We Drove the New 2025 Audi S3 and Are Still Smiling

The Audi S3 was last redesigned in 2022, and this year, it gets a fairly comprehensive midstream makeover. Not that you can tell by looking.

From the outside, changes to the 2025 Audi S3 are minimal and limited to details. The headlights and taillights get a slightly different look, the grille is now enclosed by body-colored elements, and the rear diffuser is more pronounced. On the inside, the revisions are equally subtle, with added interior lighting and a new shifter among the more prominent changes.

We're more interested in the improvements that bolster performance. They start under the stubby hood, where the familiar turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder gets a boost to 328 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That's an increase of 22 horsepower over the previous year. Additionally, the throttle response feels sharper than before in everyday driving, thanks to a new preload feature that keeps the turbo spinning in lower-demand situations, making it quicker to spin up when you press on the pedal. A seven-speed automatic sends power to all four wheels, and Audi claims full-throttle upshifts are approximately 50 percent quicker.

2025 Audi S3 Sedan

The biggest news is between the rear wheels, in the form of a new torque-splitting differential that was pilfered from the RS3's parts bin. It can send all available rear-axle power to a single rear wheel, changing the S3's perceived balance. With power routed to the outside wheel in a turn, the nose is less likely to understeer, making the compact sedan feel more lively and playful.

On a diabolical squiggle of pavement inland from Oceanside, California, the S3 proved that these upgrades combine to make it a more entertaining and capable canyon-killer.

2025 Audi S3 Sedan

With a tap of the drive-select button, you can call up Dynamic mode, but unlocking the new Dynamic Plus setting requires an additional onscreen tap to reiterate that you want the full performance potential. This confirmation is mandated when the traction or stability control is altered, but it also adds a sense of occasion.

In this setting, launch control is available—to activate it, you mash both pedals then release the brake pedal for send-off. The transmission can load more torque in the buildup, but we didn't get the catapult effect we were expecting. Instead, it felt as if the computer was expertly feeding in power and managing wheelspin, but the rush wasn't there. Thankfully, skipping launch control and simply stomping on the pedal at a green light gives plenty of giddyap. Audi says the S3 will reach 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, which is 0.1 quicker than before. We saw 4.2 seconds with the previous S3, so this version should be able to get close to 4.0.

2025 Audi S3 Sedan

Our route was rife with small rises and gullies, combined with a variety of twists and turns, and with its compact footprint, the S3 sliced through the curves with precision. At the top of the rises, the car got light as the suspension stretched out and gave us a fun little bunny hop as we nudged the steering wheel into the next bend.

On the approach to a hairpin turn, we waited on the brakes, then gave them a good stab to drop the speed immediately. This was accompanied by some muted crackles from the exhaust. We followed with a gentle trail-off and resisted the urge to blip the throttle. Feeding in some steering lock, one could feel a slight rotation from the rear wheels. With more power, the S3 continued to track faithfully, imbuing added confidence for the next curve. There, we gave the accelerator a more determined shove, and the little Audi simply obeyed. No drama, no correction, just whoosh.

2025 Audi S3 Sedan

The action of the new torque splitter, though, isn't obvious. From the driver's seat, you won't feel any shift in power, as it's fairly seamless, and that's exactly how it should be.

All of this is fun, but the S3 is also a great ride if you're just motoring around town. It's not the least bit harsh over bumps, and although there's a fair degree of road noise, the cabin otherwise remains pleasantly calm and quiet. And the S3's tidy dimensions make it easy enough to park that you don't need to rely on the sensors or cameras.

Overall, the S3 is a finely tuned instrument in a trio that includes the supporting A3 and the more raucous RS3. It was particularly satisfying on the roads where we wrung it out. There's no doubt an RS3 would be even quicker, but you'd be using a smaller portion of its overall potential.

The 2025 Audi S3 is already on sale and has a starting price of $49,995 for the base Premium trim. That represents a $1500 increase over last year's S3, but considering the improvements (particularly the torque splitter), it's a relative bargain. The Premium Plus and Prestige trims don't add any performance features, so any S3 should deliver a similar driving experience.

2025 Audi S3 Sedan

That price looks good against similar sports sedans. It just undercuts the four-door BMW M235 Gran Coupe. The Acura Integra Type S is more expensive and is limited by its front-wheel-drive-only layout, but it does offer the extra involvement of a manual transmission. The Mercedes-AMG CLA35 is significantly more expensive.

The S3 was already a desirable luxury sport compact, and the 2025 changes have only added to the appeal. It also remains a sophisticated entry-level luxury sedan and is a more balanced counterpoint to the track-focused RS3, making it an easier choice to live with, while still delivering thrills aplenty.