The four-ringed automaker from Ingolstadt has revised the A3 Sedan and S3 Sedan for the 2025 model year. Excluding the $1,295 shipping fee, prices in the United States start at $38,200 for the less powerful A3 and $48,700 for its faster sibling.
Due to hit dealer showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2024, the refreshed A3 and S3 both come with quattro all-wheel drive by default. However, not all quattro systems are created equal. The A3 sports the Haldex type All-wheel drivewhich means that a device called AOC (Active On-demand Coupling) transfers available torque to the rear wheels when the front ones start to slip.
Moving up to the spicier S3, you get what’s known as a torque splitter. Technically similar to the RS 3’s torque splitter, this guy uses two electronically controlled multi-plate clutches—one for each rear driveshaft—for a finer distribution of torque between the rear wheels. In driving scenarios that involve hard cornering, the system is designed to direct more torque to the outside rear wheel for slightly sharper steering.
Equipped with the 2.5-liter TFSI, the RS 3 sweetens the deal even further with what’s called RS Torque Rear drift mode. Instead of sending all the torque to the rear wheels, it channels 50 percent of it, with 100 percent going to the outside wheel for a more oversteer-oriented balance. In fact, the 2025 Audi S3 Sedan can do this, too.
Both the A3 and S3 are two-pedalers, because Audi couldn't support anything other than the S tronic dual-clutch transmission. The Volkswagen Group's EA888 series four-cylinder turbo engine powers both the A3 and S3, although the S3 has a considerable edge with 328 horsepower to the A3's 201.
Photo: Audi
Peak torque is rated at 236 and 295 lb-ft, respectively, or 320 and 400 Nm if you prefer metric units. The A3 range comprises the Premium and Premium Plus trim levels, while the S3 steps up a notch with the Prestige. At launch, the S3 Sedan Prestige will set you back a cool $54,900 plus $1,295 destination charge.
Refreshed inside and out, the 2025 model comes with more standard goodies than its predecessor, starting with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with multifunction plus, the ambient lighting package, and a front center armrest that is adjustable for both length and angle. When it comes to infotainment solutions, 10.1 inches of touchscreen will have to do the trick.
The S3 boasts an even more extensive standard kit. Fitted with 225/40 x 18-inch tires and optionally available with 235/35 x 19-inch tires, the S3 sits 0.6 inches (15 millimeters) lower to the ground thanks to the S sport suspension. Audi has also raised the idle speed of the 2.0-liter TFSI engine by 200 rpm (to 1,300 rpm) to improve acceleration off the line.
Limited to 155 mph (250 kilometers per hour), the S3 develops peak torque across a wider engine speed range, with Audi quoting 2,100 to 5,500 rpm compared to 3,000 to 5,400 in the pre-facelift S3. On that note, Audi also says the A3 reaches 60 mph (97 kilometers per hour), a respectable 0.3 seconds quicker than before thanks to the standard quattro all-wheel drive, with the A3 clocking 60 in 6.0 seconds.