Used 2022 Audi S3 for SaleNationwide

Is the 2022 Audi S3 a good car?

The 2022 Audi S3 earns an expert rating of 7.67/10. The model scores 8/10 across Look and feel, Performance, Form and function, and Technology.

It sits between the more restrained A3 and the more extreme RS 3, which gives you a compact sport sedan that aims to balance performance, comfort, luxury, and technology. That makes it a strong fit if you want something lively and upscale without moving all the way into full-on performance-car territory. The trade-offs are that power delivery can feel slightly delayed and cargo space is limited, and higher trims can get expensive. Even so, 41.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals, which helps the S3 look more attainable in the used market.

Is the 2022 Audi S3 reliable?

The 2022 Audi S3 is presented as a well-rounded compact sport sedan that emphasizes everyday usability alongside performance. Its powertrain is described as smooth and linear once you’re moving, and the transmission ratios do a good job of keeping power available when you need it. The ride quality is also strong for a small sedan, and the cabin is insulated well enough to keep road and wind noise down.

Audi’s standard technology setup is designed to be easy to use, with a smaller touchscreen and enough physical controls to reduce distraction. The available information also points to systems that work as advertised, without false alarms or other annoyances. For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that the S3’s performance-oriented hardware and higher-trim pricing can make upkeep and repair costs feel less forgiving over time.

What should I look for when buying a used 2022 Audi S3?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.3% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if the car has been optioned heavily or driven hard. Focus on overall condition, tire wear, brake wear, and whether the car’s equipment matches the trim level and options you expect.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Premium trim gives you the essentials, including summer tires, LED headlights, a digital instrument cluster, leather upholstery, a sunroof, and heated front seats. Premium Plus adds more convenience and driver-assistance equipment, while Prestige brings the most upscale feature set. If you want the best value, the mid-level Premium Plus is the one to focus on.
• Powertrain: You get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and Quattro all-wheel drive. The S Sport package adds a sport suspension with adaptive dampers and red-painted brake calipers.
• Safety package: The base car includes frontal collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, and rear parking sensors. Premium Plus adds blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.
• Infotainment: The S3 uses a smaller touchscreen with physical controls, a digital instrument cluster, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and available Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus through the Technology package. A head-up display is available in Prestige.
• Fuel efficiency: The S3 is estimated at 23 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined.

Which 2022 Audi S3 trim should I buy?

The 2022 Audi S3 is offered in 3 trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige.

Here's the short version:

• Premium: This is the entry point, and it already gives you a strong equipment list with summer tires, LED headlights, a digital instrument cluster, leather upholstery, a sunroof, and heated front seats. It makes sense if you want the S3 experience without stretching for extras.
• Premium Plus: This is the best-value trim. It adds adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a wireless charging pad, and it’s the trim the data points to as the sweet spot for balancing features and price.
• Prestige: This is the most upscale version, adding a head-up display and upgraded Matrix LED headlights. It suits you if you want the fullest feature set and are comfortable paying more for it.

The base S3 comes with frontal collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, and rear parking sensors, while Premium Plus adds blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2022 Audi S3?

The used market looks favorable if you’re shopping now, with a meaningful share of listings priced competitively and a relatively small inventory to sort through.

• Deal availability: 41.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 105 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 93.3% of listings are accident-free.

Is the 2022 Audi S3 safe?

The base S3 comes standard with frontal collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, and rear parking sensors. Stepping up to the mid-grade Premium Plus trim adds blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. All of these systems work as advertised, with no false alarms or other annoyances.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Should I buy a 2022 Audi S3 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2022 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2022 if:

• 41.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.3% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• The 2022 Audi S3 is positioned as a balanced, all-new compact sport sedan that blends performance, comfort, luxury, and technology.

The bottom line: The 2022 S3 is the right pick if you want the newer-generation car and a strong mix of speed, refinement, and usability. If you’re more price-sensitive, you may want to focus on the best-equipped example you can find rather than chasing the highest trim, since the mid-level Premium Plus is the value sweet spot.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 29, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.