The 2022 Audi S3 Proves Smaller and Lighter Are Always More Fun

The 2022 Audi S3 Proves Smaller and Lighter Are Always More Fun

Big, fast Audis occupy an interesting niche in the performance luxury market. While they’re not always the most outright engaging vehicles in their segments, cars like the RS 6 Avant and S8 provide unmatched luxury, straight-line speed, and stability, to the point where it’d be foolish to consider anything else if you’re looking for a practical daily driver to fly under the radar. The 2022 Audi S3 Proves Smaller and Lighter Are Always More Fun

The Audi S3, refreshed with new looks and more tech for 2022, isn’t big or especially quick when compared to the twin-turbo V-8 bruisers mentioned above. It’s the smallest, cheapest, lightest, least powerful S-branded car in the company’s lineup. And that’s its advantage: Short of the mid-engine V-10-powered R8, the S3 provides more smiles per dollar than any new car with four rings on the nose. The 2022 Audi S3 Proves Smaller and Lighter Are Always More Fun

The S3, like most small cars in the VW Group’s portfolio, rides on the same MQB platform underpinning the latest-generation Volkswagen GTI and Golf R. That means unlike most bigger Audis, the S3’s engine sits transversely on top of the front axle rather than longitudinally in front of it. There’s no big weight past the nose to upset the car’s dynamics. If you’re familiar with big, fast Audis, that’s a big deal. The 2022 Audi S3 Proves Smaller and Lighter Are Always More Fun

Under the hood sits the company’s tried-and-true 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged inline-four, rated at 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 18 hp and 15 lb-ft over last year’s model. Don’t let those standard quad exhaust tips fool you; the motor isn’t particularly groundbreaking or exciting.

It is, however, supremely effective in its mission, which is to deliver oomph when you need it without ever really running out of steam. Like most modern turbo fours, most of the fun can be found in the midrange. And thanks to the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, that sweet spot is always just a paddle shift away.

Quattro comes standard, obviously, but you still have to drive the S3 like a front-wheel-drive car to extract the most performance. Chucking the car into a corner and a big lift off throttle gets the rear end swinging around, and a bit of carefully timed trail braking prompts even more rotation.

Turn-in is aided by brake vectoring, which grabs on the inside rotors for a bit of extra assistance when it senses the car being turned. Mash the throttle and you’ll feel torque being sent to the rear to straighten the S3 out. It’s the type of car that rewards decisive inputs. At the same time, it’s not so missile-fast that you’ll be hitting triple digits on every straightaway. That’s not to say it’s slow; Audi quotes a 0-60 time of just 4.5 seconds.

So The 2022 Audi S3 Proves Smaller and Lighter Are Always More Fun