2022 Audi A3 Quattro Lacks ‘S’ Attraction

From the November 2022 problem of Automobile and Driver.

“For just a bit extra per 30 days . . .” the showroom slickster begins, pressuring the not sure automotive shopper making an attempt to stay to a finances. For the customer wavering between an Audi A3 and an S3, we are saying give in to the upsell. The newest A3 is way much less satisfying than its S-badged sibling.

Freshly redesigned, Audi’s compact sedan maintains a smart dimension and is rendered in crisp sheetmetal. Inside, there is a unbelievable driving place and slim pillars for unhindered sightlines. There’s additionally, nevertheless, arduous plastic all over the place: the door seize handles, the higher door panels, the middle console. And our check automotive’s Agate Grey wooden inlays appear like they popped out of an injection mildew.

Audi apparently believes patrons might be hoodwinked by a screen-intensive inside design, one which banishes all bodily knobs. However the spherical four-way audio-control button whose outer rim adjusts the amount is an unsatisfying substitute. So, too, is the little flipper shifter.

The screens, at the very least, are effectively rendered. All A3s have a digital instrument cluster—ours had the bigger, enhanced model (a part of the Know-how package deal). Display screen-based gauges are quick changing into commonplace, and Audi maximizes their potential greater than most, with a number of show decisions.

You in all probability guessed that motivation is supplied by a turbo 2.0-liter inline-four driving all 4 wheels (front-wheel drive is normal). Now working a modified Miller cycle and boasting a 48-volt hybrid system, it is extra economical. The EPA mixed determine will increase to 31 mpg, a 6-mpg enchancment over its predecessor. Our A3 Quattro returned 40 mpg in our 75-mph freeway fuel-economy check. The snappy and responsive dual-clutch computerized makes the a lot of the modest 201 horses, however the 6.0-second 60-mph time trails the Mercedes and BMW entries. With 105 extra horsepower, the S3 shames its weaker sibling, hitting 60 in 4.3 seconds.

Neither is the A3 as prepared when the highway begins throwing curves. The suspension is agency however feels underdamped on difficult pavement. The S3, significantly with its non-obligatory adaptive dampers, is rather more sporting. On the skidpad, the A3 managed 0.89 g, towards 0.96 g for the S3. Extra disappointing is the overboosted steering, which feels disconnected, and switching to Dynamic mode supplies no amelioration.

No, the treatment for the A3’s mediocrity is to spend up for the S3, which not solely drives higher however has welcome inside upgrades. With normal all-wheel drive, the S3 is $9K dearer than the A3 Quattro. However hey, simply skip consuming out as soon as a month.