2016 Audi A3 / S3 Pros and Cons: Why (Not) This Car?

	Compared to the CLA
Powertrain performance	Better Worse

Judging from their specs, the 292-horsepower Audi S3 shouldn't accelerate nearly as quickly as the 375-horsepower (up 20 from the 2014-2015) Mercedes-AMG CLA45. But it does. In magazine testing the Audi lags only a few tenths behind. With a hard launch it can jump to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.

This said, the Mercedes feels stronger. The Audi accelerates so smoothly, with so little in the way of sensation, that it's far too easy to overshoot your intended speed. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter four has so much midrange grunt that on two-lane highways I felt no need to downshift below fourth for curves.

And this said, you will encounter lag in the S3, especially at low speeds. The 220-horsepower engine used in the Audi A3 and VW GTI feels more responsive in typical daily driving. To get another 72 horsepower from 2.0 liters, the S3's engine must employ a larger, heavier turbo, and larger, heavier turbos take more time to spool up. At which point the more powerful engine does rocket away. The S3 has a dual-mode exhaust with a sport mode that might be entirely synthetic--engine noises are played through a speaker. It sounded synthetic to me. I didn't care for the sound and turned it off. The AMG engine sounds more authentically raw when wound out, in a good way.

Both cars are offered only with dual-clutch automated manual transmission (DCT). The S3's has six gears, while the CLA's has seven. Transmissions of this type (DSG in VW/Audi parlance) can shift more quickly than other transmission types. When accelerating quickly, the Audi engine braps with each shift, and the AMG engine downright barks. When creeping along at parking lot speeds they (and especially that in the Mercedes) can feel less smooth than a conventional automatic, as they lack torque converters. They're also less engaging than a conventional, three-pedal manual. If you really want one of the latter with the S3's engine and chassis, check out the Volkswagen Golf R.

Handling

Better Worse

Audi rarely tunes its cars to have strong personalities. The S3 isn't an exception. The small sedan can attack curves with excellent poise and grip, and understeers only when approaching the very high limits of its grippy tires (which won't happen often near the speed limit on paved public roads). Partly thanks to its all-wheel-drive system, getting on and off the S3's throttle has a minimal impact on the car's demeanor. Audi loves to use the word "dynamic," but dynamic this otherwise outstanding chassis is not. Plus the S3's steering provides little feedback, such that I did not feel confident when pressing it anywhere near its high limits.

I drove the S3 from Detroit to Nashville and back, taking detours in both directions to include twisty roads. On the most challenging of these roads the S3 was fun, but short of euphoric. I never felt, "I've got to have one of these."

The Mercedes handles with less polish and less balance, but with firmer, more direct steering and simply more personality. Technically the Audi handles better, but the Mercedes can be more engaging and fun.

When fitted with proper winter tires either all-wheel-drive car should perform well in the snow (as long as the white stuff isn't too deep).

In my experience one Audi has been tremendous "I'd love to own this car" fun: the second-generation TT RS with a manual transmission. The upcoming RS 3 will employ the powertrain and chassis of the third-generation TT RS, and so could be considerably more fun to drive than the S3. A manual transmission doesn't appear likely, though.

Fuel economy

Better Worse

For a car that can get from zero to 60 mph in under five seconds, the Audi S3 can be quite economical. The tested 2016's EPA ratings were 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway. For 2017, the S3's ratings have fallen to 21/28 for no obvious reason. Maybe the updates pushed the car into a higher test weight class. I doubt the car's real-world fuel economy has changed. I observed 25 mpg in suburban driving (with a light foot) and nearly 30 mpg on the highway.

Despite its more powerful engine, the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 scores even better than the 2017 S3 (if not quite as good as the 2016): 23/30.

Controls and instruments

Better Worse

Comparing the infotainment controls of upscale cars, I find Audi's MMI easiest to operate.

For 2017 the S3 receives Audi's "virtual cockpit," a reconfigurable LCD instrument cluster that can do just about anything the console-mounted system can do. I've enjoyed using this new system in three other Audis I've tested with it.

	Compared to the CLA
Ride smoothness	Better Worse

When compared to the Mercedes-AMG CLA45, the Audi S3 has no clear relative weaknesses beyond a lack of personality. It has weaknesses, but in each case the Mercedes is even weaker.

Take ride quality. The S3's firm suspension feels nearly perfect on a twisty two-lane road, but the resulting ride can seem annoyingly bumpy and thumpy in town. I'm not sure I'd want to live with it day-to-day.

But, as far as I could tell during my limited time drivng it, the Mercedes rides even more firmly.

Rear seat room & comfort

Better Worse

Same goes for rear seat room. The Audi S3's rear seat can be a tight fit for adults, especially if those in the front seats are tall. But at least most adults will fit. My adult-sized children rode in the back seat from Detroit to Nashville and back without complaining about the amount of space. (It helped that none of us are tall; I'm 5-9.)

The back seat in the CLA provides far less room for heads and legs. Mercedes markets it as a coupe for a reason.

Cargo capacity

Better Worse

Actually, the Mercedes does have one clear advantage: truck volume. The Audi S3's trunk, at just ten cubic feet (two fewer than the base A3 thanks to the AWD system's rear differential), is about as small as you'll find in a car with four doors. Even the CLA, with its drooping rear end, has a trunk that's nearly a third larger.

This said, the S3's trunk was large enough for three people taking a four-day trip.

	Compared to the CLA
Exterior styling	Better Worse

The styling of the Mercedes screams "look at me." Prefer your cars less extroverterd and more tasteful? No one does tasteful and understated better than Audi. The S3 looks much like other Audi sedans of the past 15 years, just with more compact dimensions.

For 2017 the S3's styling has been mildly updated. Most people won't notice that it has changed.

Driving position & visibility

Better Worse

With its more upright upper body, more compact instrument panel, and larger windows, the Audi is considerably easier to see out of than the bunker-like Mercedes.

Front seat support & comfort

Better Worse

The tested S3 was fitted with the $1,450 "S Sport Seat Package." These sport seats, though minimally adjustable, look fantastic, provide excellent lateral support (at least for someone with my 33-inch waist), and proved comfortable even when driving all day. Note, though, that these seats delete the S3's otherwise standard 8-way power adjustments. They retain 4-way power lumber adjusters, but I couldn't quite get the bulge to fit my lower back. Unlike many, the headrests don't jut too far forward.

The $2,250 "AMG Performance Seats" in the Mercedes retain the standard power adjustments, while adding some for the bolsters, so for at least some people they can be adjusted to fit better. In my brief drive I found the driver seat's lumbar bulge overly prominent even when minimized, so I'd probably find it less comfortable on a trip.

I haven't driven either car with its standard seats.

Price or payments

Better Worse

With a base price of $43,850 for 2017 (up $425 from the tested 2016) and a typically equipped price in the high 40s, the Audi S3 might seem pricey for a sedan of its size. But this price is only $3,305 more than a similarly equipped 220-horsepower A3, which seems reasonable. It's $6,850 more than a Golf R with the DSG transmission, but additional standard features (such as a sunroof not available on the Volkswagen) account for about $2,500 of this. Is it worth ten percent more to you to have an Audi sedan rather than a VW hatchback?

Then there's the Mercedes, which starts over $50,000 and lists for $11,000 more than the Audi when both are comparably equipped. The Audi's price suddenly seems attractive. The 2018 RS 3 should cost about as much as the CLA45, though.