Audi S3 Sports a bigger back

Expert Rating:

Introduction

A 261bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, four-wheel drive and relatively compact hatchback body should add up to a thrilling drive. In the Audi S3 Sportback it never quite does.

What are its rivals?

The S3 Sportback is an unusual car. There are few direct rivals that offer its combination of five doors, four-wheel drive hardware and sensational pace. Actually, that's not entirely true, as Subaru's Impreza could have been built to the same brief, but the pair is executed very differently - the Japanese car cannot offer anything like the upmarket feel of the Audi. Volkswagen's R32 Golf replacement might tempt a few buyers, as might a BMW 130i M Sport.

How does it drive?

With 261bhp from a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine under the bonnet it's hardly surprising that the S3 Sportback is quick. It is, but there's none of the savagery in its delivery of some of its rivals, the S3 Sportback's four-wheel drive quattro transmission making sure every one of those 261 horses is despatched to the road as efficiently as possible. That does make it feel a touch anodyne, the effect increased if you've opted for the S tronic auto that blurs the shifts to create the effect of seamless acceleration. It's so competent and unflustered at gathering pace that it's all a bit unexciting - even when using the six-speed manual transmission.

The thick-rimmed steering wheel is devoid of any real feedback either, leaving you guessing how much grip is available. There's usually plenty given the S3's four-wheel drive and ample amount of rubber on the road, so the S3 Sportback is actually rather effective at going quickly and around bends. It's just not particularly involving when doing so. Fast, competent and composed certainly, but sadly lacking in thrills.

What's impressive?

Like all Audis the S3 feels impeccably built. The interior in particular is beautifully finished in leather, high quality plastics and metal trim. The performance on offer is pretty spectacular - the S3 Sportback an easy way to carry you and three others to 62mph in just 5.8 seconds and onto a 155mph electronically limited maximum speed. Refinement levels are high too, as is grip, the S3 Sportback's four-wheel drive endowing it with excellent traction. Given the performance on offer the S3 Sportback's 33.2mpg combined fuel economy figure is respectable, as is the 199g/km CO₂ output.

Performance is the defining feature of the S3. It's very fast; the engine's mid-range punch makes it an easy car to make the most of overtaking opportunities in. It's a great looking car too; if you like your performance car looks to be on the conservative side.

What's not?

Like so many fast Audis before it the S3 Sportback is unquestionably quick and composed, but it lacks any sort of intimate feedback and involvement keener drivers demand. The steering is lacking in feel and there's none of the seat of the pants thrill you'll get in its rivals. Space isn't brilliant in the back seats with legroom limited thanks to the stiff-backed sports seats up front. Those seats aren't the most comfortable on a longer journey, either. Start dipping into the options list and the S3 Sportback becomes a rather expensive proposition: it's very easy to specify your Audi S3 Sportback to well in excess of £30,000.

Should I buy one?

Audi's S3 Sportback simply isn't exciting enough to justify its hefty premium over the regular models in the A3 range. We'd be just as happy with a punchy 2.0-litre TDI model wearing S3-aping S Line trim or even one of the lesser sporting petrol models like the 1.8 TFSI. It seems Audi's customers disagree though, with a significant number of A3 sales made up of the range-topping S3 model - whether in three- or five-door Sportback forms.

Kyle Fortune