The 2025 Audi S3 Seems To No Longer Be Nerfed

When the fourth-generation S3 launched in 2021, the vibes were off. Not only had the Volkswagen Golf R stolen its thunder with an astonishing new differential, it was also thousands of dollars cheaper, made slightly more horsepower, and rode on the same platform. As a performance proposition, the old Audi S3 lost its shine in the face of its little brother, ending up in an awkward spot. Now though, Audi’s dropped in the good stuff, and the new 2025 Audi S3 seems to be reaching performance parity with Volkswagen’s ultra-hatch.

It starts with an absolute party piece, the electronically-controlled differential from the RS3 and Golf R that Audi calls a “torque splitter.” Not only can this differential send 100 percent of rear axle torque to a single rear wheel thanks to a pair of clutch packs, but it also makes it possible to powerslide a Volkswagen Golf R on dry tarmac, so expect similar behavior on the S3. While Audi was underneath the new S3, it also stiffened up some suspension bushings, increased front-end negative camber, tweaked the calibration of the available adaptive dampers, widened the front brake discs by 4 mm, and added a few new tire options including one from Falken.

It’s wild to see a tire manufacturer known for solid value, Formula Drift team sponsorship, and sticky 200-treadwear aftermarket gumballs supplying original equipment on an Audi, but it’s just the latest frontier in Falken’s OEM push. As tire technology continues to advance and newer players continue to improve output and performance, expect to see more of this in the industry.

Adding some extra thrust to go with the chassis enhancements, the two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the S3 now spits out 328 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, gains of 22 horsepower and 15 lb.-ft. of torque. While that doesn’t sound huge, when combined with beefier clutch packs in and faster shifts from the seven-speed DCT, and clever engine calibration to keep the turbocharger producing consistent boost under partial load, it should make a real world difference.

A facelift usually comes with tweaked styling, Audi’s done some work cleaning up details. The front grille is more rounded than before, while the front fascia sees the vertical black accents between the main single-frame grille and the outer bumper grilles disappear, simplifying the down-the-road graphic. Around back, the faux corner vents in the rear bumper have shrunk, although a new textured rear valence has appeared to fill the void. Overall, the end result is a slightly more mature-looking S3, in keeping with the junior executive vibes of this segment.

On the inside, a simplified low-profile electronic shifter, enhanced mood lighting, extra air vent brightwork, and more textiles add a touch of extra pizazz to an entry-level premium cabin. It’s still not as beautifully sculptural of a dashboard as the one in the Mazda 3, but this is definitely a quicker car. While I wish Audi would replace the capacitive touch volume wheel that works a bit like an early iPod’s scroll wheel with a physical knob, one look inside the Volkswagen Golf R suggests that things could indeed be worse.

For the 2025 model year, the Audi S3 no longer seems content in living in the performance shadow of the Volkswagen Golf R. A new rear differential (pictured above), extra power, and tweaked suspension should all go a ways into persuading old S3 owners back into the house of four rings, all while attracting new owners who don’t want to feel shortchanged in equipment versus a Volkswagen built on the same platform. On paper, it’s the car it was always meant to be, and it should make a few Audi enthusiasts very happy indeed.

 

(Photo credits: Audi)

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