Small Sedan of Serious Substance

The Audi S3 gets some upgrades under the skin, where it counts.

- —Mark Takahashi

THERE’S SHOW, and then there’s go. The refreshed Audi S3 has both, although you’d be hard-pressed to see the show.

Exterior changes for 2025 are limited to fine details. The headlights and taillights have slightly altered appearances, the grille has a new body-colored surround, and the rear diffuser is more pronounced. Interior revisions are equally subtle, with updated cabin lighting and a new shifter among the more notable.

We're more interested in the changes that bolster performance. They start under the hood, where the turbocharged 2.0-liter four gets a 22hp boost to 328 horses, plus 295 pound-feet of torque. A new anti-lag feature keeps the throttle plate open to allow air to move through the turbo during off-throttle events, increasing the response when you press the accelerator. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transaxle sends torque to all four wheels, and Audi claims full-throttle upshifts are approximately 50 percent quicker.