Top review, Tom. Must say, this beast is on my current list for consideration, but in the hatch form. Silly question, do car reviewers not like listening to music? You say equipped with a Bang & Olufsen sound system, but give no opinion on how well it works. It'll be a deal breaker for me if the hi fi isn't up to scratch.
I'm almost an audiophile, Andrew. You raise a good point. I guess it's one of those things where we all have our own taste in what sounds crisp and doesn't hurt our own ears. I drive some cars with very expensive stereos and find them difficult to listen to. Others, I find immediately comfortable on my ears, if that makes sense. FWIW, I thought the S3's Bang and Olufsen stereo was definitely above average and reproduced my music well. I'll try to mention my opinion of the quality of the stereo in future.
Yes and no. This generation still feels fresh enough and you can bet there will be really sharp deals for its final year. That, and given we haven’t seen the new A3 revealed yet, I’m guessing it’s at least 9 months away from Australia at a minimum - and the RS3 is even further than that.
Well it depends. One advantage of waiting towards the end of the production run is that most of the bugs have been sorted out and reliability is likely to be much better. The 8V model is so good that I wouldn't have any issue buying one new today. It reminds me very much of BMW's E46, another compact luxury car that sold strongly throughout its production life.
I just bought a new one. Great value at $65k drive away, with every option including sunroof. I think it looks better than the upcoming model and is certainly cheaper. I suspect the driving experience will be much the same. I’m absolutely stoked to have got one of the last ones at a bargain price.
Thanks, Dave. If the opportunity comes along, sure - but almost all of what I’ve said here applies equally to the hatch, aside from packaging and aesthetics! I’m more of a hatch man myself.
Great review Tom! I’ve considered an RS3 in the past but instead opted for a 2016 M3 Competition, only to be massively disappointed by the complete lack of steering feel... this is why I ended up not going with the RS3 in the first place (based solely on reviews). Now (after selling the M3), I’m looking for a good fun to drive car with practical aspects, and I’m considering the i30 N Fastback, but the S3 is another consideration... however although you praise the steering, you say there’s a ‘little bit of feedback there’, and this concerns me. As a car enthusiast who’s learnt the hard (expensive) way that speed isn’t everything, and nothing beats feel, feedback and engagement from a car, I’m still unsure after you review if the S3 would tick these boxes? The i30 N seems to be a joy to drive with the sounds and feedback I’m looking for, but the interior is the disappointment. But I would still take that over the S3’s amazing interior if the S3 is not a joy to drive...
And the Golf R is an outstanding car in its own right. Good to see Audi differentiating their version, rather than keeping it the same and slapping a $10k price increase on it.
MVE I have a 67plate ( UK Dec 17 car ) with 310PS & 295lbft..and it sounds fantastic in dynamic mode. It's a shame they quietened and detuned it a bit. Love my S3.
I thought Audi was going to announce the facelift version of the A3 . They still have the old version of the screen that comes up . I’m waiting for the facelift version of the Audi A3. I am in the UK 🇬🇧.
Your Golf R review you mentioned that the ride was too stiff. This Audi rides on the same size alloy wheels. Is the Audi's ride the same experience or more comfortable? And if so then why? Better suspension?
@@chasingcars Hi there, while we are on the topic of a ride what do you think of audi s3 ride against BMW m140i adaptive suspension? is it better or worse? Thank you, keep doing a great content.
I know it might sound crazy - but speaking purely for myself, no. I’d take the Audi. It feels so much lighter, more nimble and better built than the Kia. I am a hot hatch kind of guy (and the S3 sedan ultimately feels like a booted hot hatch). That said, if you’re after a properly rear drive saloon with a seriously powerful V6, the Stinger’s great (but flawed) and you can see my review of it on the channel.
Maybe a little, but I don’t really like the new touchscreen-based Audi interiors. This one works better and the build quality is higher... and I mean, it still looks good
This S3 limousine is an awesome car, otherwise, I think that a Mazda 3 sedan with a performance motor, I know they won't make it (never), will kill that Audi. I say that because just the M3 is better looking for me. Good review, Tom !
Given the next S3 will likely be revealed at the Geneva Show next month, this 2020 model is like the end of the line for the outgoing car. Still a very good all round package, but obviously Audi are waiting for the all-new version to show what they want to do next.
@@chasingcars lol just joking, although it's awd, its front wheels biased and after driving my friend's s3(hatch) I just felt their was understeer the while time. Anyway, it was meant to be a joke, great review.
The A class is around £35,000 and has so much technology inside but the s3 is not even a rs3 it's had the same interior on all Rs's which is just a Robbery
The all-new A3 will be a 2021 car by the time it hits the road - especially for Australia. This is the MY2020 update to the A3 for Australian buyers, and we are an Australian channel.
No power seats and no rear arm rest is rubbish at this price point.. a full spec and fully loaded A3 comes with power seats and rear arm rest as standard.. you’ll also get better gas mileage and achieve the same look.. Benz is a step down from an Audi.. let’s not forget the partnership they ended with Chrysler.. Volkswagen owns Audi and an umbrella of exotic brands.. they could buy Benz over a coffee break.. Benz is a glorified nothing.. just get an Audi
Absolute rubbish !!! The S3 interior is pre-historic !! The tiny screen is not even touch screen !! The software is junk.. The A Class Mercedes is different class !! Try fitting Golf clubs in the trunk ....
If sizes of screens and whether they're touch-capacitive is your bar of how good an interior is, I don't think we are likely to come to the same opinion!
Have the 2019 s3. Absolute beast. Longtime Audi owner and this is by far, my favorite model I have owned.
Good feedback. What else did you have?
2016 A5
2013 A4
Hoping to get an rs3 next.
Love my S3 sedan. Daily driven and produces a smile every time
Glad to hear it!
DaWylde1 what are the size of the rims
Totally agree, love my S3 long time. Fantastic car
Tom is my favourite reviewer. Way better than car advice and cars guide reviewers.
Thank you! Much appreciated! Glad to have you watching.
Top review, Tom. Must say, this beast is on my current list for consideration, but in the hatch form. Silly question, do car reviewers not like listening to music? You say equipped with a Bang & Olufsen sound system, but give no opinion on how well it works. It'll be a deal breaker for me if the hi fi isn't up to scratch.
I'm almost an audiophile, Andrew. You raise a good point. I guess it's one of those things where we all have our own taste in what sounds crisp and doesn't hurt our own ears. I drive some cars with very expensive stereos and find them difficult to listen to. Others, I find immediately comfortable on my ears, if that makes sense. FWIW, I thought the S3's Bang and Olufsen stereo was definitely above average and reproduced my music well. I'll try to mention my opinion of the quality of the stereo in future.
getting my 2020 s3 tomorrow :)
Hi Tom and team! Any chance of an Audi S3 2022 Sedan review?
Such a great car but you'd have to be silly to buy now considering the newie should be out next year right? I am SO excited for the new RS3!
Yes and no. This generation still feels fresh enough and you can bet there will be really sharp deals for its final year. That, and given we haven’t seen the new A3 revealed yet, I’m guessing it’s at least 9 months away from Australia at a minimum - and the RS3 is even further than that.
Well it depends. One advantage of waiting towards the end of the production run is that most of the bugs have been sorted out and reliability is likely to be much better. The 8V model is so good that I wouldn't have any issue buying one new today. It reminds me very much of BMW's E46, another compact luxury car that sold strongly throughout its production life.
I just bought a new one.
Great value at $65k drive away, with every option including sunroof.
I think it looks better than the upcoming model and is certainly cheaper.
I suspect the driving experience will be much the same.
I’m absolutely stoked to have got one of the last ones at a bargain price.
cracking review as always. will you be doing a separate review on the hatch ?
Thanks, Dave. If the opportunity comes along, sure - but almost all of what I’ve said here applies equally to the hatch, aside from packaging and aesthetics! I’m more of a hatch man myself.
@@chasingcars thanks Tom. your reviews are now the best on youtube by far. I thought car wow was good but yours have surpassed Matt now.
Great review Tom! I’ve considered an RS3 in the past but instead opted for a 2016 M3 Competition, only to be massively disappointed by the complete lack of steering feel... this is why I ended up not going with the RS3 in the first place (based solely on reviews). Now (after selling the M3), I’m looking for a good fun to drive car with practical aspects, and I’m considering the i30 N Fastback, but the S3 is another consideration... however although you praise the steering, you say there’s a ‘little bit of feedback there’, and this concerns me. As a car enthusiast who’s learnt the hard (expensive) way that speed isn’t everything, and nothing beats feel, feedback and engagement from a car, I’m still unsure after you review if the S3 would tick these boxes?
The i30 N seems to be a joy to drive with the sounds and feedback I’m looking for, but the interior is the disappointment. But I would still take that over the S3’s amazing interior if the S3 is not a joy to drive...
We got RS3 and it’s a beast!
But I always wished it was a 6MT
The RS3 is on another level again!
Great review Tom. Do you know if Audi are releasing an update pd Q2 in the near future ?
Thanks, Bob. I think that’s likely in the next 12-18 months.
Yet another great report. Like you said, S3 and R Golf do drive differently but S3 slightly out my price range, so I purchased an optioned up Golf R.
And the Golf R is an outstanding car in its own right. Good to see Audi differentiating their version, rather than keeping it the same and slapping a $10k price increase on it.
Great video thanks
I have seen new A4, S4 and etc but not new A3 and S3. When the new one will be produced ?
Production of the new generation car will start in 2020 but it hasn't even been revealed yet.
I got the s3 sedan perfect daily car!! Only thing I hate is the new OPF :'( its so quit
MVE
I have a 67plate ( UK Dec 17 car ) with 310PS & 295lbft..and it sounds fantastic in dynamic mode. It's a shame they quietened and detuned it a bit. Love my S3.
@@douglasb.5601 true... its the perfect daily for me. Looking for a downpipe now.
Nice review, mate!
Thanks a lot, Robbie!
What shoes are you wearing? Love the caramel color. Also great review of the S3!
They are called Gayessence by Homolab.
Wen they changing the interior
I thought Audi was going to announce the facelift version of the A3 . They still have the old version of the screen that comes up . I’m waiting for the facelift version of the Audi A3. I am in the UK 🇬🇧.
Yeah, the new generation hasn't yet been revealed, so I'd say it is some time away from appearing on either UK or Australian roads.
Your Golf R review you mentioned that the ride was too stiff. This Audi rides on the same size alloy wheels. Is the Audi's ride the same experience or more comfortable? And if so then why? Better suspension?
Better. Still firm, but less stiff and better resolved. The reason is likely that the Audi uses a set of different, perhaps slightly dearer, dampers.
I’ll also say that the ride on Golf Rs does soften off a little after the first 5,000km
@@chasingcars Hi there, while we are on the topic of a ride what do you think of audi s3 ride against BMW m140i adaptive suspension? is it better or worse? Thank you, keep doing a great content.
Nice skid, nice colour too.
Thanks! Yes, I like the Ara Blue. They look good in a variety of greys as well, but I prefer colours
213 KW = 285 HP and 380 Nm = 280 Lbs. Ft. of torque to you and me.
Love the S3 - must be a sedan as Sportback version looks awkward from some angles and 4 door is much sleeker imho:)
It’s good that Audi offers a version to suit different tastes.
Blue looks good. Still like the audi A3 dash than the new Merc A...
Same
Tom would you recommend the Kia Stinger over this S3?
I know it might sound crazy - but speaking purely for myself, no. I’d take the Audi. It feels so much lighter, more nimble and better built than the Kia. I am a hot hatch kind of guy (and the S3 sedan ultimately feels like a booted hot hatch). That said, if you’re after a properly rear drive saloon with a seriously powerful V6, the Stinger’s great (but flawed) and you can see my review of it on the channel.
@@chasingcars thanks for the advice, cheers!
I love my 2017 S3 very powerful
GTS300 Stinger is good on paper, but does not live up to its specs. However they can be found steeply discounted.
The interior looks dated compared to the newer Audis.. Worth waiting for the new A3 gen
Maybe a little, but I don’t really like the new touchscreen-based Audi interiors. This one works better and the build quality is higher... and I mean, it still looks good
Only an Audi can make an Audi look dated, Audi is in another level in comparison with other brands in interior terms
I think the non touch screen system in the S3 and TT is SO much better to use than Audi's latest system...and no fingerprints all over the screens!
Why do other countries say, "oily bits"?
Because they’re bits and they’re oily
This S3 limousine is an awesome car, otherwise, I think that a Mazda 3 sedan with a performance motor, I know they won't make it (never), will kill that Audi. I say that because just the M3 is better looking for me. Good review, Tom !
Never say never - I really hope they put a performance Mazda 3 back into production.
So this is a 2020? I guess the refresh is 2021?
The all-new model will be a 2021 car in Australia but we’ll likely see it revealed next year.
NICE
Watching this it feels like they’ve done nothing compared to last year’s S3? Interior looks outdated design is pretty much the same meh disappointing
Given the next S3 will likely be revealed at the Geneva Show next month, this 2020 model is like the end of the line for the outgoing car. Still a very good all round package, but obviously Audi are waiting for the all-new version to show what they want to do next.
Chasing Cars thanks for letting me know man! I’m looking for a new car and really wanted to see what the new S3/RS3 will be like
It’s a great daily. Not as much fun as my E46 M3 but that’s a 6 speed manual.
Front wheel drive understeer crashing into a tree beast
Understeer wasn’t prevalent in our experience. And you can just plant the boot anyway - AWD is standard.
@@chasingcars lol just joking, although it's awd, its front wheels biased and after driving my friend's s3(hatch) I just felt their was understeer the while time. Anyway, it was meant to be a joke, great review.
Sam Zhang You are so wrong. Why all the posers who only opine without testing the cars they criticize?
Tunks Park !!
Yes!
The A class is around £35,000 and has so much technology inside but the s3 is not even a rs3 it's had the same interior on all Rs's which is just a Robbery
But this is not the long awaited 2020 update.🤔🤔🤔 👎🏻
The all-new A3 will be a 2021 car by the time it hits the road - especially for Australia. This is the MY2020 update to the A3 for Australian buyers, and we are an Australian channel.
@@chasingcars Ah ok just another review on the '2019 Audi'. Thanks
For 70k you should be getting an RS3. Not S3 price point.
Nathan Allen AU$, not US$. Cars are far more expensive in Australia.
No power seats and no rear arm rest is rubbish at this price point.. a full spec and fully loaded A3 comes with power seats and rear arm rest as standard.. you’ll also get better gas mileage and achieve the same look.. Benz is a step down from an Audi.. let’s not forget the partnership they ended with Chrysler.. Volkswagen owns Audi and an umbrella of exotic brands.. they could buy Benz over a coffee break.. Benz is a glorified nothing.. just get an Audi
How old is this design now? Looks outdated and the interior is way too bland
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.
£70,000 for a s3 no way
PoorLittleRichKid 70,000 Australian dollars my friend
Your paying 20k more for a badge
Both car cars a the same only different in cosmetics
Golf r is a better Experian e
The Golf R’s a great car but actually, it isn’t just cosmetics that are different, as I’ve explained in detail within the video.
Ya but one is a hatchback 🤢
"Best interior in a small luxury car"
Mmmkay, sure :~X
When you combine quality, usability and design, the Audi comes out on top. Just.
Great car but when they break down so does your bank account
clearly you don't know the S3 8V at all; among some of the most reliable cars out there
Paid advertising
No, we’ve never had any commercial association of any sort with Audi. You’re confusing paid advertising with simply a positive independent review.
This is just a more expensive VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS
That’s how the Volkswagen Group works.
Overpriced VW for wannabe
Lmao VW is Audi
Absolute rubbish !!! The S3 interior is pre-historic !! The tiny screen is not even touch screen !! The software is junk.. The A Class Mercedes is different class !! Try fitting Golf clubs in the trunk ....
If sizes of screens and whether they're touch-capacitive is your bar of how good an interior is, I don't think we are likely to come to the same opinion!
cliverkay if you want a toy hauler,get a ute
You should probably get a Tesla if that’s your cup of tea