Skip advert
Advertisement

New Audi S3 Cabriolet 2016 review

The new Audi S3 Cabriolet is fast and sharp to look at, but is it any fun to drive?

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Audi S3
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The Audi S3 Cabriolet fast, stylish and well-built, but it’s disappointingly dull to drive compared to its main rival, the BMW M235i. It feels heavy in corners and while the engine is powerful, it’s never that much fun. Treat the S3 as a quick cruiser and you won’t be disappointed, but a cheaper, lesser-powered model will do the job just as well.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Along with the tweaked A3 hatch, the Audi S3 range has been given a round mid-life updates – including the drop-top Cabriolet version you see here. Like its A3 siblings, the S3 gets new in-car tech and a fresher look, but it also benefits from a 10bhp power boost, bringing total output to a considerable 306bhp.

The 0-62mph sprint takes just 5.1 seconds - three tenths faster than before – thanks to Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive system and 400Nm of torque. It’s also down to Audi’s seven-speed S tronic automatic gearbox, which now has an extra gear. 

The figures look good, but on the road the Audi just doesn’t feel as fast or exciting as rivals like the BMW M235i Convertible (soon to be renamed M240i). There’s loads of grip off the line, and the torquey turbocharged engine provides plenty of performance; but the S3 just isn’t very exciting to drive fast, even with the roof down.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Fabia Estate

2018 Skoda

Fabia Estate

54,119 milesManualDiesel1.4L

Cash £9,300
View Fabia Estate
I-PACE

2023 Jaguar

I-PACE

37,565 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £23,995
View I-PACE
A4

2017 Audi

A4

94,078 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £11,700
View A4
Qashqai

2016 Nissan

Qashqai

98,861 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £6,500
View Qashqai

Best convertible cars

The car feels built for boulevard cruising than twisty country roads. In-gear performance is strong, but rev the engine and you’ll find a lack of power at the top end, forcing frustrating short shifts. The sporty exhaust note sounds good when you’re pushing harder, but it’s boomy at constant speeds and only heightened with the roof lowered.

In the corners the S3 Cabriolet feels heavy, and starts to understeer a bit earlier than its hard-top siblings. That’s the only real difference, though, and the soft-top isn’t noticeably different to drive on the whole. Unfortunately, the S3 suffers from vague steering and a rather uninvolving driving experience, but there is loads of grip, letting you really power out of corners. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The sports suspension on our car felt reasonably smooth on German roads, but historically this option has been a bit too harsh for UK tarmac. Luckily you can delete it at no extra cost - and you won’t miss it, as the S3 isn’t good enough to drive to justify the harder ride.

The visual changes are very subtle, but the wider grille and slimmer lights do give the S3 a more aggressive front-end. The styling didn’t really need to change much, however, as the S3 was already a handsome car with an understated sportiness to the design. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Best sports cars

The interior isn’t too different either, but it does now benefit from Audi’s excellent (but optional) Virtual Cockpit display. This system puts all of the infotainment right in front of the driver, including the sat-nav, dials, media information and other settings. It’s a brilliant touch, meaning you never have to look over to the dash and away from the road. You can customise the way it all looks using buttons on the wheel.

Along with the Virtual Cockpit, the classy design, well-placed controls and quality feel are one of the Audi’s strongest points. Apart from the boomy exhaust it’s quiet enough inside with the roof down, especially if you have the wind deflector fitted over the back seats. There’s a bit of buffeting without it, but that’s to be expected from a convertible.

Rear-seat passengers might have cause to complain, however, as there’s not much legroom back there. The boot is smaller than an equivalent saloon version too, making the Cabriolet the least practical model in the new A3/S3 range. But that comes as no surprise, and is one of the compromises you must accept if you want to feel the wind in your hair on sunny spring day.

There’s quite a bit of standard kit, including LED lights, 19-inch alloy wheels, sat-nav, a driving mode selector (that changes steering weight and the responsiveness of the powertrain), smartphone connectivity and a 10-speaker stereo. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,848 off RRP*Used from £7,250
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £14,900
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,115 off RRP*Used from £14,400
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £1,743 off RRP*Used from £18,900
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution
Connecting charger to Hyundai Tucson PHEV

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution

Half a million extra PHEVs could reach UK roads by 2030 in place of cleaner EVs due to changes surrounding the ZEV Mandate
News
19 May 2025
New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return
Ford Fiesta exclusive image

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return

The Ford Fiesta could be coming back as an electric car, and here’s everything we know so far
News
20 May 2025
Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Opinion - Kia

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots

Mike Rutherford thinks new cars are simply too expensive, but some manufacturers are starting to do something about it
Opinion
19 May 2025