\nTurbocharged 2.0-Liter Four-Cylinder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Output<\/td>\n328 Horsepower \/ 295 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
0-60 MPH<\/td>\n4.4 Seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Curb Weight<\/td>\n3,549 Pounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Price \/ As Tested<\/td>\n$49,995 \/ $60,840<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

On the optional 19-inch wheels, the low-speed ride is characterized by firm impacts, but the damping still feels excellent. This test car had optional adaptive dampers as part of the $1,100 S Sport Package\u2014which isn\u2019t available on the base S3 trim\u2014and while I wish they offered a bit wider spread between different drive modes, I can\u2019t fault how they dealt with everything the road threw at them.<\/p>\n

As my colleague Chris Rosales reported in his first drive of the S3, Audi engineers undertook a big rethink of how their cars drive, and the results speak for themselves. And I haven\u2019t even got to the best bit.<\/p>\n

From the RS3, the S3 inherits Audi\u2019s “Torque Splitter” rear differential. Riding on Volkswagen\u2019s front-drive MQB platform\u2014the same one that\u2019s underpinned the Golf for over 10 years now\u2014the S3 can only send up to half its power to the rear wheels. But thanks to a pair of multiplate clutches on either side of the diff, the S3 apportions that power to either rear wheel.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

Pros: Right size, Right Power, Torque Splitter Makes It More Fun, Great Interior<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In the new Dynamic Plus drive mode, which puts stability control into \u201cSport,\u201d the diff fully works its magic. The Torque Splitter\u2014which sounds way better if you say it with a Bavarian accent\u2014doesn\u2019t turn the S3 into a drift machine, but by overdriving an outside rear wheel in cornering, it makes the S3 much more agile. Get on the throttle earlier mid-corner, and the car does a nice little rotation. For a vehicle that always felt more secure than lively, zee torque shplitter adds great character.<\/p>\n

If the S3 senses you\u2019re oversteering too much, say on a slippery road, it can also overdrive an inside wheel, bringing the car back into line. It\u2019s a clever piece of hardware, one Audi uses to great effect here.<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Audi<\/p>\n

For 2025, Audi made some exterior tweaks I\u2019m less convinced by. It\u2019s still a handsome car, but the black, 2D Audi rings, which are part of the $1,650 Black Optic package, look a bit cheap. And when the S3 comes in excellent blues, reds, and yellows, why go for this boring white paint? It does help the S3 blend into traffic, at least.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Inside, this is classic Audi in a good way. The latest Audi models might have cost-cut interiors, but the S3 most certainly does not, with great materials and ergonomics throughout. Each button actuates with a satisfying \u201cclick,\u201d and this older infotainment system is wonderfully straightforward. The Virtual Cockpit digital gauge cluster continues to set the benchmark for these sorts of systems, and praise be, there are physical climate controls too.<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

Cons: Harsh Ride On 19-Inch Wheels, More Expensive Than VW Golf R<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Special mention goes to the seats, which not only have great quilting but also support the body in all the right places. The back seats are admittedly quite cramped, but if you\u2019re not carting around adults, it\u2019s worth the compromise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

VW\/Audi fans will be familiar with the powertrain here, which is as good as ever. It\u2019s the ubiquitous EA888 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The S3 gets a nice power bump from 306 to 328 horsepower, while torque remains at a healthy 295 pound-feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What\u2019s interesting is that the engine idles rather high for a modern car, around 900-1000 rpm, and if you treat the transmission like it\u2019s a conventional automatic, you\u2019ll always rocket away unexpectedly quickly from a stop. It\u2019s just a thing to get used to, and once you\u2019re up and moving, there are no DCT quirks.<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

In its fruitier drive modes, the engine almost sounds a bit five-cylinder-esque, accompanied by prominent turbo whistle, and as ever, the power delivery is strong from low revs up towards 7,000 rpm. The dual-clutch also feels super sharp on up- and downshifts, and while the paddles still feel disappointingly plasticky, it\u2019s worth switching into manual mode for more fun.<\/p>\n

Of course, the big question with the S3 remains: Is it worth the premium over the Golf R? Compared to the disappointing Mk8, I\u2019d say so, but we haven\u2019t yet gotten a chance to drive the Mk8.5 Golf R, which addresses many of its predecessor\u2019s shortcomings and gets the same power bump as the Audi, plus the neat rear differential. Plus, obviously, the practicality of the rear hatch.<\/p>\n

\"2025
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

But the Audi isn\u2019t that much more than the Golf R, with a base price of $49,995 to the VW\u2019s $48,325. Still, the S3 you probably want is the mid-tier Premium Plus, which costs $52,395, and needs the $1,100 S Sport Pack for the adaptive dampers the Golf gets standard. (Our tester was a loaded Prestige model with a $60,840 sticker and every option available. It\u2019s a lot of nice equipment, but not mandatory.)<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll drive the updated Golf R soon, and we can then render a better verdict. But my advice, regardless? Check out both. I suspect the S3 might be worth the extra bread.<\/p>\n

Audi\u2019s done a great job here of preserving what the S3 already did well while honing the driving dynamics to imbue the car with more personality. Overlook this car at your peril. It\u2019s an ideal sports sedan.<\/p>\n

Competitors<\/h3>\n

Acura Integra Type S<\/a>
\nBMW M235i Gran Coupe<\/a>
\nBMW M240i Coupe<\/a>
\nMercedes-AMG CLA35<\/a>
\nVolkswagen Golf R<\/a><\/p>\n

More Audi Reviews<\/h2>\n

The 2025 Audi RS3 Is Somehow Even Better: First Drive Review<\/a>
The 2025 Audi S3 Is Just Damn Good: First Drive Review<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
2025 Audi S3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Engine<\/td>\n2.0-Liter Turbocharged Four-Cylinder<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Output<\/td>\n328 Horsepower \/ 295 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Transmission<\/td>\nSeven-Speed Dual-Clutch<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drive Type<\/td>\nAll-Wheel Drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Speed 0-60 MPH<\/td>\n4.4 Seconds (est.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maximum speed<\/td>\n155 MPH<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n3,549 Pounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seating Capacity<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cargo Volume<\/td>\n8.3 Cubic Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Price<\/td>\n$45,995<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
As-Tested Price<\/td>\n$60,840<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On Sale<\/td>\nNow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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This is one of those cars that feels like hitting a reset button. In a world where we vacillate between too much and not enough, the 2025 Audi S3 is neither. It\u2019s one of the best answers to so many questions. And now, some notable tweaks below the surface\u2014including an important piece of hardware from…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1815"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1832,"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1815\/revisions\/1832"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.salemmusicdiscoverycenter.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}