2022 Audi S3 review
Audi S3 highlights
Customer rating
(not yet rated)
Pros
- Inspiring performance, strong acceleration, sharp handling
- Impressive levels of cabin and ride comfort
- Easy to park and maneuver
Cons
- Small back seat
- Tiny trunk
Mileage (EPA estimate)
22 city, 29 highway, 25 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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The 2022 Audi S3 reboots with more power, a revamped interior and fresh tech
The 2022 Audi S3 kicked off the small sedan’s second U.S. generation with several key changes. It’s a little longer and wider than its predecessor and wears a striking honeycomb grille up front and big quad exhaust tips in the back. Larger brakes, a standard sport suspension, and a boost to 306 horsepower help back up the new swagger. New features included standard lane departure warning, an optional automated parking system, and a reimagined infotainment system with updated software, 10-inch display, and enhanced voice controls.
But the S3’s biggest draw remains its swift, athletic character. Power is coaxed effortlessly at any speed, and nimble handling encourages searching for long and winding routes to your destination. Yet despite the S3’s enlarged dimensions, there’s no additional rear seat legroom and the trunk is, incredibly, smaller than before. Rivals like the Mercedes AMG CLA 35 and BMW M235i Gran Coupe still offer more cargo space. The other Benz threat, the AMG A 35 (discontinued after 2022), has a slight edge with its in-car tech.
All Audi S3 years
2022 Audi S3 trims
Premium:
- 306-hp, 295-lb-ft of torque 2.0L
- Rear View Camera
- Overhead Airbags
- Side Airbags
- Power Seats
- Traction Control
- Power Mirrors
- Lane Departure Warning
- Rear Defroster
Premium Plus:
- Includes all features available on the Premium
- Smart Key
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Memory Seats
- Automated Cruise Control
- Rear Spoiler
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- View our Audi S3 Premium Plus inventory
Prestige:
- Includes all features available on the Premium Plus
- Head Up Display
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Bang & Olufsen Audio
- Navigation System
5 reasons to buy the 2022 Audi S3
What We Like
Performance: When you join a powerful engine to a small, dynamic chassis, you get the Audi S3. The turbocharged engine packs a wallop of power, especially given the car’s size, while high-performance tires and all-wheel drive grip the road through tight turns and fast cornering. The taut suspension, firmer than the Audi A3 counterpart, squashes body roll. Enthusiast drivers may find the steering lacks some feel, but casual drivers will appreciate its responsiveness and precision, especially when avoiding the occasional road hazard. This is an easy car to drive fast.
Comfort: The S3’s front seats are roomy and wide, with firmer cushions and a more sculpted sport shape than the A3 buckets. Additional side supports, new for 2022, help keep you in place through quick curves and cornering. The standard sport suspension is firm, with aggressive tuning, but the ride remains comfortable considering the S3’s handling capabilities. Models with the adaptive suspension deliver a smoother ride, smoother even than the A3. Stick with the standard 18-inch wheels, though. The optional 19-inch versions only stiffen the ride.
Interior: The S3 might be an entry point into Audi ownership, but there’s nothing entry-level about it. Supple leather, pliable panels, aluminum and carbon-fiber accents, and a futuristic dash design make the S3 feel like a car from higher up the Audi food chain. The S3’s interior was updated for 2022, with crisp lines and edges, and the old infotainment dial controller was replaced with a high-resolution touchscreen angled slightly toward the driver. In place of a traditional gear shifter there's a stubby lever, which takes some getting used to. The 2022 model retains excellent outward visibility.
What Needs Improvement
Roominess: The S3 faces the same spatial challenges as the A3. Even though it’s longer than its predecessor, its supportive rear seats lack legroom. All-wheel-drive hardware, the bulk of it under the back of the car, also limits cargo space. The trunk measures a meager 8.3 cubic feet, almost 2 cubic feet smaller than the previous-generation model, and smaller even than the Mercedes-Benz AMG A 35’s tiny 8.6-cube trunk. Where Audi put the extra length remains a mystery.
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Ratings & reliability
Customer ratings
The 2022 Audi S3 is not yet rated. Help future customers learn about a car you've owned and write a review.
RepairPal gave the Audi S3 an overall reliability rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Audi S3 14th out of 25 among Luxury Compact Cars.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Audi S3Audi S3 features and specs
Premium 4WD/AWD 4D Sedan
Standard Features
- 4WD/AWD
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cruise Control
- Front Seat Heaters
- Lane Departure Warning
- Leather Seats
- Overhead Airbags
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Parking Sensors
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear Spoiler
- Rear View Camera
- Remote Start
- Side Airbags
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Memory Seat(s)
- Run Flat Tires
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Smart Key
Drive Wheels
All Wheel Drive (4WD/AWD)
Engine size
2.0L
Horsepower
306
Torque (ft-lbs)
295
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
14.5
Wheelbase
103.6"
Overall length
177.3"
Width
71.5"
Height
55.8"
Leg room
F 41.2"/R 35.2"
Head room
F 36.8"/R 36.6"
Front tires
P225/40YR18
Rear tires
P225/40YR18
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Automatic
2022 Audi S3 FAQ
The 2022 Audi S3 is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- Premium: 22 MPG City and 29 MPG Highway
- Premium Plus: 23 MPG City and 32 MPG Highway
- Prestige: 23 MPG City and 32 MPG Highway
The Audi S3 received a rating of 3 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks the Audi S3 as 13 out of 25 among Luxury Compact Car
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