Performance Review: Audi A3 S3 Saloon - [2020]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Audi A3 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Audi A3 S3 Saloon is the 7 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2020. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2021 McMurtry Speirling Goodwood and the 2021 Rimac Nevera 1888bhp Electric AWD.This particular Audi A3 has a 1984cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The A3 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the A3's Front Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1570 kgs (3461 lbs) this makes the Audi A3 S3 Saloon in the same weight category as the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 or the give or take 50kg.

The Audi A3 shares the same bhp with the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp)

In terms of power the 1984cc 16V St4 engine produces 288 bhp (214 kW) @ 5400 rpm similar to the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 280 lb-ft (379.6 Nm) @ 1900 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Circuit Edition 1.6 Turbo (273 lb-ft) or the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (295 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Audi A3 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 1966 Oldsmobile Starfire 7.0 V8 (208.4 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A3.

The Audi A3 has a Power to weight ratio of 183.4 bhp per ton and 178.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2020 A3 competing with the 1966 Oldsmobile Starfire 7.0 V8 (208.4 bhp per ton) or the 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 996 (208.4 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Audi A3 generating around 178.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1996 Subaru Impreza WRX Type RA - Classic JDM (203.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 2006 Audi R8 4.2 FSI Quattro V8 (203.2 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.60 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.8 secs, this made the Audi A3 S3 Saloon as fast as the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (4.60 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (4.60 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i 3.0 Cabrio Turbo F23 (4.60 secs) the or the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD (4.60 secs). This Audi A3 S3 Saloon is also faster than the 2022 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo ALL4 (4.70 secs) the 2020 BMW X4 M40d 3.0 Turbo (4.70 secs) the 2020 KIA Stinger GT 3.3 V6 Turbo AWD (4.70 secs) the and the 2020 KIA Stinger GT2 3.3 V6 Turbo (4.70 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A3 and the 2009 Volkswagen-VW Golf 2.0 R DSG

When talking about the performance of the Audi A3 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.26 secs @ 95.9 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2009 Volkswagen-VW Golf 2.0 R DSG (14.20 secs), the 1998 Subaru Impreza 2.0 Turbo UK - Classic (14.20 secs), and the 2001 Volkswagen-VW Passat 4.0 W8 4Motion (14.20 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2020 version of the Audi A3 S3 Saloon has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2020 A3 equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2020 Audi A3 S3 Saloon then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2020 A3 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Audi

Car Comparison