Verdict
A
Hot Hatch · Germany · 1999-Present
Audi S3
Audi S3 — spec data and generation history.
Years
1999-Present
Generations
4
Segment
Hot Hatch
Audi's volume warm hatch — quattro, turbo petrol, premium cabin. 8L (1999–2003) — 1.8T 210/225 bhp. 8P (2007–2013) — 2.0 TFSI EA113 then EA888, 261 bhp. 8V (2013–2020) — 2.0 TFSI EA888, 296/306 bhp, S-Tronic 7DCT or 6MT. 8Y (2020-Present) — 2.0 TFSI EA888, 306 bhp, 7-speed S-Tronic only. Saloon, Sportback, Cabriolet (8V) bodies. RS3 above (covered separately).
What changed
Era-to-era deltas
8V 2013-2020 → 8Y 2020-Present
BHP +0 bhp
Torque +20 Nm
0–60 mph −0.1 s
Top speed +0 mph
MPG +5 mpg
Generations
Click any generation for the full deep dive
1999-2003
8L
→
1.8T quattro — 210 bhp, 0-62 in 6.6s.
Verdict
B
BHP
210
0–60
6.6 s
Top
145 mph
MPG
27 mpg
Used
$3,200-$10,000
- + First S3
- + Quattro grip
- − 3-door only
- − Cabin shows age
2007-2013
8P
→
2.0 TFSI quattro — 261 bhp, 0-62 in 5.4s.
Verdict
B
BHP
261
0–60
5.4 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
28 mpg
Used
$7,000-$18,000
- + Sportback 5-door added 2008
- + Faster than 8L
- − EA113 carbon issues
- − S-Tronic mechatronic
2013-2020
8V
→
2.0 TFSI quattro Sportback — 296 bhp, 0-62 in 4.8s.
Verdict
A
BHP
296
0–60
4.8 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
33 mpg
Used
$18,000-$33,000
- + MQB platform
- + Saloon, Sportback, Cabriolet
- − No manual late-life
- − Run-flat tyres
2020-Present
8Y
→
2.0 TFSI quattro Sportback — 306 bhp, 0-62 in 4.7s.
Verdict
A
BHP
306
0–60
4.7 s
Top
155 mph
MPG
32 mpg
Used
$36,000-$61,000
- + EA888 EVO 4
- + Cabin step on
- − No manual
- − No Cabriolet
Known issues by generation
Common faults reported on each generation — useful when shopping the used market.
1999-2003 · 8L
- 1.8T sludge
- Coil pack failures
- Haldex pump filter
2007-2013 · 8P
- EA113 carbon build-up
- S-Tronic mechatronic
- Haldex neglect
2013-2020 · 8V
- EA888 PCV diaphragm
- S-Tronic 6DCT mechatronic
- MMI freezes pre-2017
2020-Present · 8Y
- EA888 EVO PCV
- 7DCT mechatronic
- Software updates pre-2022
Rivals
VW Golf R · BMW M135 · Mercedes-AMG A 35 · Audi RS3