Audi S3

Core summary

European 2024 Audi S3 facelift, Sportback and sedan. Source-based specification and buying analysis.

A used S3 comparison should begin by separating the facelift from earlier examples. The relevant change is not only visual, so a similar registration year or matching badge is an incomplete basis for comparison.

History & generations

Audi announced the updated S3 in April 2024 for second-quarter European deliveries, in Sportback and sedan forms.

Body, platform & design

The refresh changes the front design, diffuser and lighting signatures while retaining the four-tailpipe layout.

Engine & drivetrain

The 2.0 TFSI produces 245 kW (333 PS) and 420 Nm. A seven-speed S tronic transmission accompanies quattro drive.

Trim differences

A torque splitter now distributes drive between the rear wheels. The new dynamic plus mode is part of the update, not a feature to assume on every 8Y S3.

Interior & seating

Choose Sportback or sedan by access and loading requirements before deciding on seats and decorative trim. Bring the awkward item you routinely carry; its shape may matter more than a published volume.

Efficiency & range

Build the cost comparison from the same body, wheel and model-year specification. Keep fuel expenditure, tires and insurance as separate entries so a favorable headline price does not conceal the running budget.

Safety & equipment

Dynamic plus automatically selects ESC Sport and is intended to permit a more rear-led handling response. It should not be treated as the default setting for an ordinary road demonstration.

Strengths

Our interpretation is that the facelift merits a separate shortlist entry because the drivetrain behavior is intentionally reworked. Whether that matters to you should be established in a responsible test, not assumed from the power increase.

Considerations

Request evidence of standard software and maintenance when buying used. A modified car needs its own assessment; the factory specification cannot validate the durability or behavior of an aftermarket setup.

Recommended use

For everyday use, spend most of the test in the mode you would normally select. Evaluate low-speed maneuvering and control layout as carefully as acceleration.

Rivals & related

Compare a pre-facelift S3 with an explicit list of the differences that matter to you. A lower purchase price can be rational if the updated hardware is not central to your priorities.

FAQ

Is 333 PS the same label as U.S. horsepower? No. This profile retains the European 245-kW/333-PS specification. Audi’s quoted 0–100 km/h time is 4.7 seconds.

Sources & updates

Reference scope: European 2024 Audi S3 facelift, Sportback and sedan. Research-based guide; no hands-on road test is claimed. Manufacturer specifications are distinguished from Cariary buying interpretation. Text reviewed 14 October 2026. Sources for the revised text:

https://www.audi.com/en/press-releases/high-performance-agile-expressive-the-new-audi-s3-15980

• Manufacturer reference — European 2024 Audi S3 facelift, Sportback and sedan →Source used for the stated historical model-year specification; not a claim of a current range.
• Photo 1 — © M 93 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (DE) →Resized and encoded as WEBP; original composition retained. Facelift Audi S3 sedan 8Y, front view. European facelift sedan photographed in August 2026, illustrating the update introduced in 2024. The photographs do not establish a MY2024 build.
• Photo 2 — © M 93 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (DE) →Resized and encoded as WEBP; original composition retained. Facelift Audi S3 sedan 8Y, rear view. European facelift sedan photographed in August 2026, illustrating the update introduced in 2024. The photographs do not establish a MY2024 build.

Last editorial review: October 14, 2026. Specifications remain market- and model-year-specific.