2024 Audi
A3
28,483 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L
Cash £19,900
View A3
2024 Audi
A3
66,062 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L
Cash £15,400
View A3
2023 Audi
A3
23,386 milesManualPetrol1.0L
Cash £15,700
View A3
2024 Audi
A3
42,194 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L
Cash £19,800
View A3
The most recent update saw prices rise, too, with the S3 Sportback hatch now coming in at around £47,000, although this has the Black Edition styling pack fitted as standard. The powertrain consists of a 328bhp/420Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (the VW Group’s ubiquitous EA888 unit), a seven-speed twin-clutch S tronic gearbox and quattro four-wheel drive.
The S3 Sportback is a subtle performance car, but you can be even more understated by choosing the S3 saloon instead. The four-door model has the same powertrain as the Sportback, so it’s just as quick, matching its 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds, but the notchback shape helps it deliver better claimed fuel economy, at 34.4mpg.
The S3 saloon is slightly more expensive, though, carrying a premium of around £1,200 over the Sportback, while the boot is compromised by its narrow opening.
Audi S3 history
Ever since the original S3 arrived in 1999, it’s offered a tempting mix of performance and premium quality in a compact package that has been snapped up by buyers. It’s also a good way to show how the class has evolved.
The first model was a three-door hatch with 207bhp and 270Nm of torque from a 1.8-litre turbo engine connected to a manual gearbox. Fast-forward to today, and the car is a five-door (or saloon), there’s a seven-speed twin-clutch auto instead of a manual, and it has an extra 121bhp and 150Nm on tap. It’s also around 100kg heavier.
Punchy turbocharged petrol engine and quattro system work well, but the S3 feels a little clinical in its execution
Fans of fast Volkswagens and Audis will be familiar with the EA888 code, because that’s the number carried by the group’s excellent 2.0-litre direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. It can be found in the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Volkswagen Golf R, Cupra Leon and even the Porsche Macan, as well as the Audi S3.