Like a Fresh Suit: 2017 Audi S3 Tested

"Adrian" (adriangc) 04/02/2017 at 23:12 • Filed to: Audi, Audi S3, Speed, Classy

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There are very few things that can make a man look better than a high quality, well tailored suit. When it fits just right, confidence, perception and a bit of opulence exude. You feel a little better about what you can do, and according to some, you also perform better in the boardroom and in the club room. I recently test drove what I think is the automotive equivalent of a well tailored suit: the 2017 Audi S3.

The Exterior

Recently refreshed for 2017, the headlights now match the new corporate LEDs and the hood sheet metal is wrapped tighter around the frame. The result is a slightly more aggressive styling with cleaner lines. The rear keeps the quad exhaust tips and the rear lip spoiler. Sadly we do not get the slight bump in horsepower that the European version receives.

Audi S3 Handling and Performance

The Audi S3 is the smallest member of the “S” family (S for Sport) but don’t mistake it for a poseur. Equipped with a 292 HP turbo four engine, the S3 has plenty of kick. 0 - 60 is achieved in ~4.5 seconds and has enough torque to glue your passengers to their seats during the acceleration. Turbo lag is improved over the period generation engine found stateside in the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , though it still persists during heavy acceleration. The S3 comes with larger brakes over the A3, and stopping distance improves to 105 feet during my 60 - 0 test.

The S3 is based on the MQB platform by Volkswagen and is shared by the GTI, Golf R, and the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . The platform has proven itself to be competent and fun to drive, and the lighter weight architecture helps with fuel economy.

Taking the Audi S3 through the Santa Cruz mountains reveals a car that is willing to play. With plenty of grip via the Michelin Super Sport tires and a Haldex all-wheel drive system, most drivers will slow well before hitting this car’s limits on backgrounds. While I’m are on the subject of Haldex, I’m pleased to report the system comes vastly improved over the prior generation I tested in the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . No longer shy about engaging the rear differential, and upgraded with sportier settings, the S3 to feel confident and toss-able. Steering feel is still quite dead on center but livens up when pushed.

Performance Tech

The S3 comes standard with DriveSelect, Audi’s software for changing the settings on the suspension, engine responsiveness, all-wheel drive, exhaust and steering. Settings include Eco, Comfort, Sport, Auto and Individual. The latter allows you to manually choose and save custom settings for the five variables. Auto engages Audi’s algorithm to understand how you drive and adjust automatically as the conditions change. Unfortunately, even in Individual it’s impossible to permanently disable the “auto-off” feature which turns off the engine at stops.

Comfort felt a bit too soft for my standards with the transmission doing a lot to keep the car out of the turbo boost range and steering feeling largely dead all around. I recommend putting the steering and engine into Sport, with suspension settings at Comfort, particularly if you live in a state with poor roads. I’m looking at you, California.

The Interior

The interior exhibits high quality materials, taking the Audi S3 setup well above its Golf R sibling. Leather wraps the dashboard and high quality materials are found throughout the cabin. Seats are comfortable over long hauls and, similar to the Golf R, allow you to find the perfect driving position quickly.

My car was equipped with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which we cannot recommend enough. It’s easy to use, quick, and able to display gobs of information. Navigation is simple to access and saves an extra second from having to direct eyes elsewhere on the dashboard. You can also display sport gauges to show boost pressure and other metrics.

In the TTS I recently test drove, I complained about the lack of engagement from the front passenger on the Virtual Cockpit. This problem is solved in the Audi S3, with the standard pop-up 7inch screen on the center of the dashboard. Passengers are able to see the same information as the Virtual Cockpit, allowing them to change songs or edit route guidance, without interrupting the Virtual Cockpit screen. The center screen can be lowered into the dashboard for times when you’re driving solo which makes the dashboard look clean and more like the TTS.

Summing it Up

Like a fresh suit, the Audi S3 is a car you can’t help but want to get into. Driving it adds a sense of swagger unlike other cars in the segment. It’s fun to drive, well-balanced, attractive and offers features that feel quite a bit ahead of competitors. While it may not be the sportiest car I’ve driven, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed when it came time to turn it in.

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Noah - Now with more boost. > Adrian 04/02/2017 at 23:23

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What a coincidence, I saw one of these in bright blue earlier today. The styling surprised me, in-person it’s kinda... stunning TBH? But the bright blue was a factor there

Svend > Adrian 04/02/2017 at 23:24

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You can disable the stop-start but you have to do it each time you turn on the ignition.

The other way is using the VCDS and deselecting the start-stop feature.

Many VAG cars do it now, I guess it’s to make the MPGs better or rather look better.

At first it’s annoying but you get used to it like the lack of a physical handbrake did.

But I’ll take my S3 as a 3 door 6 speed manual 2.0TFSi.

I love Skoda and have never been an Audi fan but I do like the A/S/Q3 cars.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Svend 04/02/2017 at 23:47

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But we don’t get an S3 with the correct number of doors here. In fact, I think the only odd-numbered door A3 you can get is with the E-TRON in the states...

Adrian > Svend 04/02/2017 at 23:52

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Beautiful car, sir. Thank you for the tip, too.

Adrian > Noah - Now with more boost. 04/02/2017 at 23:52

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I completely agree. That blue is on point.

Shoop > Svend 04/02/2017 at 23:55

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My dad had the dealer disable stop start on his 7 series so it might be as simple as asking.

Svend > Adrian 04/03/2017 at 00:26

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It’s what I’d pick if I didn’t have a Skoda Superb that already ticks every box I need or could think of.

Gratuitous ‘Piglet’ shot from yesterday morning.

Most VAG have a VCDS owners register, speak to them and you’ll be surprised just what you can change.

There is one in VCDS (can’t for the life of me recall what the feature is called, just been looking through the Skoda forum trying to find it), SEAT, Skoda and VW have a binary figure value of ‘01', change it to ‘10' and apparently the car now thinks it’s an Audi and the engine response is more brisk.

I’ll keep looking, it was only posted by a forum member just in the last week or two.

Svend > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/03/2017 at 00:44

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I couldn’t think of having a small saloon car. Anything smaller than an A4 just seems right to be a hatchback or as Audi calls them Compact (3 door) and Sportback (5 door) and wrong as a saloon.

It’s fine having a small saloon for less, how shall I put it, less premium cars like the Skoda Rapid/SEAT Toledo (same car, different badge).

But for say Audi and BMW you start with a small hatch, then go midsize saloon then estate, then large saloon or SUV (keeping a hatchback for city use and ‘pootling about’*).

*’Pootling about, visiting nearby friends, short errands, popping into town for a coffee with friends or picking up one or two items.

Svend > Shoop 04/03/2017 at 00:47

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Some places don’t like doing it and will try and fob you off by saying it invalidates your warranty, it doesn’t at all and if they persist phone up the customer services of your marque and get them to speak to the garage on your behalf. Some garages will then charge a small fee. One Skoda dealer charged £20 for labour and computer time.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Adrian 04/03/2017 at 04:16

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as an Audi parts interpreter, NO.

Tripper > Adrian 04/11/2017 at 14:17

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Nice write up, don’t know how I missed this! I’ve got a 16' in Sepang Blue. I actually feel the transmission in S mode is a bit too aggressive for normal driving. I’m all or nothing when it comes to the driving modes. All comfort, on the way to work, and all dynamic/manual when I’m out for a spirited drive.

Adrian > Tripper 04/16/2017 at 18:00

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Thank you!

I recently purchased another car with a drive select-like feature, and I have to say I completely agree.

wowwwwwww > Adrian 03/02/2018 at 18:33

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Regarding the automatic engine shutoff, there is a button on the dash that deactivates it fwiw.

wowwwwwww > Svend 03/02/2018 at 18:46

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The US market just hates hatchbacks probably because it reminds people of those hideous old station wagons. Also, a sedan looks more professional than a hatchback - I would look very out of place pulling up to work in a VW R versus my S3 sedan. It’s dumb because I like the way hatchbacks look, but I think it’s just an American thing. People here seem to associate any car like that with “soccer-moms” if larger, or street-racers if smaller. As I said, it’s dumb but it’s how it is...