It seems like 2015 is wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing year for me. A few weeks ago I reviewed the Volkswagen Golf R, an innocuous, silver hatchback with ferocious grip and acceleration that would give AMG Mercs and M-badged BMWs a decent fright.
This week, I find myself in the Audi S3, which is essentially a posh cousin to the Golf R. Although one is a saloon and the other a hatchback, most of the nuts, bolts and oily bits under the skin are common to both. Yes, the Audi uses the same MQB platform, 2.0L turbo engine and six-speed dual-clutch gearbox as the VeeDub, although the tuning and calibration are slightly different, because the S3 is pitched as a more refined and cosseting chariot than the Golf.
It’s understated in the extreme, especially when coated in the Daytona Grey paintwork worn by our test car. Those in the know will pick up on the 18-inch rims, aggressive chin spoiler, side skirts and four tailpipes, but the untrained eye would be unlikely to distinguish the S3 from its more mundane A3 sibling.
Depending on your disposition, this may be a good or bad thing. Glory-seeking attention hounds will probably head straight to ABT or some other tuning/customising firm for an outrageous aftermarket bodykit and oversized rims to ensure heads turn as they drive past. However, those who like to fly under the radar will warm to the S3’s mature, restrained stance.
First impressions on flooring the throttle are that the Audi lacks the rasping, crackling, popping soundtrack that the Golf R spits out. The S3 is moderately meaty sounding, but it’s a tad quiet for my liking. The pipe benders in Audi’s skunkworks could have freed themselves up more when crafting the exhaust system.
It’s not lacking in the go department, though, as the 286bhp, 380Nm turbo four-cylinder engine propels the S3 to 100kph in five seconds, which is brisk for a car with a listed starting price of Dh150,000. Our test car comes with options such as LED headlights, park assist and a leather-bound, multifunction steering wheel, pushing the price up to Dh172,800.
You’ll probably walk away having spent at least Dh180,000 by the time you get the car optioned to your tastes, but that’s still good value for something as rapid and capable as the S3.
You won’t be disappointed by the cabin, which is distinguished by the familiar high-quality trim that’s been a hallmark of Audis in recent years. There’s good use of metal-look finishes, and our test car’s black-and-red sports seats with winglets look a treat, too. More importantly, they do a good job of keeping your innards in place when you’re carving up a twisty road.
Speaking of twisty roads, I figure the S3 should be pitted against the splendour of the Jebel Jais Mountain Road in Ras Al Khaimah (see below), because this ascent up the rocky face of the UAE’s tallest mountain will provide a solid test for the Audi’s chassis, brakes and drivetrain.
The Audi is equal to the task, scampering up the snaking climb with pace and sure-footedness. Although there are only four cylinders firing away under the bonnet, they do the work of six, which means the S3 never feels short of puff. It serves up ample grip, with the quattro all-wheel-drive system ensuring the full quota of 380 Newtons can be deployed, even out of tight uphill hairpins.
The S Tronic transmission also plays its part, seamlessly pinging through its six ratios as you give it the beans. For Jebel Jais, I set the car up in “Dynamic” mode via the multimedia-interface controller and use the flappy paddles to work the gearbox. In this mode, it’s an engaging drive, although not quite as much fun as the Golf R.
As expected, the S3 attracts very little attention as it storms up Jebel Jais, which is exactly what I was hoping for. The aim is to get up and down briskly without ruffling any feathers in the process.
In keeping with its upmarket aspirations, the Audi is quieter and softer riding than the Golf R, so it manages to successfully tread the middle ground between electrifying tearaway and sensible family saloon. If you have a spouse and a couple of children in tow, yet still want something capable of blowing the cobwebs away after a day of office drudgery, the S3 fits the bill quite nicely.
There are other fast four-doors out there that can be had for similar money, such as the Subaru Impreza WRX STI and Dodge Charger SRT. Both these vehicles are plenty quick, but the Audi comfortably eclipses them in terms of quality and sophistication. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more capable and well-rounded high-performance saloon at this price point – the S3 ticks all the right boxes.
motoring@thenational.ae
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