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Audi S3
The Audi S3 is the performance version of the A3, made since 1999 with a 328-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and standard all-wheel drive. REREV says CarComplaints rates the 2015 as the worst year, federal data shows 7 recalls on the 2022, and Motor Trend says the 2026 lineup is a single Premium Plus trim starting just over $53,000 after destination fees.
What the Audi S3 is
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the S3 as a performance version of the Audi A3 small family car, produced by Audi since 1999 in Ingolstadt, Germany, in hatchback and sedan forms with quattro all-wheel drive, across generations from the 8L to the fourth generation (8Y) from 2020. Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) rates its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder at 328 horsepower and 295 pound-feet, and says its 4.2-second run to 60 mph puts it in a dead heat with the BMW M235 Gran Coupe, both quicker than the Integra Type S at 5.1 seconds. The 2026 S3 is rated 26 mpg combined by the EPA.
Best and worst S3 model years
Federal data shows the 2015 with 2 air bag recalls and 53 complaints, the most of any year, then 3 recalls on the 2016 and 2 on the 2017, and 1 each from 2018 to 2021. The 2022 has 7 recalls, covering the backup camera, seat belts, child seat and air bags, the 2023 has 1, and the 2024 and 2025 have none. Open the 2015 S3 and 2022 S3 pages.
REREV (opens in a new tab) says CarComplaints rates the 2015 as the worst year, and that avoiding it along with 2016 and 2017 removes the bulk of the model's documented problems.
Price and rivals
Motor Trend (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 S3 lineup shrinks to a single trim, the midlevel Premium Plus, starting just over $53,000 after destination fees, that the EPA estimates 23 city and 31 highway mpg, and that it slots between the A3 and the RS3 and competes with the BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe and Acura Integra Type S. Wecles (opens in a new tab) notes a base price of $49,995 and $60,840 as tested, and calls the price its one notable drawback.
Questions buyers ask
Which Audi S3 years should I avoid?
REREV (opens in a new tab) says CarComplaints rates the 2015 as the worst year and that avoiding 2015, 2016 and 2017 removes the bulk of the documented problems.
How fast is the Audi S3?
Car and Driver's 4.2-second run to 60 mph puts it level with the BMW M235 Gran Coupe.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Audi S3 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 328 horsepower across its compact performance sedan body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 1 trim.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2026 S3 seats 5 and is a Compact performance sedan.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2026 S3.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Audi S3
For 2026 Audi cut the S3 from three trims to one, the S3 quattro: a 328-horsepower turbo four with standard AWD and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, now with the full Technology package and Sonos audio included.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
6 indexed Audi S3 model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Audi S3 | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Audi S3 | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Audi S3 | 2025 record → | |
| 2022 Audi S3 | 2022 record → | |
| 2019 Audi S3 | 2019 record → | |
| 2018 Audi S3 | 2018 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Audi S3.
The Audi S3 is a performance version of the Audi A3 small family car, produced by German automaker Audi since 1999. S3 variants of have been produced from the first generation through the fourth generation of Audi A3. Like all Audi S models, it is only available with quattro four-wheel drive system.
Source: Audi S3 (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Audi S3 at a glance
- Production
- 1999—present
- Assembly
- Ingolstadt, Germany
- Class
- Subcompact executive car (2013-present) (C)
- Body style
- 3 or 5-door hatchback, 4-door sedan
- Layout
- transverse front engine, quattro on-demand four-wheel drive
- Transmission
- 6-speed manual or S-Tronic
- Related models
- Audi A3
Audi S3 generations
The Audi S3 has been redesigned in 2006, 2013, 2020, gaps of 7, 7, 7 years, an average of 7.0 years between generations. The current generation (fourth generation) began in 2020.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | n/a | 1999–2006 | The first generation S3 is built on the same A platform of the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf Mk4, Audi TT, SEAT León and Škoda Octavia. |
| Second generation | n/a | 2006–2013 | The second generation Audi S3 - Typ 8P, is powered by a modified and uprated Volkswagen Group-sourced 2.0L Turbocharged FSI petrol engine, with a maximum output of 195 kW (265 PS; 261 bhp). |
| Third generation | n/a | 2013–2020 | At the September 2012, the third generation of the Audi S3 based on the A3 8V was initially presented as a three-door model. |
| Fourth generation | n/a | 2020–present | The fourth generation based on the Audi A3 8Y was presented on August 11. |
Owners filed 2 complaints with NHTSA for the 2024 Audi S3, most often about visibility/wiper (1), electrical system (1), service brakes (1).
Year by year
The Audi S3 across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Audi S3 | 26 | $3,050 | 1 | |||
| 2026 Audi S3 | 26 | $3,000 | 1 | |||
| 2025 Audi S3 | 26 | $3,000 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2024 Audi S3 | 26 | $3,000 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2023 Audi S3 | 26 | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2022 Audi S3 | 27 | $2,850 | 1 | 7 | ||
| 2020 Audi S3 | 25 | $3,100 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Audi S3 | 25 | $3,100 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Audi S3 | 25 | $3,100 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 stars |
| 2017 Audi S3 | 24 | $3,250 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Audi S3 | 26 | $3,000 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Audi S3 | 26 | $3,000 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Audi S3, one model year at a time.
| Step | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid | |
| 2023 to 2024 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Mild Hybrid | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 27.0 to 26.0 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; |
| 2020 to 2022 | 25.0 to 27.0 | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI; | Engines: 2L 4-cyl SIDI |
| 2017 to 2018 | 24.0 to 25.0 | Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S7) | Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S6) |
| 2016 to 2017 | 26.0 to 24.0 |
Buying used
What the Audi S3 recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | equipment (other) | None |
| 2022 | 7 | seat belts (rear/other); back over prevention (sensing system); child seat (vehicle latch anchor); 4 more | None |
| 2020 | 1 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2019 | 1 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2018 | 1 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2017 | 2 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| 2016 | 3 | air bags (sensor); air bags (frontal) | None |
| 2015 | 2 | air bags (sensor) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| air bags | 48 | 56% | 2015 (29) |
| electrical system | 10 | 12% | 2015 (9) |
| fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 12% | 2015 (7) |
| power train | 9 | 10% | 2015 (6) |
| seats | 8 | 9% | 2015 (4) |
| seat belts | 6 | 7% | 2015 (5) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Audi S3 trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 328 | 295 | 3,549 | – | 26 | – |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Audi S3 model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 328 | 3,549 | – | 14.5 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 328 | 3,549 | – | 14.5 |
| 2024 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 306 | 3,538 | – | 14.5 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 306 | 3,573 | – | 14.5 |
| 2022 | 3 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 306 | 3,461 | – | 14.5 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 288 | 3,461 | – | 14.5 |
| 2019 | 2 | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0L | 288 | 3,494 | – | 14.5 |
| 2018 | 2 | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0L | 292 | 3,461 | – | 14.5 |
| 2017 | 2 | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0L | 292 | 3,462 | – | 14.5 |
| 2016 | 2 | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0L | 292 | 3,462 | – | 14.5 |
| 2015 | 2 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 292 | 3,450 | – | 14.5 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Audi S3: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2022 Audi S3 : 7 recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera and seat belts.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | 2 | ||
| 2023 | 1 | not available | equipment |
| 2022 | 7 | not available | backup camera, seat belts, child seat, airbags |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | seat belts |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | airbags |
| 2019 | 1 | 2 | airbags |
| 2018 | 1 | 5 | airbags |
| 2017 | 2 | 9 | airbags |
| 2016 | 3 | 14 | airbags |
| 2015 | 2 | 53 | airbags |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Audi S3 model years 2022, 2023 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Audi S3?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2022 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Audi S3 model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2022 Audi S3 has 7 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting backup camera, seat belts, child seat. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Audi S3 by model year?
2023: equipment. 2022: backup camera, seat belts, child seat, airbags. 2021: seat belts. 2020: airbags. 2019: airbags. 2018: airbags.
Q04Why do some Audi S3 model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Audi S3 model years 2022, 2023 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Climate and electrical.
2022 Audi S3 owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls.
Compared with
Models this Audi S3 is most often compared with.
Nearest Audi models
Other Audi models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 S3 come in?
The 2026 Audi S3 (compact performance sedan) is offered in one trim, S3 quattro.
Q02What are the 2026 S3 trims?
The 2026 Audi S3 comes in one trim, S3 quattro.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 S3 use?
The 2026 Audi S3 is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 328 horsepower across its compact performance sedan body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 S3 have?
The 2026 Audi S3 is rated at 328 horsepower (2.0L turbo four-cylinder).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 S3?
The 2026 Audi S3 is offered with Standard AWD.