THIS, OR A Mk8 Golf R?! (2023 Audi S3 Review!)

IMAGINE YOUR BIGGEST LIFE COMPETITOR BEING YOUR FAMILY... That's exactly the case with the new Audi S3! It has to worry about the all-new Mk8 Golf R, BMW M135i and Mercedes AMG A35...
At $80,000 the Audi S3 is a tough luxury hot hatch sized pill to swallow, so is it good enough with its powerful 4 cyl, AWD and luxury interior to beat out the VW Golf R?! Let's talk about it!
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⚠️ Watch me next ⚠️
- Mk8 VW Golf R Review
• 2022 VW Golf R Review:...
- Cupra Formentor Review
• BREAKTHROUGH SUV At a ...
- I bought and modified a broken Golf GTI!
• I Bought a CHEAP VW Go...
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Here on Matt Brand Cars, I review every new car on the market. We are a community of sauce givers and we'd love for you to subscribe and join our community!
I give every car "the sauce", test their 0-100km/h, and see whether or not they are worth purchasing and spending your hard-earned cash on.
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[@ohheyitskevinc]

I have a 2016 S3 and honestly wouldn’t give it up. Also, I think the interior on mine and the facelift after it was better with the pop up screen. Zero problems with it too. Individual mode is great where you can mix dynamic and comfort settings. Nice review!

[@quadcoreQ]

good thorough review thanks guys

[@jollybrandx9955]

Nice work gents, I’d go the S3 over the R purely on the daily driver argument. People talk about track times but at the end of the day most of us will only ever use our cars full capability rarely if ever on backroads😉 Looking forward to the RS3 review!

[@adrianbetts3242]

Love this channel. It’s like having Luka Doncic with an Aussie accent reviewing cars! 😅 Keep up the good work Matt!

[@samsimmons2831]

😅

[@_Pet_Tech]

The interior looks so much cheaper than the previous 8V generation.

[@tholinhlanhlazondo3787]

Great video 👍👍💯

[@chm1701]

Nice. Although on paper, the Golf R makes more sense, I just can’t get over the touchscreens, so it’s the S3 for me. As a side note, any idea when you’re getting the RS3 to have some fun with?

[@CarSauce]

🎉 Get THE BEST FINANCE DEALS & a $150 Fuel Card for EVERY settled loan through Driva! 🎉 Use my link here: pages.driva.com.au/p/car-loans?category=affiliate

[@philwhatever3903]

Correctiom,…….The S3 does have a twin clutch DSG system (S+tronic) i know because im paying Audi this week for my DSG service!! 😂😂 Im not sure of the Petrol (gas) octane levels in Aus,…….but i have a 2017 facelift 3 door hatchback. It weighs 1430KG which is about 100KG less then the Golf R (8th gen) in the UK we use 99ron fuel (Shell-Vpower) In the My Audi app that you register when an owner of an Audi, my car is book 4.5 seconds 0-60 mph it does it in 4.1 seconds and its completely stock! So its also a little quicker then the golf r. Whilst on corrections id also like to point out that, as from 2017 Audi S3s became rear wheel Bias whilst in dynamic mode. Before 2017 it was as you said front wheel bias. Aside these little things great video guys i really enjoyed it! 😊👍

[@KiratSingh01]

The only issue is the price. These are touching 90k with the premium plus option pack. Lot of money for a compact car

[@Stevegrande1]

It’s on our list for next year when we update the wife’s merc. She currently has the sun yellow, not sure if we will go yellow again or not.

[@slavstojnic7279]

@CarSauce Hey Matt we still getting a second review like you promised last week? Plus Congratulations on first video under the new CarSauce name

[@marccyberwiz]

US market wont see the S3 hatchback 😟

[@warrenkinnear8177]

I hope the 2024 LCI improves the quality of the interior materials.

[@mspeed2441]

Great review, but any Audi test where you mention or compare a VW model simply dilutes any brand image I have of Audi.

[@whatthe6532]

So. That’s what it is.

[@Truthfulnerd]

I'll be watching again in highest res. Sauce and all.

[@CarSauce]

Haha - it will be worth it!

[@Truthfulnerd]

@@CarSauce it always is. Thanks for the content guys.

[@matthewjudge7627]

Or a Cupra? 😊😊

[@syahrixky3927]

review a rs3 please

[@spinnetti]

Only reason to get the Golf is the manual trans.... I loved my S3, but ultimately sold it because it wasn't a manual.

[@TheJakayy341]

Did you post this yesterday and then take it down again?

[@Truthfulnerd]

Was only uploaded in 360p.

[@CarSauce]

Yes! I had to reupload so it would not be potato quality 😂

[@matbarber]

I was wondering why it was such shit quality yesterday, thought it was my connection 🤣

[@billx4266]

In my country the s3 costs less then a golf R

[@RickinHKG]

I must have missed the answer ........... THIS, OR A Mk8 Golf R?! Perhaps the S4 Avant?

[@scottpaul9779]

M135i over both, much nicer inside and better value for your money

[@manjitmann941]

I had for past 3 months this is my second s3. Few of the disappointing things. no wireless Android auto (big pain) no lane departure warning or 360 camera (the mirrors are small so can't see nothing).be careful at macca's. Otherwise cracker of a car.

[@sevenre8119]

Intercooler to cool the turbo, huh? Ok..

[@fzr1000981]

Turbo discharge...happy now?

[@sevenre8119]

@@fzr1000981 Lol, do you even know anything about cars? Try again...

[@ElNarros]

Bit of a late response. I had my heart set on an RS3, it had a 2 year wait list and was the wrong side of 100k so I looked at the s3. Took one drive and to say it was underwhelming was an understatement. It looked like a slightly nicer version of any bog standard hire car. The drive was generic and I felt it was 20k more than what it should of been. Ended up buying a Genesis GV70.

[@lexman8678]

A GV70 lol what an idiot 😂

[@Feral2k4]

4.92 ? I got 4.24 on my 2022

[@luciussander8217]

Of course you did 🤣

[@Feral2k4]

@@luciussander8217 ain’t funny

[@trcs3079]

S3 because it's already cheap enough, let alone a VW

[@jamesrad6317]

Good review. One concern. "Quattro: that's just what the call their, tuning, I guess, of the Haldex all-wheel drive system?" Do you have any actual awareness of the legacy of the 'Quattro' branding? If not, please buy a book about it 🙂

[@jr800w]

Golf R interior stinks. The only advantage is the new AWD system which is not equipped in the S3

[@OldManShoutsAtClouds]

New AWD, new rear diff, lighter, more aggressive gearing... And in what world does the Golf R interior "suck"? Wtf kind of golden spoon was your fancy ass born with? Yikes.

[@luciussander8217]

Golf has a boy racer image. Audi S3 more grown up. Both a bit dull. Just get the RS3 and be done with it.

[@mohammadsattar5488]

"Fist me " ???? Really ??? I mean phrasing has some clear do's and dont's and was a don't

[@modernbride]

This is a better car stock . Golf R needs work plus sound system in R sucks and Bang & Olufson rocks hard-core I would hatchback the S3 and break it in only for years

[@mharro88]

What work does it need lol

[@modernbride]

@@mharro88 shock absorbers dampening buttons unlike S3 hatchback. Although in usa 🇺🇸 due to no hatchback S3 the golf R remains the winner I had many many many problems with my mk7 golf R but never with my audis

[@modernbride]

Low profile tires in Los Angeles and California is so freaking wrong and everyone thinks it's the way to go . Similar problems with golf r and its tiny components that break often

[@mharro88]

@@modernbride the golf r is 100% the more performance vehicle. I'd be taking this to the track over a S3 lol. Personally I wouldn't buy either of them. Test drove them all and the Hyundai N sedan was more fun and better value.

[@modernbride]

@@mharro88 honestly the Hyundai chassy is extremely amazing and for track is the best one if it had a bit more power . The golf R I'm sure with a small tune and downpipe and turbo outlets bigger shall seal the next decade . But remember to change oil every 5k miles or sooner

[@mharro88]

Neither. A Hyundai N sedan

[@mattyoz0]

lol. garbage interior quality.

[@mharro88]

@@mattyoz0 how's it garbage? It's well built , sure there's a bit more plastic , just as comfortable, looks just as modern in the sedan and 10-15k cheaper it's trackable and 100% more fun. It would smash it around a track as well. I know what I'd pick. Driven both and found the S3 boring

[@mattyoz0]

@@mharro88 Because it is garbage. Every review has said the sedan has worse build quality than the hatch and the hatch isn't much better! if that's what you can afford go for it, but it's not good enough for me.

[@mharro88]

@@mattyoz0 every review? Not one review has said the interior is garbage anywhere .. So I take it you haven't sat in it? Lol it's hardly garbage .. it's not that I can't afford a S3 it's that I prefer the performance out of the N sedan, it's a compromise I'm willing to take for a more raw and fun vehicle. Interior isn't my number one priority and it's also lighter than the hatch. The tech and comfort is just as good, touch points are all soft what else do you need. I'll take a more performance oriented vehicle anyday. It also has a better interior than a golf r 100% if that's your concern. I've driven all three and the golf r is hard to beat with the N sedan close for a car without AWD. The S3 is a joke compared to the other 2 considering its price.. if price isn't a issue for you get a RS3 then

[@mattyoz0]

@@mharro88 I love how you think the N is the pinnacle of performance. it's FWD. If you want a fwd car get the new civic, it destroys the N all while having a top quality interior.