Audi S3 Sportback: The uncontested family car

Since its European debut, the A3 line has added several new trims to its family. Not only is there the three-door hatchback coupe, there’s the five-door A3 Sportback too.

Last September, the German automaker unveiled the S3 sport coupe at the Paris Motor Show and now the company is doing the same with the S3 Sportback at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Audi S3 Sportback

The new Audi A3/S3’s roof is more prominent while being at less of an angle and stretched toward the rear. The rear quarter windows are smaller and are tilted back.

As you would expect, the S3 Sportback wagon stays true to the superb trapezoidal grille, this one including chrome bars.

The vehicle is now 73 mm longer, with most of the difference being in the wheelbase. Its cargo space is up by 15 litres, for a total of 380/1,200 litres.

Despite its increase in size, the vehicle has managed to shed 90 kilos.

The interior has been entirely redesigned and comes complete with a tablet-style display screen that rises out of the all-new dash.

300-horsepower engine

This family car offers the best of all worlds, in that it is versatile, powerful and very pleasant to drive.

The Audi S3 is powered by spunky 2.0L four-cylinder engine with a dual injector system. It delivers 300 horsepower and 280 lbs.-ft. of torque.

The S3 comes factory standard with a six-speed manual transmission, though an seven-speed dual-clutch S-Tronic automatic is available at an extra cost.

Audi swears that this vehicle can hit the 100 km/h mark in just 5 seconds.

The Audi S3 Sportback is equipped with the excellent QUATTRO all-wheel drive system.

The three- and five-door Audi S3s will be presented to the public at the Geneva Motor Show.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the new A3s at the New York Auto Show.