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AUTO
REVIEW

The letters MQB won’t mean much to most readers, but to auto- good for a car with this level of performance.
motive insiders they represent the designation for the most adaptable Most S3s outside of North America are hatchbacks, but Audi
automotive platform ever developed. Encompassing a wide variety of found that the sedan body style of the A3, upon which the S3 is
transversely configured front-engine, front- or all-wheel drive Volk- based, sold much better here than the hatch so only sedan versions
swagen group vehicles, the MQB platform underpins models as dis- of both cars are offered here.
parate as the very small (and not sold here) VW Polo to the Audi Q3 The S3 looks sporty and very Audi thanks to a prominent grille,
to the mid-size VW Atlas SUV. In fact, an astounding 45 distinct chiseled head- and taillights and generally understated styling every-
models around the globe are MQB-derived vehicles. where else.
The brainchild of late-great engineer and executive Ferdinand Given its modest footprint, it should surprise no one that the S3’s
Piech, the MQB platform enables Volkswagen to manufacture many interior is small and cargo capacity is, umm, small. The rear seats in
distinct vehicles in the same factories depending on local, national or particular are tight, and trying to squeeze three adults back there is
regional demand. That means that if a country or region has lots of not advised.
young families, a factory can produce lots of Audi Q3s and VW At- Nevertheless, the compact Audi S3 is still an Audi, which means
lases, but if gas prices suddenly spike, the same factory, with relatively that it has a beautiful interior. Everything you see and touch looks
little effort, can manufacture more VW Golfs and T-Rocs. and feels like quality, with the electronic gauges and flat-bottom steer-
I recently had the chance to get behind the wheel of one of the ing wheel worthy of extra kudos.
sportiest MQB cars, the Audi S3 and it was a good experience. The One thing in the cabin seemed odd to me: instead of a beefy and
S3 is a compact sports sedan, which utilizes surprising power and sporty looking gear selector, Audi went with a tiny toggle switch thing
quattro AWD to produce an entertaining drive. Its main competitors that looks like it was stolen from a Prius. Hmm...
are the Mercedes CLA35 and BMW M235i Gran Coupe. Pricing for the S3 starts at just under $47,000 for the base “Pre-
All 2023 S3 models come with a potent 306-hp 2.0-liter four-cylin- mium” model, climbs to just under $50,000 for “Premium Plus” S3s,
der engine, seven-speed automatic transmission and Audi's noted then peaks out at around $54,000 for “Prestige” versions. All 2023
quattro all-wheel-drive system. It’s fast and composed in all types of S3s come with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof,
driving, but rarely exciting. and three-zone automatic climate control. As always, calling BCMS’
Does that sound contradictory? It isn’t. The S3 kills it in a straight Phil Hornbeak will get you your best deal on an Audi S3 or any other
line—0-60 MPH runs take just 4.3 seconds—so merging onto any new vehicle.
highway or freeway is no sweat. But the evolved quattro AWD system Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform is an impressive bit of auto-
coupled with advanced software which limits wheelspin and keeps motive engineering, and I was pleased to sample another one of its
the car moving forward (and not sideways) means that you’re always many progenies, the 2023 Audi S3. It’s small in size but provides a
driving with a digital adult who’s there to make sure nothing unto- luxurious Audi ownership experience along with an appealing level
ward happens. All of the software “nannies'' can be turned off, of of athleticism. Anyone looking at the Mercedes CLA35 or BMW
course, but that takes time and effort and I’m sure most owners will M235i Gran Coupe shouldn’t sign anything until they’ve test driven
leave them on. the newest S3.
To maximize the fun factor, keeping the S3 in Sport mode is rec-
ommended. I found that Comfort mode meant that the car was al- As always, call Phil Hornbeak, the Auto Program Manager at
most sleep walking, and hitting the accelerator felt like waking up a BCMS (210-301-4367), for your best deal on any new car or truck
hungover friend from a deep slumber and saying, “hey dude get up, brand. Phil can also connect you to preferred financing and lease rates.
we gotta go to the gym!” The gym wasn’t happening nor was any kind
of quick response from the S3’s drivetrain. Keeping it in Sport like I Stephen Schutz, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterolo-
did every time I got behind the wheel resulted in a much better driv- gist who lived in San Antonio in the 1990s when he was sta-
ing experience. tioned here in the US Air Force. He has been writing auto
Fuel economy is 23MPG City/32MPG Highway, which is very reviews for San Antonio Medicine magazine since 1995.

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