2017 Audi S3 first drive: Updated and as good as ever

[DeaGLe^]

Audi delivers a mild update for one of our favorite subcompact sedans ahead of its big RS3 news, still about nine months away; for now, the S3 makes do with some freshening here and there.

We’d guess that freshening makes a better car, but the 2017 S3 is essentially what it already was: a well-finished small sedan that’s good at lots of things and one that delivers rational daily transport without fear of frequent malaise. The S3’s ultimate appeal might come down to brand or exactly how much you believe a luxury badge is worth.

Its 2.0-liter inline-four is carryover and different from the new, 186-hp 2.0 T in the base A3 sedan. The iron blocks are the same, but the S3 has a different head, fortified innards and a different turbo. The S3’s engine is identical to that in the Volkswagen Golf R (a close corporate platform-mate), with the same 292 peak hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. It’s the most powerful car in its luxury-brand class, save the alpha pups: the fully tuned Mercedes AMG CLA 45 and the BMW M2. More on that in a minute.