Audi S3 review

Hot hatches used to be about cheap thrills. That's what made the category the Audi S3 slots into so irresistible – you could have a bigger engine and sharper handling for only a few thousand pounds more than you’d pay for an unspectacular runaround.

Well, there are still hot hatches that offer smiles on a relative shoestring, but the S3 is definitely not one of them. Indeed, it's among the most expensive options in the class, although it does come with the firepower to compete with the BMW M135i and Volkswagen Golf R. Indeed, it's as fast in a straight line as a V8-powered Audi R8 from just a decade ago.

You can choose between a five-door hatchback (Sportback) or a saloon body, the latter competing with the BMW M235i and Mercedes A35 AMG Saloon. But whichever body you choose for your S3, you'll get a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine under the bonnet, which feeds 306bhp to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

So, you already know the Audi S3 is fast – but is it good fun through the corners? And how does it square up against its closest rivals, the M135i and Golf R, as well as more hardcore hot hatches like the Honda Civic Type R? Over the next few pages, this Audi S3 review will answer all those questions and more.

And whichever hot hatch or performance saloon takes your fancy, don’t forget to try our New Car Buying service to find out how much you could save on the brochure price without any haggling at all.