Audi S3 Pre Model quattro 3dr Car Review - February 2012

The 1.8 petrol engine gives the car a significant power boost of 261 bhp at 6000 rpm with torque figures of 258 lb-ft at 2500-5000 rpm. The car delivers poor mileage at just 33.2 mpg but performance is strong for a family car: with a top speed of 155 mph, accelerating from 0-62 mph in an impressive 5.7 seconds.

The car’s soft suspension and distribution of power of all four wheels gives the driver firm and comfortable control over the car. However, its light steering lacks feel and gear changes can sometimes be very resistant. Wind and road noises whilst driving are audible but not excessive.

The front seats are comfortable, fully adjustable and supportive but taller drivers can find the strut on the centre console uncomfortable as it digs into their knees.

The S3 Quattro looks very stylish for a medium family car with an attractive exterior and a well crafted cabin with comfortable leather seats. The car comes fitted with high end driving tech including climate control, stability control, alloy wheels, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, Bluetooth, MP3 connectivity and an advanced stereo system.

Whilst the front seats have ample room the rear seats are limited on space making long drives uncomfortable for adult passengers. The car is equipped with a good sized boot which makes it ideal for long travel purposes.

Essential for family cars, the S3 Quattro comes equipped with a top of the range safety kit with a five out of five NCAP rating. It consists of standard driver, front side and passenger side airbags along with an alarm and immobilizer to deter theft.

The car comes with a three year warranty with 60,000 miles. It incurs the highest running costs when compared to the Audi A1 and A3 models, falling under road tax band J and insurance bracket 36.

On green credentials it has the lowest performance amongst the A1 and A3 models with a EURO 5 emissions rating and a hefty carbon footprint of 198 g/km.

The S3 Quattro is priced at £31,065 and whilst it does not provide exclusive driving technology, it is a stylish, safe and proficient car for families.

The car can be used comfortably for day to day tasks from school runs and grocery shopping to long road trips and holidays. It has a well-crafted and reliable engine which gives years of trouble-free service and it continues to pay for itself as it enjoys good dealer services as well as Audi’s excellent quality and reliability. The combination of the car’s popularity, performance and the Audi brand gives it excellent resale values.

Customers buying family cars require good fuel economy and low running costs over speed and unfortunately this car fails to deliver. The car is very expensive for a family hatchback and has high running costs that are not adequately justified by the strong performance.

For the same price customers could purchase more exclusive and economical models with the same performance. As family cars are long-term investments the S3 Quattro is not a good choice and drivers would be better off with a rival model.