Restyled from `2016`, the `S3 Sedan 8V` became for many buyers the best version of the formula: cleaner presentation, more modern tech and up to `310 hp` late in the run. Against a BMW 3 Series, it remains smaller and more demonstrative, with a real boot and the look of a serious small saloon. On the used market it is a very good option, provided the car was clearly maintained.
The technical base rests mainly on the `2.0 TFSI EA888` in `CJXG` and `DJHA` form, with `S tronic` and `Haldex`-type all-wheel drive. In this phase the package is well developed, but service intervals, gearbox care and poorly documented remaps should never be trivialised. A good `S3 Sedan 8V facelift` should start cleanly, warm up normally, shift without hesitation and stay perfectly stable on all four tyres.