24/06/10

• Price£29,450
• We like...Class; effortless pace
• We don't...Costly extras

This is the most expensive A3 you can buy. On the face of it, spending £30,000 on a modestly-sized car – even one with an upmarket badge on its nose – is not something to be undertaken lightly.

The way we see it is like this: that much money puts you in a sweet spot to consider plenty of other tempting machinery. A BMW 330i SE saloon is as powerful and is yours for a similar amount. Or Volkswagen’s pretty Scirocco coupe in top-spec R form is up there, too and costs £2000 less.

So is the S3 worthy of your cash? Let’s see. First, neither of the cars that we have just mentioned offers four-wheel drive as the S3 does. But then that needn’t be a must-have unless you live somewhere remote and hilly. It does, however, let you shift the S3 from standstill more quickly than feels decent. Without drama or even a chirp from the tyres – it just does it.

And it is this no-fuss; can-do take on performance driving that is the car’s essence. The six-speed gearbox is quicker and slicker than in other A3s, the better to make light work of slotting through the ratios quickly. The four-cylinder turbocharged spins easily and without even a hint of its tuned temperament. What you will get though and enjoy is a pleasing exhaust rattle that’s there even at low speeds.

But while the S3 shows flashes of character, it’s more about moving quickly, smoothly and quietly over long distances. And this is where it excels. It is an easy drive. There’s a reassuring weight to the wheel gears and pedals but it’s never enough for you to feel that driving presents a challenge.

For that reason, the S3 risks becoming a licence-loser. What I mean is that it’s possible, unless you keep a sharp eye, to find yourself breaking every speed limit. Not that the S3’s hard to drive slowly (it isn’t), more that it is just so easy to drive fast.

The S3 also rides beautifully: firm and confident but always comfortable. There’s a switch between the seats to put the suspension to the ‘Sport’ setting but it firms things up to no obvious benefit. Left off, the S3 blends comfort and control correctly. Our advice? Leave the switch be.

Like every other A3, it is easy to live with. It uses the underpinnings from the Volkswagen Golf so it is only a little longer than that car and offers up similar space inside for passengers and luggage. There’s enough room for five grown-ups and sensible luggage space, while the rear seats drop easily to increase space. The cabin fittings are top drawer throughout and we love the chromed rings around the dash vents that swivel to control air flow.

It’s one classy act, and the five-door (which Audi calls Sportback) is worth the small premium you’ll pay over the three-door model because it is so much more practical.

Should you buy one? Probably. Its understated may leave you thinking you do better for your money. But when it comes to the fun of driving, and the ease of a long journey quickly covered, it really is among the best at its price tag.


* Insurance rating given below uses new 1-50 groups system

• Engines2.0 turbocharged petrol
• Power265bhp
• 0-60 mph5.8secs
• Economy27.7mpg
• CO2g/km199
• Insurance groups36*
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags7
• Seats5

Motors.co.uk value verdict: