Compare the2025 Lexus ISVS 2025 Audi S3

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus IS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Audi S3 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the IS are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The S3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The IS offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The IS offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The S3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the IS and the S3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the S3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The S3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 68 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 140 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 29th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 7th.

The IS 500’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 144 more horsepower (472 vs. 328) and 100 lbs.-ft. more torque (395 vs. 295) than the S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The IS has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the S3 (17.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus IS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the S3.

For better traction, the IS has larger standard tires than the S3 (235/45R18 vs. 225/40R18).

The IS has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the S3; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the S3 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the IS’ wheelbase is 6.6 inches longer than on the S3 (110.2 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the IS is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S3.

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the S3’s (34.2 feet vs. 36.5 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the S3’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.5 feet).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the IS a Compact car, while the S3 is rated a Subcompact.

The IS has 3.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S3 (90.2 vs. 87).

The IS has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the S3.

The IS has a much larger trunk than the S3 (10.8 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the IS offers cargo security. The S3’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The engine in the IS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 43% lower rating, Audi is ranked 18th.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional in the S3, the IS offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The IS’ optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The IS’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The S3 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The IS’ standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Engine Start/Stop standard on the S3 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

The S3’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The IS’ optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The IS’ sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The S3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The S3 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the IS keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The S3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the IS’ optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The S3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The IS is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS second among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The S3 isn’t in the top three.

The Lexus IS outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost two to one during 2024.