AUDI'S S3 compact executive saloon is a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

It has a neat, good-looking body which sits on large wheels, with a large front bumper, wide wheel arches - and four tailpipes, no less. But there's no real hint of the blistering pace it can achieve.

That, subtle, discreet profile doesn't prepare you for the wickedly fast sprint that even puts a Porsche Cayman S in the shade.

This 2.0-litre TFSI quattro all-wheel drive saloon belts out almost 300bhp and here, linked to a six-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission, manages 0-62mph in an astonishing 4.7 seconds.

That's quick and beats the Porsche which takes a whole five seconds to do the same sprint.

You do pay an extra £1,500 for the privilege of the S tronic transmission - Audi's version of VW's quicksilver DSG twin-clutch gearbox.

With a manual gearbox the 0-62mph dart takes a little longer, registering 5.7 seconds - but still a rapid response.

This undercover performance machine is the booted, four-door saloon version from the A3 hatch and fastback stable and tears towards a limited 155mph top speed.

All this stonking performance and the S3 still swanks a combined fuel return of 41mpg, as near as damn it. Anyone achieving near those figures, other than on a strict eco-run, might be better suited to an eco-frugal Fiesta.

This compact executive (it oozes premium) saloon returned nearer the 30mpg mark of so-called mixed driving, though I confess 90 per cent was probably pure, unadulterated driving enjoyment, the rest was restricted to urban, commuter crawl.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system gives sensational grip, further enhanced by traction and stability control, which inspires confidence to extract the last drop of power from the turbo-charged engine.

The petrol engine pulls hard with plenty of torque from 1,800 to 5,500rpm at your disposal. You can't help the grin spreading across your face as the S3 rapidly propels forward. It is unbelievably quick.

It handles supremely well and the electro mechanical steering - with speed dependent power assistance - is wonderfully precise and alert - though perhaps not providing as much interaction as the S3's performance rivals such as the BMW M135i and the Ford Focus ST.

Against all this performance, the compact executive is still very much a user-friendly commuter car, offering reasonable space for five - though it isn't over-generous. The fifth occupant in the rear middle seat needs to be slim - or be a child.

There are reasonable mpg figures for such an exciting performer - around the low 30s and a CO2 of 159g/km is respectable enough, too.

Price, though, is on the steep side with the six-speed manual version coming in at £33,240 and the S tronic at £34,740, but you do get some decent kit for that.

Standard equipment includes sports suspension, roof spoiler, dual-zone climate control, DAB radio, Bluetooth, LED Daytime running lights, 18-inch alloys, cruise control and parking sensors - and unlimited fun.

This car came loaded with a further £6,000-worth of optional equipment to take the price well over the forty grand mark.

That included a Technology Package with mobile phone preparation - High and Audi connect, (£1,750), a panoramic sunroof (£950), LED headlights (£750), Audi parking system plus, front and rear with selective display (£595) and a Bang & Olufsen sound system (£750).

Audi cars have never been cheap. They are wall-to-wall class and quality rolled into one and the S3 is even more so.

The interior is beautifully minimalistic, perfectly laid-out and manicured and the winged, body-hugging sports seats are a treat.

There is not an awful lot of room, but it is adequate - though better four than five occupants, and there's a good-sized boot at 390 litres which expands to 845 litres with the rear seats down.