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Audi's S3 latest facelift brings updated styling, an additional 22 horses and added torque under the hood, improved standard tech, upgraded handling, and torque-vectoring wizardry from the RS3
by Amreetam Basu on April 24, 2024, 09:13Audi’s S3 serves as the perfect middle ground between the everyday A3 and the wild, track-focused RS3. While the S3 was sold in Europe since 1999, U.S. consumers got their hands on it for the first time in 2015. Fast forward to 2025, and we have the facelifted S3 sedan still belonging to the fourth-generation A3.
With the mid-life refresh, the first thing you’ll notice is the tweaked front fascia, which features updated DRL signatures and the new L-shaped grille inserts. Additionally, the taillights have been updated, with the L-shaped design near the diffuser mimicking the design on the front grille.
Underneath the stylish hood lies a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s ready to play. For 2025, Audi gives it a power boost - an additional 22 horsepower and 15 pound-feet of torque, to be exact, taking the total output to 328 horses and 310 pound-feet of torque.
This isn’t just about power, though. Audi’s engineers sharpened the S3’s handling with various chassis upgrades and even threw in a cheeky new torque-vectoring system borrowed from the full-fat RS3.
What sets the S3 apart is how well it balances performance with everyday comfort. The interior blends modern tech, such as the 12.3-inch Digital Cockpit (which is now standard), and quality materials in a tasteful, not over-the-top way. It’s the ideal car for those who want something fun and stylish without sacrificing a smooth ride or a quiet cabin.
However, are the aforementioned additions enough to make the 2025 Audi S3 earn its reputation as a favorite among driving enthusiasts? Competing directly with the Acura Integra Type S, the Audi S3 sedan is much more capable and fun to drive. Here’s pretty much everything you need to know about the facelifted 2025 Audi S3 sedan.
A mild but necessary exterior refresh
The new Audi S3 sedan isn’t messing around with its overall design. This fiery little beast gets a style overhaul, thanks to its wider, flatter "Singleframe" grille. Those edgy L-shaped inserts inside the grille aren’t just for looks - they perfectly complement the sharp new side intakes, hinting at the power lurking beneath.
And those headlights? They’re sharp like before and can be optioned with Matrix LED tech, letting you customize the daytime running lights from four distinctive lighting signatures right from the infotainment system (something we’ve already witnessed with the Audi Q6 e-tron crossover). This is possible because the headlight module features 24 individual pixel elements. How cool is that? Additionally, the front fascia benefits from a splitter, giving the 2025 S3 proper sportscar aesthetics.
Standard 18-inch wheels come ready to take on the road, but if you crave even more attitude, two bold new 19-inch options are just a click away. Summer tires are a standard affair, of course, but for those who crave the ultimate grip, Audi offers an even stickier optional rubber courtesy of Falken. Speaking of bold, get ready for a splash of color! Audi throws four new hues into the mix, including a head-turning matte Daytona Gray, a first.
The party continues in the back with brand-new taillight animations, adding a touch of futuristic flair. But the real showstopper is the sportier bumper design - it echoes the L-shaped motif found in the front grille and is punctuated by a fake diffuser and a quad exhaust setup, two on each side, looking identical to the unit found with the Mk8 Golf R. Want to turn up the volume? Audi offers an optional titanium exhaust system, ensuring the S3’s soundtrack matches its fierce personality.
The cabin adds more standard features while retaining physical buttons
The S3’s interior layout may stay the same for 2025, but Audi clearly listened to the feedback - it has focused on making it feel more luxurious and adding some tech goodies as standard. First up, the tech: Audi’s Virtual Cockpit instrument panel, measuring 12.3 inches, is no longer an option - it’s the standard display across the entire S3 line.
Audi has cleaned up the center console, replacing the earlier toggle shifter with a more seamless-looking button. Pull it to engage drive, push it for reverse. Of course, no sporty sedan is complete without a flat-bottomed, three-spoke steering wheel, which also gets a fresh design for 2025. The overall vibe of the S3’s interior remains on the sophisticated side, with a dark color scheme accented by stylish silver trim and detailed contrast stitching both on the dash and seats. However, if you want to inject a bit of playfulness, there’s an optional interior lighting package with a truly eye-catching feature: the door panels have 300 laser-cut openings that glow with colorful light!
Also, something we love about the facelifted S3 is that the steering wheel retains physical buttons, which is rare in the modern automotive world. In addition, the climate control buttons stay intact below the infotainment display, making it easier for drivers to concentrate on the road rather than fiddling with the display while driving.
Speaking of the infotainment display, you get the same 10.1-inch touchscreen unit from the outgoing S3 running Audi’s MMI system. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with wireless connectivity comes as default. We believe the 2025 S3 will retain the same interior space as the outgoing model, so expect a decent amount of space for two adults at the back.
More punch, beefier chassis plucked from the RS3
Being an Audi, the outgoing S3 fell short of the Mk8 Golf R’s raw performance, making the S3 somewhat irrelevant. However, that’s not the case anymore because the already peppy turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine under the hood gets a serious power boost! Audi cranked things up with the EA888 (codename of the engine), delivering an extra 22 horsepower (now at a total of 328 ponies) along with 15 more pound-feet of torque (totaling 310 pound-feet). It’s not just about raw numbers, though. Audi re-tuned the engine so the turbocharger keeps humming even when you’re not flooring it, promising snappier acceleration when needed.
A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission gets in on the action, too, transferring all that power to four wheels. For 2025, It can now handle more of that newfound muscle, translating into quicker launches off the line. Audi claims the S3 should now hit 60 mph, a tenth of a second quicker than the outgoing model, suggesting a blisteringly quick time of around 4.4 seconds, making it almost a second quicker than the front-wheel-drive Acura Integra Type S. The top speed is still electronically capped at 155 mph.
The chassis wasn’t forgotten either! New front suspension bits allow for more aggressive alignment settings, and bigger 14-inch front brake rotors help the S3 stop better. But the real star is a fancy new torque-vectoring system, borrowed from the track-ready 401-horsepower RS3, that can send power to each rear wheel independently. This clever tech aims to make the S3 both sharper in the corners and more stable when you’re really pushing it. Think of it as an electronic helper, giving you a little extra shove exactly where you need it.
| Category | 2025 Audi S3 Sedan | 2024 Acura Integra Type S |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 | 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 |
| Gearbox | 7-speed automatic | 6-speed manual |
| Drive type | AWD | FWD |
| Horsepower | 328 hp | 320 hp |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| 0-60 mph | 4.4 seconds | 5.1 seconds |
| Top speed | 155 mph | 167 mph |
Warranty and reliability
With the 2025 S3, Audi should continue with its existing warranty package, which includes a four-year/50,000-mile standard warranty, a four-year/50,000-mile warranty for the powertrain and other technical bits, and a 12-year/unlimited-mile warranty on rust. Additionally, you get a four-year/ unlimited-mile roadside assistance with the S3.
The S3’s closest competitor, the Acura Integra Type S, offers an extra two-year and 20,000-mile drivetrain warranty, along with free maintenance for up to two years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, it loses to the Audi in the rust and perforation warranty coverage with just five-year/unlimited miles.
When it comes to reliability, Repair Pal rates the outgoing A3 sedan, on which the S3 is built, 3.5 out of 5.0, with an annual repair cost of about $741. However, you can’t ignore all seven recalls of the 2022 Audi S3 recorded by the NHTSA, making it a typical German sports sedan with issues.
2025 Audi S3 Sedan competition
Acura Integra Type S
The Acura Integra Type S is the high-octane version of the recently revived Integra sedan, a nameplate with a serious performance history. The 2024 Integra Type S is the most powerful Integra yet. Under the hood lurks a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine cranking out 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The best part? It’s paired with a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential for maximum driver engagement. Although, unlike the Audi S3, it is a front-drive car, which means a lot of wheelspin off the line.
The styling matches the performance, with bold flares, aggressive vents, a rear diffuser, and a trio of center-mounted exhausts that make a serious growl. The sporty theme continues inside, with leather-trimmed seats, a digital gauge cluster, a nine-inch touchscreen, and a thumping 16-speaker sound system. All this comes at a price - $52,999. That’s a bit steeper than the similar Honda Civic Type R, despite the Acura offering just a little more horsepower.
Although we don’t have the pricing details of the refreshed 2025 S3, and even if it’s priced very competitively to the Acura Integra Type S, our pick will be the S3. Why? You get more performance, and by performance, we not only mean those extra horses, but also the rear-biased all-wheel drive system that puts down power like a champ and the rear-axle-enabled torque vectoring system, which helps with high-speed cornering stability.
FAQs
What engine does the 2025 Audi S3 Sedan have? The 2025 Audi S3 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 328 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.
What kind of drivetrain does it have? The 2025 Audi S3 features a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive.
How fast is the 2025 Audi S3 Sedan? Audi claims a 0-60 mph time of approximately 4.4 seconds, and its top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
What are some key features of the 2025 Audi S3 Sedan? Standard 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit digital instrument panel, a redesigned center console with a button-like gear selector, a newly designed flat-bottomed steering wheel, optional interior lighting package, and new rear-axle torque vectoring technology.
How much does the 2025 Audi S3 Sedan cost? While official pricing of the 2025 Audi S3 isn’t available, expect a starting MSRP over the 2024 model year’s $48,000 (approx.) price tag.
High-performance, agile, expressive: the new Audi S3
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Increased performance with 333 PS of power and 420 Nm of torque
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Torque splitter and dynamic plus mode for agile handling
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Expressive design and selectable daytime running light signatures
With a host of new features, the Audi S3 is more than just a product upgrade: Increased output, a torque splitter, and other technology highlights ensure strong performance and agile handling. Visually, the compact model reflects its increased dynamics with an expressive front design, a sporty diffuser, and a four-pipe performance exhaust system. The Audi S3 will be available at dealerships as a Sportback and as a sedan in the second quarter of 2024. Price: from 55,600 euro.
More performance: 2.0 TFSI with 333 PS
With 245 kW (333 PS) and 420 Nm of torque, the S3 is more powerful than ever. As part of the product upgrade, the 2.0 TFSI2 1 receives an increase in output of 23 PS and 20 Nm more torque. The result is confident pulling power and strong acceleration. The S32 1 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds. Maximum torque is available in a wide rev range between 2,100 and 5,500 rpm. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). The engine and transmission also receive a sportier tuning: When at a steady speed and at low to medium acceleration in the part-load range, the preloaded turbocharger keeps at a constant rpm. In combination with the throttle valve, which is opened during overrun mode, this improves performance. The seven-speed S tronic now enables a more spontaneous take off, thanks to higher starting torque. This is achieved by compressing the clutch pack of the respective clutch more strongly. In addition, the shift time for gearshifts under full load has been halved and engine speeds are increased under partial load when the transmission is set to D which results in very good responsiveness.
More driving dynamics: quattro drive system with torque splitter
Following the RS 33, the torque splitter is now also available in the S3, increasing both agility and stability. This technology enables fully variable torque distribution between the rear wheels. The torque splitter uses an electronically controlled multiple disk clutch on each drive shaft to optimally distribute the torque between the rear wheel on the inside and the outside of the curve – depending on the driving situation and the chosen Audi drive select mode.
More emotion: Audi drive select mode dynamic plus
Audi drive select offers six distinct modes for a wide range of driving experiences – from an emphasis on comfort to highly dynamic. In addition to the familiar profiles (auto, comfort, dynamic, individual, and efficiency), the model upgrade for the S3 features the new dynamic plus mode, which – as the name suggests – offers especially high driving dynamics. To this end, as much torque as possible reaches the rear axle and the torque splitter mainly sends to the rear wheel on the outside of the curve, resulting in a tendency to oversteer. The electronic stabilization control (ESC) is automatically active in sport mode. Modest interventions by the ESC system ensure an increased and even more emotional driving experience on surfaces with different friction coefficients. The engine and transmission have also been tuned specifically for dynamic plus mode. Compared to the dynamic mode, the idle speed of the 2.0 TFSI has increased by 200 rpm to 1,300 rpm to improve off-the-line performance further. The throttle response is even more direct. In addition to shorter gearshifts, the transmission also contributes to increased dynamics with later upshifts and earlier downshifts.
More precision: suspension optimizations
Wishbones with stiffer bearings and new pivot bearings that allow more negative wheel camber ensure an improved steering response and increased lateral control, which means more grip and dynamics in corners. Fittingly, the optimized progressive steering helps the S3 take corners even more precisely. Especially in the middle position, the steering, with its angle-dependent ratio, is more centered, which improves handling. The S sports suspension comes as standard in the S3 models. It lowers the body by 15 mm compared to the A3. The same applies to the optional S sport suspension with adaptive dampers, which has been specially tuned for the torque splitter and the respective Audi drive select modes. A new generation of the electronic stabilization control is also used. Wheel-selective torque control, which selectively brakes the wheels on the inside of the curve slightly while cornering, has also been further developed, as have been the traction and deceleration behavior. Overall, the S3-specific tuning of the suspension control systems results in dynamic turn in and driving behavior. The improved handling goes hand in hand with improved stability at the limit.
More grip: two new 19-inch tires
The Audi S3 comes as standard with 18-inch 225/40 tires. Two 19-inch 235/35 tires are available as an option, including performance tires with optimized dry handling and improved braking behavior. Completely new to the range: sports tires from Falken. They offer remarkably high grip and precise track stability, especially on dry roads. In addition, the Falken Label D tires feature extremely precise handling across the entire speed range.
More deceleration: larger brake disks
The increased driving dynamics mean increased demand on the brakes. For this reason, the model upgrade for the S3 has been equipped with larger ventilated brake disks on the front axle, which are perforated to provide a visual highlight. The 18-inch steel brake now measures 357 mm in diameter and, at 34 mm, is four mm thicker than before.
The two-pistons calipers at the front are new too. They further improve braking performance, as do larger pads and larger friction surface of the disks, which have a significantly higher thermal and thus also a higher load capacity.
More expressiveness: progressive design
With the model upgrade, the Audi S3 has an even sportier and tauter appearance. The hexagonal, frameless Singleframe features a new structure that is noticeably flatter and wider. L-shaped design elements accentuate the voluminous grille that, along with the large, angular side air intakes, highlights the S3’s dynamic character. A striking front spoiler, with two vertical struts inspired by motorsport, connects the two and further lowers the S3 visually.
A new bumper also makes the rear look more dynamic than ever. The structure of the Singleframe with its distinctive L-wings is reflected in the glossy black rear apron above the diffuser. It is divided into two parts for an S specific design that looks particularly sporty when combined with the vertical side reflectors that are a design feature of RS models. The dynamic appearance is rounded out by four tailpipes, another characteristic S-model feature. The optional performance exhaust system, which delivers a more voluminous sound, features a titanium silencer.
The vehicle’s progressive design is further accentuated by new expressive metallic finishes, including District Green, Ascari Blue, and Progressive Red. For the first time, Daytona Gray is also available in a matte finish.
More variety: up to four different daytime running light signatures
Like the redesigned Singleframe, the lighting design is significantly flatter, emphasizing the width of the Audi S3. The 24-pixel elements that make up the digital daytime running lights in the LED and Matrix LED headlights are now arranged in three rows on the upper edge of the housing. For the first time in A3 series models, it is now possible to select and switch between up to four digital daytime running light signatures in the MMI. “This offers our customers a higher degree of personalization. They can change the expression of their model at any time. The signatures interpret self-confidence and agility in different ways,” says Cesar Muntada, Head of Design Light Experience at AUDI AG. “This is also true for the coming home home/leaving home scenarios, which were designed individually for each signature.” The tail lamps also feature a new rear light design and new staging of the coming home/leaving home function.
More charisma: sharpened interior
To match the more striking exterior, the interior has also been significantly sharpened. There are quite a few alterations here – from the shifter design and air vents to the decorative fabric inlays and new interior lighting. All these elements show precision in detail and emphasize the vehicle’s progressive and technical appearance.
The standard ambient light package plus in the S3 adds accents in the storage compartment in front of the shifter, on the doors, and in the footwell. With the model upgrade, the center console and cup holder now also feature contour lighting. One eye-catching new design element is the fabric panel in the front doors that was laser-cut 300 times. Its five segments are backlit by a light source in the door panel. The different sizes of the elements create a dynamic flow of light – which is also apparent when locking and unlocking the vehicle. This makes the illuminated fabric panel a unique design experience.
The interior of the S3 models features dark colors with a few silver accents. A black roof lining, stainless steel pedals, illuminated door sills with aluminum inserts featuring the S logo, and aluminum-style interior trim emphasize the vehicle’s sporty character. Artificial leather armrests and two-zone comfort air conditioning come as standard. Flattened at the bottom, the three‑spoke sports contour leather steering wheel features multifunction buttons and new chrome-plated steering wheel paddles. Sports seats with integrated headrests and pronounced side bolsters provide enhanced lateral support. In addition to Dinamica microfiber, a new technical textured fabric is available for the decorative inlays, as are aluminum and carbon fiber.
More functionality: integration of apps and functions on demand
The S3 is digital and connected – thanks to numerous connect services, functions on demand, and a store for apps. In addition to DAB+ digital radio and the 10.1-inch touch display, the Audi virtual cockpit, and an inductive smartphone charger all come as standard. In addition to the two front USB C charging ports in the center console, there are two additional ports in the rear as standard.
Other optional features include MMI navigation plus, along with the complete connect portfolio and access to the store for apps, which allows the driver to use a wide range of applications right on the vehicle display. The selected apps are installed in the S3’s infotainment system – without taking a detour via the user’s smartphone. Users can also interact with their apps via voice command. Functions on demand ensures a high degree of flexibility. A total of five individual infotainment and comfort functions can be added online via the myAudi app, even after the vehicle has been purchased.
Amreetam Basu
While Amreetam hustles during the week, free time means one thing: hitting the open road. He dreams of cruising the Alps in a German masterpiece – a Porsche 992 911 GT3 RS or an F87 BMW M2 would be ideal! This 26-year-old automotive journalist loves every part of the job. Read full bio
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