2022 Audi S3

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the S3, last refreshed for 2017, was fully redesigned for 2022, and describes it as the mid-range offering of Audi's subcompact luxury sedan, sportier than the standard A3 but not as wild as the RS3 still to come. Carvana (opens in a new tab) calls it the first U.S. model year of the current generation, with more power, a more digital cabin and broader standard safety equipment, including a new infotainment system with a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and updated digital instrument displays.

Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says both the A3 and S3 use a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder but the S3's makes 306 horsepower and sends it through standard all-wheel drive, and lists a bumper-to-bumper warranty of four years or 50,000 miles. MotorTrend adds larger internally ventilated brake rotors and a suspension lowered by 15 millimeters compared with the A3. EPA rates the S3 at 27 mpg combined and about $2,850 a year in fuel.

NHTSA lists seven recall campaigns for the 2022 S3. Three concern the rearview image: 21V825000, a software error that may keep the image from displaying at the start of reversing, 22V806000, an infotainment unit that can be damaged when the car is shut off and leave the camera display inoperative, and 22V823000, an image that may be blank or unresponsive in reverse. The occupant-restraint ones are 21V606000, rear seat-belt retractors that may deactivate early and keep a child seat from securing properly, 22V224000, child-seat anchor sleeves marked with the wrong symbol, 22V515000, front seat-belt tensioners whose retention force may be inadequate in a crash (dealers replace the seat belt assemblies), and 22V652000, a front passenger air bag folded incorrectly (dealers replace the module).

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, covering power train, electrical system, vehicle speed control, air bags and seat belts.

Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) lists estimated trade-in values of about $22,400 to $28,100 and private-party values of about $27,100 to $31,700 for a used 2022 S3, depending on trim and body style.

EPA rates the 2022 S3 at 27 mpg combined and $2,850 a year in fuel, all with all-wheel drive. The 2022 BMW 2 Series rates 26 to 29 at $2,650 to $3,000 and the Volkswagen Golf and GTI 23 to 28 at $2,250 to $3,350. On EPA figures the S3 sits in the middle of that group on efficiency and is sold only with all-wheel drive.