The Audi S3 is a compact car built from 2015 to 2026 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in Germany — 100% of those on record. Between 2015 and 2023 it grew 3 cm longer and gained 15 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 5.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the S3 is
The Audi S3 is a compact car that Audi built from 2015 to 2026 — 12 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2023. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid power. Its closest siblings in the Audi range: A5, S5, A3.
Where the S3 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 86 S3s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | WAU | 2015-2024 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Audi VIN decide which of these 3 lines your S3 belongs to. What every character in a S3 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Audi S3 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
S3 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the S3's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the S3 that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 447 cm | 264 cm | 1565 kg | - | - |
| 2017-2020 | 448 cm | 263 cm | - | +1 cm | - |
| 2023 | 450 cm | 263 cm | 1580 kg | +2 cm | - |
Between 2015 and 2023 the S3 gained 3 cm in length (+0.7%) and 15 kg in weight (+1.0%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the S3 that is 15 kg against 3 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Audi S3 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment S3 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Audi S3 have? Power & range
The Audi S3 is offered with 2 powertrains — 2L 4-cyl, 2L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Audi S3, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S7) | AWD | Premium |
| Hybrid | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S7) | AWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The S3 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Audi S3. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | S3 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 19 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 86 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 5.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,360/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 60 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Audi S3?
The S3 is a compact car, built from 2015 to 2026 across 3 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid.
Where is the Audi S3 made?
Across 86 cars in our records the split is: Germany (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the S3 have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2023. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the S3 grew 3 cm longer and gained 15 kg.
What is the Audi S3 warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 4 years / 50,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the S3 reliable?
It scores 5.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific S3?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
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