Audi S3 Saloon

Until recently it had always been a hatchback - with the choice of either three-door or Sportback five-door models - but now there's a saloon version in the stable.

And for those prepared to give up a little practicality there's no question that the saloon is going to be the one to go for.

On looks alone, the saloon is a beautifilly proportioned and elegant sight to behold. Those classic ‘three box’ proportions and modest outward dimensions are just about perfect, allowing the saloon to sit on the road with more presence, more implied prestige and a defined maturity about it when compared to the hatchbacks.

The interior is superb, too. Those striking and figure-hugging seats aside, you could level an accusation that all S models’ cabins are pretty much identical, but it’s such a good formula that it’s difficult to justify changing anything. The detailing is subtle but confident, like the S-specific grey dials and the contrasting stitching in the upholstery.

Then you turn the engine on and relish the power waiting to be unleashed under your right foot.

There's a tingle of excitement because you know only too well that the bonnet contains the same turbo-charged 2.0-litre engine that propels the Golf R so effectively.

It's almost too eager from standstill, primed as it is to thrust the car from 0 to 64mph in only 4.9 seconds. That's within a second of the R8 fitted with a V8 engine.

Armed with S-tronic dual clutch gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive, with options to change the comfort and throttle response settings and switch to paddle-shifters for gear changes, you take hold of the plush steering wheel beaming in the knowledge that this is a formidable machine.

There's an audible but not intrusive growl from the four tailpipes as you pull away, while a gauge on the instrument panel indicates when the turbocharger comes into play.

So what's not to like? Well, those used to the S3 in hatchback form will no doubt rue the fact that the boot will in no way be as accommodating as the hatchback's load area.

But it's not all bad news here. Te letterbox aperture hides a longer boot floor than you find in the three- and five-door hatches, and that means there’s actually no less space within the boot itself.

And your rear seat passengers will appreciate the slightly increased amount of legroom.

The drivetrain configuration is classic S3, with the engine up front sending its wealth of power and torque to all four wheels. The system is a little more sophisticated than it used to be, though, reacting to traction demands and shifting more power to the rear wheels when necessary.

At the driver’s disposal is that turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine that squeezes 296bhp out of its four cylinders. Fast is a prerequisite for an S-badged Audi and the S3 Saloon definitely doesn’t disappoint, with just a moment’s delay due to turbo lag followed by a gigantic shove in the back. There’s relentless acceleration way into illegal speeds, and a nice off-beat soundtrack.

The latest S3 is nothing short of delightful to throw around thanks to epic grip levels and something of a diet compared to its predecessor. The slightly different weight distribution in this longer-booted model helps to even out the front-rear balance, too.

If the performance is expected of an S3, the ride quality perhaps isn’t. Audi’s engineers have done a sterling job of giving the latest model suspension that is naturally on the firm side but unlikely to illicit complaints from passengers .

Undoubtedly the boot will be too much of a drawback for some, but in every other way this is the jewel in the S3 crown.

At a glance

Model: Audi S3 Saloon 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic

Price: from £33,900

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol producing 300bhp

Transmission: Six-speed double clutch Stronic,driving all four wheels

Performance: Top speed 155mph (limited), 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds

Fuel economy: 40.9mpg

CO2 rating: 159g/km.