S3 sedan debuts Down Under
Six months or so after its S3 Sportback brethren arrived here, the first-ever Audi S3 sedan is available in Australian showrooms.
On the surface, not a lot seems different. The S3 sedan has the same 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine under the bonnet as its Sportback sibling and Volkswagen Golf R relative, offering 206kW and 380Nm of torque.
Like the Sportback, it has Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system and will hit 100km/h from a standing start in five seconds flat while capable of sipping a relatively frugal 6.9L/100km.
It shares a six-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.
However similar they may be mechanically, the Sportback and sedan S3s aren't twins. In fact, not a single panel is shared between the two.
Nor is it simply an A3 with a beefed-up engine thrown into it. The S3 sedan sits 25mm lower than the A3 sedan and, while the improvement will be minimal, has a wheelbase 6mm shorter, which Audi says will see more responsive handling.
More likely to play a part in the S3 sedan's agility on the road will be its weight. Coming in at just 1450kg, Audi says it is the lightest sports sedan in its class, with rivals including the Mercedes- Benz CLA Class and BMW 2 Series.
Like other S models, Audi has given the S3 a range of standard features, including xenon headlamps, special body kit and suspension set-up, sport seats and more.
Ultimately, buyers will probably make their decision between the S3 body variants based on the same criteria as they do with the A3.
Those looking for extra convenience will likely opt for the Sportback, while those looking for a greater sense of style and sporty looks will go for the sedan.
If you belong in the latter group, you'll have to dig a bit deeper into your pockets: the sedan has a manufacturer's list price of $62,200, which is $2300 more than the Sportback.
While the S3 lacks the same figures as more powerful rivals such as the CLA 45 AMG or M235i sedans, it is also a lot cheaper and packs more of a wallop than the likes of the CLA 250 Sport.
Also available is a $4990 S performance pack boasting LED headlights, seats with diamond stitching, red brake callipers and 19-inch wheels, up from the standard 18.
AUDI S3 SEDAN
Price: $62,200
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Outputs: 206kW/380Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Thirst: 6.9L/100km
0-100km/h: 5.0 seconds
