At this point, if you can’t find just the right model among Audi’s line-up, you’re probably not trying hard enough. The German automaker has embraced the niche, and little epitomizes that as conclusively – and compellingly – as the 2021 Audi S3 Sedan, a fast and handsome car amid what’s already a range packed full of fast and handsome cars.
The 2021 Audi S3 Sedan is quite a special car, we had the pleasure to spend some time with it and boy did we have a great time.

Over the years, Audi has carved its name out in the auto industry as producers of vehicles that have the ultimate combination of sophistication, understated class, reliability, and cutting-edge design. Their latest offering of the S3 Sedan epitomises these features, in its tango red metallic paint splendour.
Upon first glance of the S3, we can’t help but take a moment to marvel at the brilliance in its design, from the strikingly edgy headlights, the small lip just above the grill creating a more distinct look, as well as the extended grill finished off by minimalistic side skirts. With subtleties abound, Audi has made sure that pockets of considered design elements are so well placed that the car’s boldness is unmistakable, while it maintains its elegance with sleek and strong finishes. The 19 inch 5-Y-arm structure style rims, although quite underwhelming for a vehicle of the S3’s caliber, are probably the best in the four rim offerings for the range. Audi may have overcommitted to the subtleties on this front.

Our attention quickly turns to the generous and visually appealing panoramic sunroof, which extends from the windscreen, creating a smooth effect over the roof of the car.
Excited to hop in, we immediately unlock the S3, it responds with a theatrical greeting displayed on it’s Matrix LED headlamps, almost like Michael Knight’s Kit, as the lights perform a pre-programmed greeting routine. The door handles are ergonomically shaped, allowing for a soft and effortless opening of the light but firm doors. We are welcomed by a driver-centric interior, where the cabin is slightly angled towards the driver’s seat, giving you full control of the cabin. No one’s left out of the fun though, because occupants of the car get to enjoy the soft and cool Nappa leather draped seats, which are also heated and multi-way electrically adjustable with lumbar support.

We place our phone onto the wireless charging pod, which faces away from the driver, ensuring ultimate safety during the drive, by limiting distractions from notifications that pop up on the screen. You might be thinking, “well how do I know when someone’s trying to reach me”? Worry not, the S3 comes readily equipped with wireless Apple Carplay, which we connect to seamlessly. To honour the Kit comparison, the latest version of Apple Carplay and Android Auto reads out our Whatsapp Messages and allows us to respond verbally, whilst it types out the reply (don’t worry, it reads this back to you before asking you to confirm to send).

With standard keyless button-to-start technology, we switch on the ignition, and at a touch of another button open the panoramic sunroof to let the bright Joburg sun in. You know we can’t pull off without selecting our chosen playlist for the ride, which we do with ease on the generous infotainment system. The roar from the Bang & Olufsen premium sound system with 3D sound complements the roar from the engine and also ensures that the insulation from city sounds provided by the car is enhanced by clear and crisp audio.

The S3 comes fully equipped with a punchy 213 kW/400 Nm engine, which essentially means it has the power to take you from 0-100km/h in under 5 seconds, and it literally does. We take off quite speedily, and the ride is quite phenomenal. The S3 takes corners with an exquisite sturdiness and has the adequate power, weight and size to switch in and out of lanes without your passengers spilling their cups of coffee all over their seats. The S tronic transmission offers you the option to enjoy the control and more sportier manual transmission, whilst the automatic drive provides just as much joy and performance on the road.
The sports steering wheel gives you full control and has an easy to grip leather wrapping. All controls are at your disposal as you drive, including cruise control which can be set from as low as 40km/h, allowing for an effortless cruise in high traffic areas.
The S3 gets a super thumbs up on:
- Superior interior and driver centric infotainment system;
- Superfast engine at 213 kW/400 Nm and 0-100 in under 5 secs;
- Edgy but classy angled finish to the overall exterior design;
- Comfy nappa leather seats with electronic adjustments and dual driver profile memory and;
- A bonus point for its exquisite engine roar
The few thumbs down elements include:
- Plastic finishes below the dash and around the cabin;
- Underwhelming alloy rim options

Overall, the S3 Sedan is a fantastic car, offering the bells, whistles, and roars. It’s well priced and is an excellent choice for your everyday drive and fun trips over the weekend. Price as tested and pictured here: R987 800.
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