Audi S3 Sportback (2024 - )

Audi has listened to customer feedback and delivered on every count with its latest facelifted S3 Sportback. The updated car looks more dynamic and aggressive in its styling but also boasts more engaging driving dynamics too.

There is an increase in power output to the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and everything from the acceleration, cornering and even the braking has a sharper edge to it.

But despite delivering on the performance front, the S3 Sportback also covers the practicality bases well with a generously-sized cabin and a boot that can swallow a number of overnight cases. 

Admittedly, it carries quite a hefty price-tag, starting at £52,995 and that’s before any of the many optional extras have been factored in. But this is a vehicle competing in the premium car sector. 

Customers can choose from two trims called the Black Edition or range-topping Vorsprung and it was the latter that we opted to test drive. 

Audi has given its five-door S3 Sportback model an even sportier appearance for 2024 with a new grille that houses the blacked-out Audi rings emblem, enhanced lighting clusters, new-look bumpers and striking 19-inch alloy wheels.

In addition, there is privacy glass, carbon door mirror housings, a sunroof, rear spoiler and four exhaust pipes.

Moving inside, the facelifted interior has sharper styling with a fresh look gear shifter, air vents, interior lighting and decorative fabric inlays. The Nappa leather seats are powered and can be heated against the winter chill while memory settings are a handy feature if the car is shared between drivers. Stainless steel pedals and lots of S badging are a hint to the car’s sporty character.

There is a lot of black within the vehicle from the seats to the dashboard and even the headliner, so it can seem a tad dark inside the cabin, and there are lots of sharp angles which seems to go against the more curvaceous shapes we are seeing in many rival models these days. In a way it is nice to see Audi sticking to its own design concepts rather than following the crowd.

And there is plenty of tech to explore via a 10.1-inch touch display screen. Features include sat nav, full smartphone connectivity, a DAB radio, a pitch-perfect Sonos sound system, four USB-C ports and plenty more besides. All the vital driving data is clearly shown on a driver display screen behind the steering wheel and we liked the separate panel for all the climate control functions.

Powering our Audi S3 Vorsprung TFSI S tronic Sportback was a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine delivering 333PS and 420Nm of torque. That results in impressive performance figures with a 0-62mph sprint time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed that is electronically limited to 155mph.

There is a seven-speed S tronic automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddles for added driver fun and the handling, agility and performance is guaranteed to put a smile on any driving purist’s face.

It’s sharp away from the starting blocks and the level of power at your disposal never drops off. Joining a fast-moving motorway from a slower slip road is a simple process and in the blink of an eye the S3 is cruising effortlessly at 70mph.

But in all honesty, it’s the open road with the promise of lots of twists and turns that really allows the S3 to shine. It’s exceptionally confident and grounded no matter how hard it’s pushed into and out of tight bends. The vehicle features S sport suspension as standard that lowers the body of the car by 15mm compared to the A3 and, despite being quite firm, it does an exceptional job of smoothing out any unexpected dips along the way.

Drive modes called Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual allow you to get the perfect driving set-up to suit the conditions and your mood, while there is all manner of ways to play with the configurations too. The steering is beautifully weighted with ample driver feedback and special mention to the optional Performance exhaust system, costing £4,125, that delivers a roar that perfectly matches the car’s aggressive nature.

And with all the extra power this latest S3 Sportback possesses, it is reassuring to know the model boasts upgraded larger ventilated disc brakes, along with Audi’s renowned quattro all-wheel drive system. 

Despite its sleek, elegant design, the Audi S3 Sportback is actually deceptively practical with a boot that can swallow 325 litres of kit, increasing to a generous 1,145 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats folded forward.

The vehicle stretches 4,354mm in length, is 1,84mm wide (including mirrors) and is 1,466mm tall. The cabin is surprisingly roomy, especially up front where the body-hugging sports seats offer superb levels of comfort and support. These seats are also powered, can be heated and have memory settings to store favourite driving positions. This is a handy function if the vehicle is shared between more than one driver.

There is ample space for a couple of six footers in the front of the car and a couple more can fit in the back, although leg room is quite limited. Two or three youngsters would be fine though.

The cabin features a number of practical storage options, including a lockable glovebox, door bins with a bottle area, front and rear cup holders, a wireless charging pad, seat back nets, a ticket clip in the driver’s sun visor and a small compartment next to the driver’s door.

The Audi S3 Sportback line-up is priced from £47,520 for the Vorsprung Black Edition. Our test car – the S3 Sportback Vorsprung – cost £52,995, but the optional Progressive red metallic paint, along with a Performance exhaust system saw the final price climb to £57,120.

That may seem a bit steep, but we need to remind ourselves that Audi is a premium brand and this is a performance car. Taking those factors into consideration, the S3 Sportback is actually quite competitively priced. However, if you are looking for something a little kinder on the pocket, the A3 line-up costs from £32,600.

One glance in the S3 Sportback’s direction with its sporting prowess will give a hint as to the day-to-day running costs. A vehicle that can power from 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds is always going to be on the thirsty side. Our car could deliver a combined 33.2mpg with carbon emissions of 194g/km, under WLTP testing.

That CO2 figure would result in a first-year Vehicle Excise Duty charge (road tax) of £1,650 dropping to the standard fee of £190 after the first 12 months. But, as the S3 Sportback has a price in excess of £40,000 you will need to pay an additional premium car tax from years two to six and this is currently priced at £410 per year.

In a world where every new model seems to be going down the cleaner, greener EV route, it’s always nice to see a great performance car out there vying for sales. 

The latest Audi S3 Sportback offers a perfect blend of luxury, on-board tech and practicality but possesses the firepower to deliver a spirited performance when the mood takes.

It’s not at the cheaper end of the market, but few cars of this quality ever are.