Audi S3 vs. Audi S6
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Audi S3 and Audi S6 contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Audi S3 and the Audi S6.
When comparing the Audi S3's and the Audi S6's specifications and ratings, the Audi S3 has the advantage in the area of resale value. The Audi S6 has the advantage in the areas of interior volume and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Audi S3's and the Audi S6's specifications and ratings, the Audi S6 is a better car than the Audi S3.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Audi S3 loses 48.3 percent of its value and the Audi S6 loses 57.7 percent of its value. This means the Audi S3 retains 9.3 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Audi S6.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Audi S3’s base engine makes 328 horsepower, and the Audi S6 base engine makes 444 horsepower.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Audi S6, a midsize car, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, rear head room, rear shoulder room, rear leg room, and cargo space.
Safety Ratings: The Audi S3 has an average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars based on NHTSA's crash test ratings.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
-
Starting MSRP:
52000
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
60930
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
41700 - 102100
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
81378 - 99959
Starting MSRP:
75900
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
79467
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
42140 - 200195
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
Price Range:
-
Category Avg Price:
N/A
Category Avg Price Range:
N/A
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
79388
Price Range:
72992 - 84694
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
80683
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
43661 - 144992
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
25354
Depreciation %:
0.48756813
Resale Value $:
26646
Residual Value %:
0.51243187
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
0.47202712
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
0.43382734 - 0.48756813
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
43983
Depreciation %:
0.57948844
Resale Value $:
31917
Residual Value %:
0.42051156
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
0.49394848
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
0.39819597 - 0.61156182
Audi S3 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
7.9 / 10
Safety:
8.0 / 10
Audi S6 Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
Not available
Reliability:
Not available
Retained Value:
7.3 / 10
Safety:
Not available
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Audi S3
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
13.6
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Subcompact Cars)
13.4 - 13.9
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Audi S6
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
13.2
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
9.4 - 22.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.052602770352568
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
3.0
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Midsize Cars)
1.5 - 35.8
Audi S3 Rankings
Ranking
12 out of / 36Ranking
18 out of / 36Ranking
18 out of / 36Ranking
20 out of / 32Ranking
34 out of / 36Ranking
34 out of / 36Audi S6 Rankings
Ranking
9 out of / 24Ranking
9 out of / 24Ranking
12 out of / 18Ranking
14 out of / 24Ranking
15 out of / 24Ranking
16 out of / 24Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Audi S3 Trim Levels
2.0T quattro Premium
Audi S6 Trim Levels
2.9T quattro Premium, 2.9T quattro Premium Plus, 2.9T quattro Prestige
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
328 hp @ 5850 rpm
Torque:
295 foot-lbs @ 2000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.092 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
444 hp @ 5900 rpm
Torque:
442 foot-lbs @ 2700 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.098 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
Not yet available
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.9 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
19 / 27 / 22
Range (city/hwy):
367 / 521 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
Available
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Roof Rack:
N/A
Air Suspension:
Standard
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Massage Seats:
Available
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Driver Attention Monitoring:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Available
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Available
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
36.8 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.2 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
54.8 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.6 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53 inches
Cargo Space:
8.3 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
87.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38 inches
Front Leg Room:
41.3 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.8 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.1 inches
Rear Leg Room:
37.4 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56.5 inches
Cargo Space:
13.7 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
98.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3549 lbs
Width:
78.1 inches
Height:
55.7 inches
Length:
177.4 inches
Wheelbase:
103.6 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4519 lbs
Width:
83.1 inches
Height:
56.9 inches
Length:
195 inches
Wheelbase:
115.3 inches
Ground Clearance:
Not yet available
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/40R18XL
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
21.0 x 8.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
255/35R21
Exterior Colors
Black
Mythos Black Metallic
Blue
Ascari Blue Metallic / Navarra Blue Metallic
Gray
Daytona Gray Pearl Effect
Green
District Green Metallic
Red
Progressive Red Metallic
White
Arkona White / Glacier White Metallic
Yellow
Python Yellow Metallic
Silver
Not available
Exterior Colors
Black
Brilliant Black / Mythos Black Metallic
Blue
Ascari Blue Metallic / Firmament Blue Metallic
Gray
Chronos Gray Metallic / Daytona Gray Pearl Effect
Green
Not available
Red
Grenadine Red Metallic
White
Glacier White Metallic
Yellow
Not available
Silver
Florett Silver Metallic
Interior Colors
Black
Black w/ Express Red Stitching / Black w/ Rock Gray Stitching
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
Interior Colors
Black
Black w/ Rock Gray Stitching
Gray
Rotor Gray w/ Anthracite Stitching
Red
Arras Red w/ Agate Gray Stitching
