Audi S3 Sportback quattro 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The 2.0 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, going from 0-62 mph in an impressive 5.8 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 while 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 Sportback 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.

The Sportsback model comes fitted with five seats. As compared to the regular A1 and A3 models, Sportsback models have ample front and backseat room making long drives comfortable for children as well as adults passengers. The models are also equipped with a large boot size which is ideal for long travel purposes - be it road trips or holidays.

Essential for family cars, the S3 Sportback 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, coming under road tax band J and insurance bracket 36.

On green credentials it has one of the lowest performance figures amongst the A1 and A3 models with a EURO 5 emissions rating and a carbon footprint of 199 g/km.

The S3 Sportback Quattro is priced at £31,625 and whilst it does not provide exclusive driving technology, it is a stylish, safe and proficient car. It can be used comfortably for day to day tasks from school runs and grocery shopping to long road trips and holidays and has a well-crafted and reliable engine which gives years of trouble-free service.

The car 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 the S3 Sportback Quattro does not deliver on these aspects. The car is very expensive for a family hatchback and has very high running costs which are not adequately justified by the high performance levels.

For the same price customers can purchase more exclusive and economical models with the same performance and the Audi A3 1.6 diesel models are a wiser investment for families and first time buyers.