Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 S3.
The 2026 Audi S3, fitted with an automatic AM-S7 transmission, delivers EPA fuel economy of 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. With just one owner complaint on record—focused on forward collision avoidance and lane departure systems—and a single recall, this model year matches the lowest complaint count in the model’s 2015–2024 history, equaling the 2020 model year’s one complaint. That positions the 2026 S3 at a low point in the model’s reliability record, continuing the downward trend from the 2015 peak of 52 complaints.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (AM-S7) |
| Overall length | 177.2 in |
| Overall width | 71.7 in |
| Overall height | 56.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 103.5 in |
| Curb weight | 3483 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 61 / 60.2 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 58/42 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 23 / 31 / 26 mpg |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 87 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 8 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the S3 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Prestige Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 4.20 sec | 12.80 sec | 328 hp | AWD |
| 2025 | Prestige Sedan (S Sport) 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 4.40 sec | 12.90 sec | 328 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | Premium Plus Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 4.30 sec | 12.90 sec | 306 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | Prestige Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 4.30 sec | 12.90 sec | 306 hp | AWD |
| 2022 | Premium Plus Sedan 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 4.60 sec | 13.20 sec | 306 hp | AWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record traces a steep generational decline in complaints, falling from 52 in 2015 to zero by 2021 before a slight rebound to 2 complaints in 2024, while recalls dropped from a peak of 3 to zero over the same span. For 2026, the data show only a single Forward Collision Avoidance and Lane Departure complaint alongside zero crash and fire complaints, tying it with 2020 and keeping it well below launch-era volumes. No years after 2026 appear in the record, so forward comparison is unavailable, but the target year sits comfortably within the low-complaint tail established after 2019. With serious safety complaints absent and total volume reduced to one isolated issue, the 2026 Audi S3 stands out as a good year to buy from a federal-record standpoint.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2026 Q3 vehicles. Incorrect software may allow remote sunroof closing from a distance that prevents the operator from clearly seeing the sunroof. As such… Remedy: Dealers will update the sunroof control module software and the owner's manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2026. Owners may contact Audi…
Showing 5 of 38 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB_2082553_1 | 2026-06-29 | Electrical System | This bulletin gives informaiton when noises area heard from around the panoramic display. |
| TSB_2082554_1 | 2026-06-29 | Unknown Or Other | This bulletin provides information when brake pad mode is cancelled or acnanot be… |
| TSB_2082144_2 | 2026-06-24 | Electrical System | This bulletin provide sinfomraion when the Panoramic MMI dsiplay shows vertical lines. |
| TSB_2082445_1 | 2026-06-22 | Electrical System | This bulletin provides information when there is a partial failure of the panoramic… |
| TSB_2082388_1 | 2026-06-12 | Electrical System | This TSB provides informaiton when the start/stop button is sticking or stiff. |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 23 city / 31 highway / 26 combined mpg.