The 2022 Audi S3 Is a Fun Sport Sedan that Rivals the Golf R
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2022 Audi S3 review! The new Audi S3 is a fun sport sedan -- and it's a close rival to its Volkswagen Golf R sibling (among other cars). Today I'm reviewing the S3, and I'm going to show you all the quirks and features of the new Audi S3. I'm also going to drive the S3 and review the driving experience of the 2022 Audi S3.
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It seems ridiculous that in the Golf R they decided - "We have a lot of customers who want to MANUALLY change their transmission" yet they also decided that these same people wouldn't want knobs for climate controls.
@Vux unfortunately youre right. it isnt cheaper for the customer tho when it breaks
@@conor7154 if you drop your car, you might crack your touchscreen 😅
@Vux
I have a 2014 S5. The knob situation has been horrendous forever. Having to press a button, and then use a knob that's shared with the air speed is always a hassle while driving.
@Vux I'm sure it is. Nonetheless, it seems incredibly ironic. Knobs have become associated with regression when it should be complex menus for simple operations that are truly regressive.
My bmw 135i 300hp RWD 3.0 L 6 cylinders twin turbo beats the golf R just with half throttle.
Doug you deserve serious credit. You bring the exact same energy to every single video. It's content creators like you who make TH-cam great.
That’s why he the goat. He should be protected forever! No one does car reviews more entertaining then Doug!
Thank you! I really, truly do love the opportunity to check out every car I review. Like I actively enjoy standing in the parking lot seeing how minivan seats fold -- and I think it shows in the videos.
I appreciate your comment :)
@@DougDeMuro the enthusiasm is so contagious
I 110% agree. Although, I think Doug has a reputation that precedes him at this point. When I think of a car review, I think of Doug. No doubt he's made a name for himself.
@@DougDeMuro We appreciate that you appreciate us! Best TH-camr ever
I love the closable mesh when the sunroof is open. It's nice getting diffuse fresh air without blaring sun. Or when parked in an area with bugs, still getting fresh air without worrying about the bugs.
this is what the Jetta GLI should have been but nope ...
My MINI has that too, and all cars with sunroofs should have it IMO!
More cars should have this
My 17 GTI has this
@@gorgonismztruth1551 i mean it is, it’s just money. You want more? Pay more. Simple. GLI is an excellent car for what it costs. New Civic Si is slower and the Elantra N is more expensive. And the GLI is the smoothest to drive of the three with adaptive dampers.
Want more? Pay more. That’s why the Audi exists.
I'm glad they're using hard buttons for climate controls. I'd never buy a car where I need to use infotainment system just to adjust the airflow
I agree, so glad all those phone makers stuck with buttons too!!!!
@@mavfan1 Every time I see this argument I can’t help but think the poster is making it in bad faith- there’s a big difference between fucking around with a touchscreen in your hand and fucking around with one while you’re piloting 3500+ lbs of steel at 60 mph
@@mavfan1 people are so afraid of change, its unbelievable. People would rather spend 5-10k more for the S3 because it has hvac knobs, when the Golf R has way more features. Its asinine.
@@mavfan1 this is a stupid analogy
Adam, you can press 📞 and tell car to do what you want
Daug is a kind of guy that gives his wife 9/10 weekend score
Dating her he went over her quirks and features before giving her a Doug score
Speaking of the full Doug Score, where is it? I haven't seen it in years!
@@brianlee9233 Yeah, I miss them too.
She’s only a 10 when he’s in her.
@@brianlee9233 Honestly, that was one of the most unnecessary segments, if you watched the whole video. Sure it's good if you want a short and condensed version of the review, but you wouldn't be getting the full quirks and features of the vehicle. If I had to guess, Doug stopped doing them due to it being filler and didn't justify the extra work for the effort.
I have a previous gen facelift S3. Picked it up used for $34,000 almost a year ago. Amazing daily, great tech, and very fun when you want it to be. Very happy with the car overall.
are you a moroccan with an Adidas tracksuit, a fake gucci cap and a fake gucci man bag?
Ikr, they are extremely fun cars. I bought a used 2015 Misano Red S3 Prestige in excellent condition for $25,000 last year and have used it as a daily driver ever since.
@@PaulTC777 wtf
@@PaulTC777 mad
@@PaulTC777 .
I've been driving the 2022 S3 for 7 months now and absolutely love it. Throw it into sport mode to stiffen up the suspension and get higher revs if you want the sport side. Or leave into comfort mode for a fun and comfortable daily driver. Get one, if you can find it!
I bought a golf, and love it, too😁👍 - the are both great cars, with some little differences (Power, boot, materials) and one big commonality: they are great in day to day use and stupid fun to drive if you want fun. I visited friends on the weekend and took the autobahn on the way back…i drove the wrong way and missed my exit because i had so much fun 😁
Same. I've had my 2022 S3 since October '21.. and I love it. It'll hold me over until the RS3.
Yay! Doug's reviewed the S3-now all we need is the RS3 review... when it goes out in the 🇺🇸.
I’ve had a 2015 S3 since new (barely given me any issues, love the thing), and while this interior is much better than the new Golf R, compared to what I’m used to the interior looks absolutely terrible. All the metal knurling on the controls is gone, no stitched leather shift boot, the rear vents look awful and have zero trim, the doors also look much worse…I could go on and on. I have two other Audis that were designed pre-Dieselgate too (Q5 TDI & S6 4.0T), and every time they launch a new generation the cost cutting is really noticeable.
If they sold the hatchback version of the S3 in the US I would consider trading in my GTI.
Trade It Now, VW Are For Kids.
I think the FWD on the GTI gives a lot more drama and cornering fun on the roads compared to Quattro, I’ve owned 3x S3 an RS3 and a golf R; REALLY driving those cars, and I mean aggressively, is actually quite uneventful on normal roads just because of how competent they are. I always felt like they deserved to be on a race track.. I drive a Mk7.5 GTI now and can’t imagine swapping it
@@skeeterlaflare you are funny 😂
Or bring in the RS Q3!!!
Just got an S3 and I've never clicked on a TH-cam noti so fast!! Can't wait to watch this.
Congrats man with this awesome car 🙌🔥
I own the previous gen A3 and am about to step into this new S3. For me the biggest selling point of this car is its size. Its perfect for city driving or carving up traffic and the interior is second to none in its class. Build quality is always phenomenal.
Second only to any BMW or Mercedes in the same class. The interior in my 12 year old 3 series makes the one in this brand new S3 look like a chevy cruze. They need to cut back on the cheap looking hard touch trim and use something more classy
Sadly the build quality in this generation S3 is not as phenomenal as previous S3's
@@flobama3247 Just touch the dashboard on any mercedes and you'll hear enough creaks to think you bought a 50 year old house 😂
@@Rocketed12 I test drove the New S3 and apart from the cup holders which were shocking... most of the interior was great. Doors had the same materials as my current A3 which isn't bad but not great either.
@@flobama3247 but then my 2011 audi a6 blows the 3 series from your era out the park in terms of interior so I guess its different depending on model
Some more S3/Golf-R differences
USA Golf - R's all have adaptive cruise control, HUD, Matrix LED headlights, & NAV.
Getting those features in an S3 bumps the base price up to $52,400 for the "Prestige" trim level.
Add another $1,100 for the adaptive suspension that is on all USA Golf-Rs.
(And as others have mentioned the R has upgraded brakes, and the torque vectoring rear diff that Audi only puts on the RS3.)
Reminds me of my research I did on the VW Arteon and the Audi A5 a few years back. Their starting price were practically the same but I found out that the Arteon had WAY more standard equipment like dynamic turn signals, digital gauge cluster and heated seats front AND back (A5 didn’t even had rear heated seats as an option). Also weird was that you couldn’t get a flat bottom steering wheel if you got Adaptive cruise control so you had to get one or the other( or none since they’re both optional anyways). But guess what? The Arteon got both of them STANDARD
And that’s the problem nowadays with most higher up brands: exterieur looks good for relatively cheap but if you want a luxury interieur, then you have to pay up 🫰
It doesn't matter. Some people just want an Audi.
90% of people won’t cross shop a VW with an Audi.
Yup, you cannot find S3 for $2000 more than golf R. Base model S3 does not exist. It’ll be at least 5-10k more for comparable equipped model.
@@johnnyparker2128 Those people will stay broke and in debt as well.
It breaks my heart that we won't be seeing this drivetrain in a TT😭😭😭
Yo Doug's body language at 1:52 is impeccable. Just a straight masterpiece.
I owned an 8V S3 (previous generation) for several years, and even with the old powerplant and the 6 Speed DSG vs the new 7 Speed, it was a delightful car, especially with a tune. I feel Audi's MMI post B8.5 is vastly improved in terms of navigation and physical control layout. Overall, it was fantastic, I do miss it, anticipate owning one again in the future, and I am sure the new 8Y generation will be just as amazing
Same. I had a 16 PFL Prestige all options car. Typical VW gremlins were present, sold at the end of warranty..
I think the starting MSRP you mentioned for the s3 comes with basically no equipment that most people will get their cars with, vs. the golf R which always comes fully loaded with all the gizmos. Not everyone likes all the gizmos but when comparing price I think it's important to keep that in mind
The gizmos that I just checked on the web site include adaptive cruise, the full screen dashboard, heads up display, memory seats which come standard on the golf but come with one of the option packages for the S3. The audi does come with more stuff being a luxury car though so a direct comparison is hard
@@kenjikenjikenj easy, golf r is 30% cheaper with the same stuff
@@kenjikenjikenj actually mk8 golf rs have different trims one which includes the drift mode which is a extra couple grand and they also had club sports as well so that’s kinda wrong buddy
@@MiguelGonzalez-uq3by are you looking at the US market? I know in other markets the hatchback class is more popular so they'll build different trims. The only options available on the web site in the US are the transmission, colors (3) and dealer installed accessories like mats
@@kenjikenjikenj yup is market but u are saying a mk 8 golf r comes with everything so I had to correct that rq knowing the most popular new feature drift mode is literally a add on for a couple grand more 😂
if there was an s3 or rs3 hatch, I'd buy it in a heartbeat
You just need to illegally import it
Doug points out all sorts of tidbits in his reviews that other reviewers, no matter how thorough, miss. He really brings it.
Bringing back the OG iPod tech into the volume knob. Love it
yes! Audis in park are limited for some reason. This has been case with every car I've had with them, until I got a 2017 Performance RS7. Will go to the red line vs the low 3s you mentioned. Not sure why that has been the case.
My 2013 Ecoboost 3.5 wont rev past 3200 rpm in park or neutral.
emisions and noise regulations, thats why
Does it rev out if you put it in sport/stability control off? My golf r has a “soft limiter” as it’s called unless I turn TC + stability off, and even then, I need to push in the clutch for it to rev to redline
@@brettcrochiere9537 mine will redline if I start it in Dynamic mode which on the Rs7 peformance activates what I think is some sort of ecu tune to bump HP to 605 so that might be whats over riding the emissions comment Christian had
I had a 2016 RS7 Prestige (non performance) and couldn't get it up past 3k in park or neutral no matter what mode I had it in so i think the factory throttle mapping in performance is what lets it red line
To see the evolution and how far they’ve gotten with their sequential taillights is truly astonishing 😂
I drove a B9.5 Audi S4 for 5 months, it really feels like the S3 is the smaller S4 with the engine mounted transversely. Both cars have identical dashboard, infotainment system, 0-60, quad exhaust, rev limit at 4000 rpm, even the hidden Audi Sport badge on the rims! And both cars give you the fly-under-the-radar feeling in terms of styling
"A better place to sit, frankly. Where you're spending all your time" This!!!
I've had my MK6 GTI for 10 years and 115,000 miles and one of my favorite things about it is still the interior. A decade in and the interior still has a quality feel, the materials have held up extremely well and it's comfortable whether you're cruising down the interstate at 80 mph or blasting through a canyon.
Like a tire being the only part of a car that actually touches the road, the interior of a vehicle is the only part of your car you will interact with while driving. VW apparently forgot this little fact, fortunately Audi remembers. Other manufacturers take note!
Even though Audi remembers, they did still cheap out on the quality vs. the previous generation. Sure, the tech and integrated dash are great improvements, they have certainly cheapened out on other things. The older climate control with dials are more refined and easier to use for example.
@@dontcare1894 I couldn't agree with you more regarding dials for climate control. It seems to me dials/knobs were established as the proper way to do climate control in the 90's. It feels like the only reason a manufacturer would change them for something different is simply for the sake of change.
The MK6 GTI/R's are the last gen with a truly QUALITY interior throughout imo.
Surprising it’s held up well for a Volkswagen
@@diablocls55 Haha! I too was skeptical about reliability when I bought it, but other than replacing the timing chan and tensioner at 60k as preventative maintenance, it has been trouble free. I suggest 5k oil change intervals vs the factory recommended 10k or 1 year interval. you're just asking for it if you go that long.
I like the excitement this guy is sharing in all his movies. It's contagious. It's pure passion over there. And I am watching this channel since I heard "quirks and features" ;))))
I’m just saying Doug, your videos brighten the worst days. Thanks for your reviews after all these years!
The angular dash, HVAC buttons and volume controls match the same set up in the Q4 E-Tron. One of the reasons we picked our Q4 over the VW ID4 is the combination of a smaller centre screen and the virtual cockpit gauge cluster which looks fantastic 👌🏻
Doug: It's a very unusual button.
iPod: Am I a joke to you?
Indeed. I see a lot of reviewers that are perplexed by the volume control. Have they never used an ipod?
5:02 Audi does offer a hatchback version of the A3, S3, and RS3. I don't know if it is available in the US, but it is something that Audi offers. If it is not available in the US, this seems more like a US problem than an S3 problem. Nevertheless, this is only a minor criticism, and overall, it is still a great review.
In Europe i see more A3s as hatchback and hatchbacks are more popular in Europe
he said he because it’s for the US audience where there are sadly no hatch
They offer in Brazil and Europe. Americans dont like hatchback. I live in US and I would love to have a nice hatchback. They looks nice and are ligther than sedans.
I knew A3 from the beginning as a hatchback and older gens looked really nice! The sedan doesn’t feel the same for me
@@jalalelyas1057 same, to me A3 sedan looks like smaller A4
Fully loaded Gof R with DSG = $46,700. Fully loaded AUdi S3 with Premium plus= $56,000. It is so abvious that S3 uses more higher quality materials inside since premium brand + 10k more than Golf R
You’re absolutely right. No way we’ll find a S3 base model. Most will have options which will cost thousands more. Good luck looking for a base model S3 for $2000 more. Fully loaded golf R is a great price at $45-46k.
It's the same brand, Volkswagen Audi Group.
Doug DeMuro is single handedly carrying the car enthusiast community through these unpresidented times. Between the quality, unbiased content and the genuinely incredible Cars and Bids platform (really the only place for enthusiasts not to get completely ripped off buying OR selling) this man is a legend!!
@ 21:12, I love when Doug mentions the Kia Stinger…he’s the reason why I ended up purchasing my GT
Great video Doug, you are by far the best car reviewer on TH-cam hands down!
Doug’s channel 🔥 💯 👍
comparing the Golf R, which comes fully loaded, to a base S3 which is super de-contented is kinda not a fair comparison tbh Doug. If you want a non-shit sound system, HUD, adaptive cruise, adaptive dampers etc you're at $55k. So it's about a $10k price difference, same as it was in the previous generation.
But the badge tho
@@MJ_868 audi badge worth at least $2k on its own for sure. babes are more attracted to the ringssssss
I'd say the car looks like its worth 10k more worth at least.
The better interior of the S3 is worth the price difference already. It doesn't matter how much the R is superior mechanically (most users probably won't notice anyways), but the interior is where one spends the most time and can easily tell the difference. VW dropped the ball on the R interior. The 7.5 R interior was way better.
Sure. But you also get the more desirable Audi brand name AND a better user interface for controls -- plus a fully-specced S3 ultimately has more equipment than a Golf R.
great review daddy dough!
Another point on the S3 over golf R side is availability. Try finding a golf R right now. I wanted a golf R initially but couldn’t find one anywhere and VW told me not to expect any coming in. I was in an S3 within few weeks after that conversation with VW.
My mom had an A3 45TFSIe competition, 245hp already felt fast, can’t imagine 300+ in the same car
You can easily get 400hp out of an S3 just by chiptuning.
@@apolloniusbeitsman5444 okay? But how is that relevant to my comment?
Hatchback isn't always more practical. If you're not constantly hauling tons of stuff nor putting the rear seats down to do so. Having the security of a lockable trunk to store expensive items in it, will always be more practical than a hatch. Can't simply smash & grab with a trunk. You can definitely do that with a hatchback. Smash the rear glass, reach in and take what's inside.
Would you not be able to unlock the trunk from the inside of a smashed-in car?
@@ilyaberler5543
And spend precious time searching around for the trunk-release? It's not in the same spot on every car.
@@dauntlessasmr7910 Few extra seconds.
@@ilyaberler5543
Which be the difference between getting caught or getting away with it. Again, assuming the sedan has the trunk release in a common spot. Not all of them do. Few extra seconds turns into a minute of hunting. Long enough to get bashed upside the head by an irate car-owner.
@@dauntlessasmr7910 ok
I’ve got a ‘21 Jetta GLI and I adore the ability to close the mesh screen with the sunroof open (my nearly bald head appreciates it even more so). Underrated quirk/feature.
Super cool video Doug keep it up :)
I love the new interior on these new 3 models, I do like the old exterior tho.
It’s called an A3
@@drippgxd its called an s3....but he's referring to the 3 series for audi....like a3, s3 and rs3 in general
No torque vectoring awd, no cooled seat option, less power and torque than Golf R, no hatchback S3 in the USA = not worth it over the R imo
I agree but the styling is what makes u get it rather then golf r
Power difference is insignificant and other things you mentioned are irrelevant for most people. I would prefer the sedan. I like what S3 offers.
it has torque vectoring awd just like the Golf R
@@SB68SS the S3 does not, the RS3 does.
Keeeep 'em coming Doug
Firs time doug is on time with my life XD, just got my new S3 two weeks ago and I LOVE IT, but in Europe we get a nicer steering wheel with a flat bottom.
Doug, at least mention that there's an A3 S3 RS3 Sportback in other Markets outside the USA please
His reviews are mostly focused towards American and Canadian people. If you want European car videos watch carwow
There is an S3 Sportback sold outside of North America.
The volume control is basically an iPod. Love it
Love that you can close the sun shade with the sunroof open. It’s only on the 3 and I’ve missed it since the day I moved up to a 4.
Doug is the kind of guy to listen to MetalCore while wearing a dog collar.
Bruh wtf hahahaha
Audi kills you on options. I was cross shopping this w/ the Golf R, GR86, Supra 2.0 and the new 230i. The S3 priced out WAY above the budget w/ similar options.
Yeah, that is part of the issue. Base pricing is close, but a Golf R is quite well equipped while a base S3 is pretty basic.
Audi badge is very desirable, though.
Hell at $50k you can guy the 3.0 supra, G70 3.3t, CT5 V, Mustang Mach one, new Z, IS350 F Sport... this s3 would be my last choice in the price range
@@papa_pt true, ill never understand purchasing this car from an enthusiast point of view, i think its more of a luxuary/statement car, something to be seen in. not my cup of tea but may be somebody elses
@@angelmarquez124 like Doug said it's people who just need to have the Audi badge but don't know much about cars.. but usually those people get crossovers anyway idk
I don't know if you have driven a BMW but I've had nothing but great experiences with them (yes even reliability). You might want to try the m235i I drove one and it was quite the improvement over a 230. Good luck
Very nice sporty little sedan. Need more of these. A hatch version would of been great!
15:53 I took that personally, Doug 😂
I think everybody’s favourite moment is when he says “this!”
I like also when Doug says "toggle switch" 😄
Doug just makes great car review videos, thank you 👍
Mine is when he drives the car
When i was in middle school, a brand new 09 Volkswagen GTI Mk 5 performance model was 25k. I just graduated University, and now the new VW's are 50k!
Look on the bright side if Biden gets a second term you could spend $70k
The company just shot up the value of their car
@@Tool0GT92 I mean if that was a selling price of a used car people could get wet over it
Well the inflation since '09 is 35% and add to that that cars are getting generally more expensive since even the chepest cars now got driver aids like lane assist, automatic emergency braking etc. raises the average car price by a lot.
Love the review. Love the channel. Just for fun....my 2006 renault clio sport had the same sun roof configuration, you could have it open and still use the shade blind lol
Doug, we love you Doug
I wish Audi had manuals available, especially for the S models. I have a mk7 Golf & a B8.5 A5 both with 6 speeds. So much fun to drive & the S models world be so much more so with 3 pedals.
I love to see how the front armrest mechanism visible from the back hasn't changed since like 1998.
Edit: same story goes for the floor lift latch in the trunk.
My 00 audi a4 has the same type of armrest 😶
Could it be a design that just works?
8:07 My 22 Gli has that same sunroof design, and when its super bright outside, and i still want the sunroof open, that shade does a lot to keep the sun from bearing down on me. Its a great feature that VAG has!
Love that the solution for radio/volume controls is to use an iPod classic wheel
Doug is the typical guy who instead of singing in the shower, imitates car sounds 😂
Doug take bath
Golf R has heated steering wheel and rear seats plus ventilated front seats, stuff you can’t get on the S3 even on the top $55k model. I’d prefer physical controls for climate as well, but not enough to pay $10k more for a worse equipped, less practical car.
this! I don't understand how people are harping so much on physical knobs and buttons. Heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, heated rear seats, the better AWD torque vectoring system, more horsepower, optional 6speed manual for those that want it, and a hatch? Like the S3 and Golf R aren't even in the same league. Theres no question the Golf R is the better choice between these two cars.
Heck, how does the S3 even exist when the BMW M240i is an option in the same price range? I don't see a world where anyone would willingly purchase a new S3 over the Golf R or M240i. This is the first review of Dougs I am really critical of lol. Wild claims and missing information in this review.
It's wayyy cooler to have an audi over a Volkswagen. You'd pull way more girls in this
@Ed Findlay golf r offers a full blown hatch and more usable back seats. more amenities for hot and cold weather, etc. Not to say the S3 isn't practical, it still has 4 doors and a nice trunk.
@@nickmccarthy5115 I've had a b5 S4, a mk5 R32, an 8v S3 and currently own a b9 S4. I'm married and started dating my wife when I had my R32. I pulled a good one with a VW =)
@@nickmccarthy5115 love the sarcasm, but you ain't pulling squat in a baby audi that looks like someone left an s4 in the dry for too long
My MINI Cooper has the same feature with the sun shade closing independently of the sunroof!
It has been mentioned before in the posts the Golf R comes very well equipped and once you start equipping the S3 you jump into the 50k range....The local dealer had one coming in at $57k. Looking at the build / price of the RS3 I priced one out with the options I wanted and I was in the low $60k range. Again the RS3 comes well equipped.
Cutting costs on rear door trim is not cynical, it's how automakers keep cars affordable. They have to cap budgets somewhere and rear door cards is a reasonable spot. What owner spends their time anywhere but the driver's seat?
But you see it so readily. Might as well have nice aluminum wheels up front and pain steel wheels in back.
Its not even true in this case unfortunately, Doug didn't realize it but while the front door panel is "soft touch" vinyl, the rear door panel is hardtack plastic.
this is what the Jetta GLI should have been but nope ...
@Ed Findlay It also doesn't have an expensive high performance drive train. And no, your GT is not "high performance" with it's tiny 4 popper and FWD..
Funny thing is that he completely ignored the fact that the S3 also has hard touch plastic rear doors jut like the R
I've put 50k miles on my 2016 S3 and love the darn thing so much. I am debating a 22 S3 or hold off a bit and buy the new gen RS3. I might do the latter if I can buy at sticker...
2022 has got dumb climate filters which ruin the sound
@@michaelmich00 not for the usa model.
There a couple of places you can place your rs3 order for sticker, and they ship all over the country.
@@gtrmonkey do you have info on that? I'm debating doing the same but know my local dealership will load the price on the RS3.
@@stain2024 jim Ellis Audi Atlanta is where I have gotten my order in
17:00 I'm glad they used an amber turn signal here and not a red turn signal like other North American-spec Audis.
Why are you glad?
@@aayotechnology In the United States, as Doug mentioned, there is a regulation that says a large area of the turn signal should light up on the first click, that's why Audi can't offer their car with a sweeping turn signal in the past similar to European spec due to this reason. In order to bypass this law, car manufacturers use a red turn signal instead of amber for the North American market which is legal in the USA and some countries, but not in certain regions such as Europe due to safety reasons. Volkswagen, Ford, GM, and other car manufacturers do this for certain reasons, and one of them is what I mentioned earlier. I'm just glad that they didn't use the annoying red turn signal in this car.
Just ordered one. Sport package with sport exhaust. Year end deals were very strong.
I remember almost buying a S3 two years ago. It was so much fun to drive: it was fast, sounded great and looked awesome. But decided to go for a more practical car (Q5) with more cargo space and a tow hitch to be able to carry my bikes. My car ia not slow either with 250hp, but i still think about how i loved that testride in the S3. 😅
Ew
Audis are so vanilla now, esp their SUVs
Lol, interesting to see you here. Love Night Drive.
@@bobbowie9350 was Audi ever not vanilla?
Have one, put it in sport mode and the exhaust note opens up. Also if you preload the turbo in 3rd around 3500rpm you get some pretty nice backfires. Missed out on a lot of things the car offers, 3 different speedometer/tachometer options. Exhaust sound , suspension, launch control adjustments in the personalized dynamic option. Good review but didn’t do the car justice…you didn’t even launch it.
Doug talks too much, to be able to listen to the thirsty exhaust sound, I like theTropher videos on S3, high fidelity sound.
@@angy97 Matt Farrah did it justice on his one take, bought it because of that.
When he was talking about the angles in the interior it reminded me of the episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm where Larry buys Greg a sewing machine for his birthday.
Great video
You're leaving out some important data during your price comparisons to the Golf R. The MSRP of the Golf R is already fully loaded and in order to get a similarly equipped S3 you need to option it out to 53k or more. Then, even AFTER adding those packages, the Golf R includes the following that the S3 does not:
- Golf R has a torque vectoring rear diff whereas the S3 does not. You have to jump up to the RS3 to get that. This is a big deal in terms of driving experience.
- The Golf R dynamic chassis control is far more flexible (up to 15 different damper settings in individual mode)
- Golf R has ventilated seats, S3 does not.
- Golf R has heated rear seats, S3 is front only.
not sure what they are doing right now, but previous generations were like S3 vs GTI as competitot, and RS3 vs Golf R... I am kind of suprised Doug even comparing S3 vs R...
@@mater753s no? They literally have the same engine? Why would they compare the RS3 to the R, when the R has one less cylinder
@@lexxlungull9090 this is why I wrote "previous generations"... thank you for explaining it
@@mater753s they never have? What generation has competed with RS3
Canadians would say it looks like a hockey stick. Doug being a gun loving America immediately says oh it looks like a gun 😂😂😂
BAHHAHAHA... poor timing though.
For context: he’s talking about interior door handles
I had 2 B5.5 A4s, and always dreamed of having an S4. Now I have a B8.5 S4 and I get what you are saying about the size - though I am closer to 450 crank now... hehe
I have to confess, I have never reached the point till Doug gives the cars a Doug score, I’ve always fallen asleep before that. It’s not because Doug is boring, his voice just puts me to sleep.
Ehh. to me the sweeping turn signal is still not ideal compared to the euro version. maybe it’s just me but i can barely see that is sweeping. If I was behind a car like this, I might have not noticed which is a shame since the euro sweeps are so damn cool
True but at least the turn signals are amber
@@nolanfrost2620 very true
Sweet
I got my daughter the 2022 Audi A3 premium plus for a high graduation gift and she loves it. I was impressed so I’m trading my truck for an 2023 Audi S7.
Dougs videos are like Steven Spielberg movies. U can’t skip a second
The Golf R also has better brakes. They went with a larger 2 piston front brake setup. Its like they dont want people to buy the new S3 this year
Mechanically superior yes, but the Golf R's interior is so crappy and not user-friendly that I'd much rather get the S3.
@@dontcare1894 same…. performance is nice but interior is always the most important part of a car too. I honestly really like the S3 and would buy it if I was looking for a new car right now.
this is what the Jetta GLI should have been but nope ...
@@dontcare1894 and miss out on a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, the torque vectoring AWD system, more horsepower, an optional 6speed manual, and the practicality of a hatch. Golf R even has the same nappa leather that's used in most Audi's. But at least you'll have some knobs, right? hahaha
Different markets. VAG knows the golf r will sell more towards track people etc where as the s3 is more for someone that doesn’t care about going to track but wants something fun to commute in
This is more of a Golf R derivative than a rival
because true Golf R rival is RS3
@@mater753s no. VW and Audi are the same company
@@drippgxd yes, and your point is?
@@mater753s bro you said “True Golf R rival is RS3” but they are the same cars. VW literally owns Audi. It’s just that the RS3 has a 5 cylinder. Would you say that an Audi RSQ8 competes with the Lamborghini Urus or Porsche Cayenne turbo S? No, because they are all part of VW.
@@drippgxd wow, didn't know they are all owned by VW, thank your for that revelation :D Yes they share many same parts, but they are not the SAME car. Yes they are very similar, also true. But all this doesn't mean they are not competing. Maybe its my mistake with "True rival" - this I meant as they are on the same level for comparison, not "true rivals (on the market)";
Just wanna say thx. In a world with soooooooooooooooooooooooo much drama, insanity, ego and evil you bring some very much needed stability, lightness and quirkiness to our reality! Thx Doug!! 💙
drove both cars. Hands down grabbed the Golf R. Doug mentioned how close they were in price but that is not accurate at all. For a comparable equipped car the audi is 56-60K vs 48K (yes I did get mine for MSRP - no markup at all in Feb 2024). In addition - no heated wheel in Audi - absolutely unacceptable. No cooled seats either - unacceptable. More power in Golf, way better AWD system and usable back seat and trunk. Love the infotainment as well. I am 50 - have no clue why people are complaining. Took me 30 minutes to figure it all out. Many shortcuts to make things one touch vs scrolling. How many times do you change the temp when driving?? Honestly. You get in - set a temp and hit auto, Im so confused of people saying you need quick access buttons (which VW actually does offer for temp only). Most reviews are guys being handed a press car and spending an hour in it - no way enough time to spend with it and figure it out. Steering wheel haptics rock - you can physically push for a click or swipe - best of both worlds. Again I am 50 so one would think the tech would be worse for me - nope not at all. You also mentioned back seats having the vent in audi - so too does the Golf R - yet in addition you get heated rear seats and the HVAC has temp and fan speed. Once you start looking at all the differences vs price the Golf R blows audi away. If the rings mean that much to you dont bother with any reviews - just be pretentious and buy an audi knowing you just got hosed.
Doug - I'm a big Golf R fan, but I had to let you know that you quoted the wrong torque figure, at least for North America. While the Euro version of the Golf R gets 310 lb-ft, we get 295 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm in the DSG version, and 280 @ 1900 in the 6mt.
Loaded Golf R with DSG and sunroof package in Canada is now $48,645
Loaded S3 (similarly equipped and minus some of the packages) is $61,810
So yeah, definitely not a $2,000 difference, and in my opinion, definitely not worth a $10k+ premium over the Golf R
Did you make sure to set the car to the Dynamic drive setting when testing the exhaust note?
I wonder if they'll do a mid generation refresh of the golf to use the interior gear from the audi.
I’m surprised the RS3 is not out in the US yet, as it has been available in Europe for months now.
Is the RS3 sedan out? Because the US doesn't get the hatchback, so that might explain why it hasn't gotten there yet.
@@damilolaakanni yeah both the sedan and hatchback are out
Doug always making the best videos in the industry
The volume control brings back memories of my iPod nano
love the Princeton shirt Doug 😤 go tigers!!
I’m actually a huge fan of the shift “lever”. I hated all the other designs for it, but the truth is a shift “knob” in an automatic is just unnecessary so this is a good replacement imo.
Agreed, that little level is very intuitive to use when changing between D and S in each Drive Mode.
They should have stayed with similar design language on the interior as the outgoing s3, with the circular cooling vents and the pop up infotainment. That was slick. This dash board looks clunky
Disagree, big round vents look old design, so as the pop up info screen, which most Mercedes still use.
Love the integrated angular screen.
That red looks amazing.
Beautiful thing about the Golf R and the S3 is that you can modify them and squeeze a lot of power out of them
I’ve never seen a car so ugly from certain angles yet so nice looking from another
I like the old s3 design so much more. This car looks like a Hyundai from the side angle.
LS or Coyote 5.0 the world! 2JZ is overrated
@@MarcoElkes Not even close lmao
@@fuhrerhosty you must be blind then
Before the divas get defensive over a car I said it looks good in other ways lmao
why don't you switch the driving to a pov style like everybody else so we can see the infotainment and the street? Would be much appreciated!
I think he dont want to show he drives over speed limit when reviewing cars.
"Hey Doug, why don't you do more stuff like folks who get dramatically fewer viewers than you do?"
@@arride4590 he can blur it out like almost everyone else
@@KXKKX i thinks its just more fun to see him and what he's doing/happening than just see him talking
I was literally thinking this morning that Dougs never reviewed an S3 yet.
I had the B5 Passat V6 (2004), and I bought it due to its near luxury feel. Then the nightmares (reliability issues, as you mentioned), began. I’ve owned 20 cars in my lifetime, German, American, Japanese, and Korean. The Passat was easily the least reliable and most expensive to fix.
I now daily drive a 2018 Miata GT, and while not the most practical car (my son’s Mazda3 works for that), it’s much easier and less expensive to live with. As a widowed father and teacher, I need an affordable car. As an enthusiast, I need a fun car. Germany no longer offers affordable cars.