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Used car guide
Used Audi S3: the years to buy and the years to skip
Every Audi S3 from 2015 to 2025: what each year typically sells for (about $19,000 to $49,500), its crash rating, and whether it's a year to target or skip. The best bets are 2016–2025. Look harder at or skip 2015.
2015–2025 Audi S3
A compact sport sedan with a strong turbo four, standard quattro all-wheel drive and a quick dual-clutch.
Years to target: 2016–2025. Look harder at or skip: 2015. It has an average reliability record.
| Year | Typical price | Verdict | Crash rating | Typical miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $19,000* | Look harder | 5 of 5 | ~95,000 |
| 2016 | $20,500* | Target | 5 of 5 | ~90,000 |
| 2017 | $22,000* | Target | 5 of 5 | ~80,000 |
| 2018 | $24,000 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~70,000 |
| 2019 | $26,500 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~65,000 |
| 2020 | $29,000 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~55,000 |
| 2021 | $32,000 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~45,000 |
| 2022 | $35,000 | Target | 5 of 5 | ~40,000 |
| 2023 | $39,000* | Target | 5 of 5 | ~30,000 |
| 2024 | $43,500* | Target | 5 of 5 | ~25,000 |
| 2025 | $49,500* | Target | 5 of 5 | ~15,000 |
* Estimated from nearby years, since few were listed for sale.
Worth knowing
- 2015: owner complaints spike (53, mostly the airbags).
- The back seat and trunk are small, the ride is firm, and many get tuned, so modified cars with unknown histories are best avoided.
- It requires premium fuel.
The trim we'd park in our garage
Look for a Premium Plus with the Technology package for the digital gauge display and adaptive dampers; 2022 and later cars are the newer generation with 306 hp.
On the test drive
Check that the dual-clutch shifts cleanly from a stop and ask whether the transmission fluid has been changed on schedule. Pay for an inspection at an independent shop that specializes in the brand.
Safety tech
- Automatic emergency braking: standard from 2017.
- Adaptive cruise control: optional from 2015, never standard in this generation.
- Blind-spot monitoring: standard from 2022.
Also worth comparing at this price
- Acura ILX 2021–2022 · $31,000–$35,500
- Toyota Avalon 2021–2022 · $30,500–$33,500
- Lexus ES 2020–2022 · $30,500–$37,000
Find one near you
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Prices are typical dealer and private asking prices from used listings, collected in September and October 2026, for an average-mileage car. Years with too few listings are estimated from nearby years. Crash ratings, recalls and owner complaint counts come from NHTSA public records. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you buy. Spot something off? Let us know.