While more recognizable names tend to dominate the segment, this subcompact luxury sports sedan proves that some of the best choices fly under the radar. It’s quick, stylish, and refined, offering a premium driving experience at a size and price point that makes sense. Here’s why it deserves far more recognition in 2025.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed and the EPA.

Audi's 2025 S3 Is Understated But Incredibly Impressive

If you're looking for an affordable sports sedan, then the subcompact segment is your best bet. It is loaded with a ton of excellent options that offer unparalleled excitement. Due to its more subdued styling and its position within Audi's lineup, the S3 often gets overlooked, but we think it is one of the best options out there.

2025 Trims and Pricing

The S3 has some pretty tough competition in the subcompact sedan segment. It goes up against the 2-Series Gran Coupe, the Acura Integra Type S, and the Mercedes-Benz CLA. While the Acura and BMW come close in pricing, the S3 is quicker and more powerful. As usual, Mercedes prices themselves well above the rest of the segment. The AMG-tuned CLA competes closer with the S5 in terms of price.

There are three trim levels for the S3, with each increasing interior comfort. It comes well-equipped from the word go, so we wouldn't blame you for sticking with the most affordable model. However, the Premium Plus trim delivers the best value for money, coming standard with desirable features like adaptive cruise control, memory settings for the power-adjustable seats, and a wireless smartphone charging pad.

Changes For 2025

Audi has made a host of changes to the S3 for the 2025 model year. Changes are mostly mechanical, meaning that the interior and exterior of the sports sedan remain unchanged. We aren't upset with this, though, with the S3 having a strong identity and plenty of modern offerings.

Everything that Audi has done to the S3 this year relates to improving performance. The turbocharged inline-four sees a boost in power, with Audi squeezing out an additional 22 horses. Similar tweaks have been made to just about everything else, including the driveline and chassis. A new torque-split system on the rear axle has been added that enables variable output between the rear wheels. Larger brakes have also been added.

Warranties and Maintenance

• Limited Warranty - Four Years or 50,000 Miles
• Powertrain Warranty - Four Years or 50,000 Miles
• No Complimentary Maintenance

Audi's warranty package is nothing to write home about. The bumper-to-bumper policy is slightly above average, but the powertrain warranty is slightly below average. Audi doesn't include any complimentary maintenance, which is a bummer, especially considering rivals like BMW offer scheduled maintenance for three years.

The Audi S3 is Quicker and More Powerful For 2025

As mentioned above, Audi has done a lot of work to make the S3 even more thrilling than before, with tons of performance upgrades being added. In may not be as overtly sporty as some of its rivals, at least in terms of looks, but put your foot down and tackle some backroads and we guarantee you'll walk away with a smile.

Performance Specifications

The S3 sits between the affordable and comfortable A3 and the raucous RS3. The performance jump from the A3 is massive, with the S3 feeling like a real sports sedan where the A3 is pretty subdued. The RS3 obviously turns things up a notch, delivering 394 horsepower, but we think that the average buyer will find the S3 very satisfying.

Audi's iconic Quattro all-wheel drive system is, of course, standard in the S3 and contributes heavily to how firm it feels on the road. The sports sedan delivers top-notch levels of agility, and it feels eager underfoot, daring you to push it harder. The improvements made this year help its sonorous four-cylinder feel even more responsive and the new torque-splitting differential definitely helps the sedan in the corners.

Fuel Economy

The S3 is a sports sedan that is very easy to live with in your day-to-day. Part of this is that it isn't particularly heavy on fuel, at least relative to its level of performance. It does better in the city than most performance cars and manages above 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Its combined fuel efficiency matches its key competitors, such as the BMW M240i.

Safety and Driver Assists

• Audi Pre Sense
• Blind spot monitoring
• Park assist with front and rear sensors
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go
• High-beam assist

Like most cars in Audi's lineup, the S3 comes with a pretty decent list of standard safety features. This includes Audi Pre Sense, which is a package of collision detection and avoidance systems. Some of the most desirable features, however, are locked behind paywalls, requiring you to select package upgrades.

As You'd Expect, the Audi S3's Interior Is Packed With Comfort-Focused Tech

A sports sedan is meant to be practical as well as thrilling, especially if you're buying something from a luxury brand. The S3 does its best to live up to these standards. While it delivers plenty of high-end interior features and a ton of technology, the one criticism we have is that it is a little bit cramped.

Interior Dimensions and Comfort

The S3 is a subcompact car at heart, which means that you shouldn't really expect a cavernous interior. That being said, Audi's small sports sedan is definitely on the cramped side. If you're particularly tall, you might not even find the front seats offer enough headroom. The trunk is also pretty small, with even some fully-fledged sports coupes delivering more room.

If you do fit, though, then you'll find that Audi makes up for its lack of space with a ton of standard comfort features. Leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, and a panoramic sunroof are all standard. Other top-shelf features include ambient interior lighting, power-adjustable seats with lumbar support, and available Nappa leather upholstery.

Infotainment and Technology

Audi is all about technology, with some of the best offerings of any luxury brand. While the S3 may not get the same features as some of the brand's top vehicles, a lot of stuff does trickle down and helps to make the subcompact sports sedan feel exceptionally premium.

A standard 10.1-inch infotainment screen pairs with a 10.3-inch digital gauge display in the S3. A 12.3-inch fully-digital gauge display is available on higher trims. The infotainment screen runs Audi's latest MMI software, allowing it to offer wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. This system can also be controlled via voice commands, with Audi's natural voice control being one of the more advanced systems available.

There are USB-C ports available in both the front and the rear, with a wireless smartphone charging pad being available as an extra on the base trim and included standard on more expensive models. Other optional features include a heads-up display and a high-end SONOS 3D sound system.