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2020
Audi S3

Starts at:
$43,000
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New 2020 Audi S3
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Owner reviewed vehicle score
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • S line Premium 2.0 TFSI quattro
    Starts at
    $43,000
    22 City / 29 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • S line Premium Plus 2.0 TFSI quattro
    Starts at
    $43,000
    22 City / 29 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Notable features

Five-seat entry-luxury sedan
Turbo four- and five-cylinder engines available
Front- or all-wheel drive
S3 and RS 3 performance variants available
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto standard

The good & the bad

The good

Strong acceleration
Excellent ride quality
Leather upholstery standard
Panoramic moonroof standard

The bad

Snug backseat
Numb steering feel
Gets expensive with options
Convertible is gone

Expert 2020 Audi S3 review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Cars.com Editors
Full article
our expert's take

What Is the 2020 Audi A3?

The A3 is Audi’s entry-level car and is available as a five-seat sedan; the previously available convertible version has been discontinued for 2020. The front-wheel-drive A3 comes with a 184-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while the all-wheel-drive version gets a 228-hp, turbo four-cylinder. Both engines work with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The A3 is also offered in two performance-tuned variants, the S3 and RS 3. The S3 gets a 288-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while the RS 3 is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder that makes 394 hp. Competitors include the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

What’s New on the 2020 Audi A3?

A new Final Edition Package includes black or red leather sport seats with contrast stitching, and a three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles. All-wheel-drive A3s get S line badges, aluminum door sills and unique 18-inch wheels. A new, less expensive Premium trim level joins the S3 lineup for 2020.

What Features in the 2020 Audi A3 Are Most Important?

All-wheel drive has been a hallmark of Audi’s lineup for decades, and it’s standard or available on all variants of the A3 line. The A3 also offers many features found on larger luxury models, including a panoramic moonroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. The S3 and RS 3 have sports-car-challenging performance. Bear in mind, however, that the price of a fully loaded RS 3 can be about double that of a base A3.

Should I Buy the 2020 Audi A3?

If you want an Audi badge for a minimum amount of money, the A3 is a tempting proposition; it has much of the design and driving experience provided by bigger, more expensive German sedans. A cramped rear seat and some austere cabin trim detracts from the overall posh image, however.

2020 Audi S3 review: Our expert's take

What Is the 2020 Audi A3?

The A3 is Audi’s entry-level car and is available as a five-seat sedan; the previously available convertible version has been discontinued for 2020. The front-wheel-drive A3 comes with a 184-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while the all-wheel-drive version gets a 228-hp, turbo four-cylinder. Both engines work with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The A3 is also offered in two performance-tuned variants, the S3 and RS 3. The S3 gets a 288-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while the RS 3 is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder that makes 394 hp. Competitors include the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

What’s New on the 2020 Audi A3?

A new Final Edition Package includes black or red leather sport seats with contrast stitching, and a three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles. All-wheel-drive A3s get S line badges, aluminum door sills and unique 18-inch wheels. A new, less expensive Premium trim level joins the S3 lineup for 2020.

What Features in the 2020 Audi A3 Are Most Important?

All-wheel drive has been a hallmark of Audi’s lineup for decades, and it’s standard or available on all variants of the A3 line. The A3 also offers many features found on larger luxury models, including a panoramic moonroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. The S3 and RS 3 have sports-car-challenging performance. Bear in mind, however, that the price of a fully loaded RS 3 can be about double that of a base A3.

Should I Buy the 2020 Audi A3?

If you want an Audi badge for a minimum amount of money, the A3 is a tempting proposition; it has much of the design and driving experience provided by bigger, more expensive German sedans. A cramped rear seat and some austere cabin trim detracts from the overall posh image, however.

Available cars near you

Safety review

Based on the 2020 Audi S3 base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Overall rating
5/5
Combined side rating front seat
5/5
Combined side rating rear seat
5/5
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
4/5
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
5/5
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
4/5
Overall side crash rating
5/5
Rollover rating
4/5
Side barrier rating
5/5
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
10.9%
Risk of rollover
Side barrier rating driver
5/5
Side barrier rating passenger rear seat
5/5
Side pole rating driver front seat
5/5
10.9%
Risk of rollover

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
12 years
Powertrain
4 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
4 years

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
5 model years or newer / less than 60,000 miles
Basic
1 year or 20,000 miles (whichever occurs first)
Dealer certification
125-point inspection

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Consumer reviews

5.0 / 5
Based on 1 review
Write a review
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 4.0
Exterior 5.0

Amazing power with great gas-mileage

Test drove this car while looking to buy a new car. It had a great luxurious feel to it when you walk in, and it came with a decent power boost. Quattro felt amazing when speeding up, passing cars and around corners. Never felt that i might loose control, even at high speed. Having the navigation/media display in the control unit (with the added technology package) is i think a must and a wonderful feature to have. Also, even though this is an automatic, i had a great response time when stepping on the gas and power on the road. If this car came in a manual, I would have purchased this car. But unfortunately in the USA this only comes with automatic.
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 4.0
Exterior 5.0
1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2020 Audi S3?

The 2020 Audi S3 is available in 2 trim levels:

  • S line Premium (1 style)
  • S line Premium Plus (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 2020 Audi S3?

The 2020 Audi S3 offers up to 22 MPG in city driving and 29 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2020 Audi S3?

The 2020 Audi S3 compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2020 Audi S3 reliable?

The 2020 Audi S3 has an average reliability rating of out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2020 Audi S3 owners.

Is the 2020 Audi S3 a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2020 Audi S3. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

5.0 / 5
Based on 1 reviews
  • Comfort: 5.0
  • Interior: 5.0
  • Performance: 5.0
  • Value: 4.0
  • Exterior: 5.0

Audi S3 history

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