2016 Audi S3 Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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It’s a premium brand without an ultra-premium price tag. It’s compact without being undersized. It has slick touches without being gaudy. It drive like a sports car without losing the refined look of a sedan. What is it? The 2016 Audi S3.
The S3 is part of the A3 model line, which allows consumers to indulge in the Audi experience without overindulging their bank account. While the base A3 certainly fits that criteria, the S3 pushes those limits a bit with it’s premium price. However, you get a lot of power, style, technology, and adrenaline for that extra money.
There are a few changes for the 2016 S3. The newly available Black Optic Performance package includes multi-spoke Titanium matte wheels, the Black Optic exterior kit, and Audi’s magnetic ride control suspension system, which allows drivers to switch between three driving modes: dynamic, comfort, and individual. There are also new options for red brake calipers, 19-inch wheels, and a sport seat package. And all of the A3 models (including the S3) now come standard with a rear-view camera, parking system and auto-dimming rear-view mirror with compass.
While the S3 has the same distinguished shape as the other A3 sedans (which have the same basic shape as all the Audi sedans), the S3 has plenty of visual details that mark it as unique. There’s a Platinum Gray matte front grille with chrome struts, aluminum-optic mirror housings, aluminum door sills with the S3 emblem, front and rear diffuser blades, trunk-lip spoiler and quad-exhaust pipes with finishers.
What really distinguishes the S3 from its A3 siblings, however, is under the skin. Those differences start with a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder TFSI engine that produces 292 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, can go from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds while returning 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway. The inline-4 is mated to a 6-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters that sends power to all four corners with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive. The S3 also comes with a model-specific sport suspension and braking system, as well 18-inch wheels with summer performance tires.
That engine achieves peak torque at 2,000 rpm and maintains it through 5,000 rpm. The sport suspension (especially when it’s equipped with the magnetized control system), all-wheel drive, and variable ratio steering help the driver make the most of that ample power on windy mountain roads, rainy highways, or pretty much anywhere else there’s pavement.
The S3 interior isn’t covered in lavish leather and swaths of wood like pricier Audis, but it has a well-designed simplicity with a clear undertone of class mixed with sportiness. The compact size of the S3 is not really noticeable from the front seats, where there’s plenty of head and shoulder room. The back seat is a different story. The rear doors are tall and allow for relatively easy entrance and exit, but three normal-size adults would not appreciate being squeezed back there.
Standard features for the S3 include dual-zone climate control, leather seating surfaces, Bluetooth with audio streaming, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, HD radio, split-folding rear seatbacks, pop-up screen for the Multi-Media Interface, pre-sense collision warning system, xenon plus front lighting, LED daytime running headlights and taillights, and power panaromic sunroof, windows, locks, and doors. A couple of noteworthy options are a 14-speaker, 705-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system and Audi Connect, which allows driver and passengers to use AT&T’s 4G/LTE network and can support up to eight devices.
Safety features for the S3 include anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-pressure distribution, electronic stability control with secondary collision brake assist and traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, an electromechanical parking brake, and driver and front passenger advanced airbags, knee airbags, front thorax side airbags, and Sideguard head curtain airbags.
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2016 Audi S3 Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Memory card slot auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 9 · 180 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 13.4 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.2 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with storage and pass-thru · Door sill trim: aluminum · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Assist handle: rear · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: cruise controls · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 3.44
Engine
Alternator: 140 amps · Battery: maintenance-free
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: quad exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: metallic · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: grey · Mirror color: aluminum · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Window trim: aluminum
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: Auto on · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 12
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: tilt/slide
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: fuel cut-off · Parking sensors: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front and rear · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: height · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.3
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: summer performance
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: multi-spoke
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Power windows: with safety reverse
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Dual front knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: jack · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Bang & Olufsen · HD radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 13 · 705 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 13.4 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 12.2 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with storage and pass-thru · Door sill trim: aluminum · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: alloy · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Adaptive stop and go cruise control: semi-automatic · Assist handle: front · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cruise control: adaptive · Cupholders: rear · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: proximity entry system · One-touch windows: 4 · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: paddle shifter · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 12
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Axle ratio: 3.44
Engine
Alternator: 140 amps · Battery: maintenance-free
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: quad exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: metallic · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome accents · Mirror color: aluminum · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: lip · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Window trim: aluminum
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: Audi MMI Connect · Infotainment screen size: 7 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: range · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Headlights: wiper activated · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 12
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: power glass
Safety
Camera system: rearview · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: fuel cut-off · Parking sensors: rear · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front and rear · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: 4-way power lumbar · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Upholstery: leather
Steering
Steering ratio: 15.3
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation system: touch screen display · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: summer performance
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Wheels
Wheel spokes: multi-spoke
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Power windows: with safety reverse