Audi A1 review

Our Rating:

4.0/5.0

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2010 model

By Auto Express Test TeamComments

Sporty, spacious A1 supermini packs Audi quality into a compact body

For:

Great looks, high quality, strong residuals

Against:

MINI is more fun, pricey, firm ride

More on this model

The Audi A1 is the worst nightmare of the MINI - it's a stylish small Audi that packs all of the 'big car' feel of the brand's larger models into a Ford Fiesta-sized body. All models drive well, have a quality cabin and decent equipment levels. S line versions look good but have a stiff ride and are rather expensive.

Our choice: A1 1.4 TSI SE

Styling

Lay eyes on the Audi A1 and you will want one - it has that feeling of desirability few cars have. All models come with alloy wheels as standard and there are plenty of ways to customise those cute but sporty looks too. Options such as contrasting silver roof rails and a host of different metallic paint colours add style to an already attractive profile. LED daytime running lights are a desirable addition, too. However, it's easy to get carried away and options are pricey - the best looking A1s can cost thousands more than base spec cars. Particularly questionable are the set of expensive motorsport-inspired decals designed to make the A1 look like a Quattro rally car. S Line models get a mild bodykit, sports suspension and large 17-inch alloys as standard.

Driving

The Audi A1 doesn't sparkle like a MINI, but it is still good fun to drive with lots of grip, accurate steering and excellent body control. Even basic SE models have quite firm (but not uncomfortable) suspension, but as you move up to Sport and S line, things get stiffer still – so much so that we would find it hard to put up with the ride offered by S line models. That said, all models are easy to place on the road, have great visibility and are a doddle to park. Three turbocharged petrol engines and two diesels are available: an 85bhp 1.2, a 1.4 with 120bhp or 183bhp, 104bhp 1.6 diesel and powerful 141bhp 2.0. Don't ignore the 1.2 petrol - it's got plenty of punch and is perfectly at home on the motorway. The light engine means it has the best steering of the line-up, feeling much more agile than its siblings. The 120bhp 1.4 is probably the best all-rounder, as it costs less than the diesels and is gutsy enough to please most buyers. Anyone in the market for a MINI Cooper S won't be too excited by the 183bhp 1.4 model - it's quite quick, but lacks involvement. All engines are smooth and refined and most get the slick six-speed manual gearbox. If you go for the 1.4 TFSI you can opt for the accomplished seven-speed S Tronic transmission which further improves economy and lowers emissions.

Reliability

The Audi A1 is a very new car, so you would expect an exemplary safety result - and you get one, with a five-star maximum Euro NCAP crash test performance, six airbags and traction and stability control as standard. As for reliability, the A1 is so new that it is difficult to say how it will perform – but underneath lie tried and tested VW Polo-based mechanicals. It is also worth noting that Audi placed a respectable 15th in our Driver Power survey, and for these reasons we predict the A1 to be a strong performer.

Practicality

Everything you'd expect of an Audi is here - lots of soft-touch plastics and mouldings, a clear and logical layout and chrome-rimmed air vents. It all feels much higher quality than the MINI and high spec models get a neat pop-up display on the facia for the sat-nav. There's lots of space for front seat passengers too, with massive potential personalisation with an extensive options list. Although the A1 is just under four metres long, it trumps the MINI for space. There's enough room for two average-sized adults in the rear and a bigger boot than in the MINI - 270 versus 160 litres. The rear seats also split and fold flat, extending space to 920 litres. The Citroen DS3 is even bigger, though, and has slightly more passenger space.

Running Costs

Audi engineers have worked very hard to make the A1 as efficient and as cheap to run as possible. If you have an aversion to paying road tax, then the only option is the 1.6 diesel, which emits 99g/km and is road-tax free. It also returns 74mpg combined - the best of any model in the range. As for petrols, the 1.2 posts 55mpg and emits 118g/km, while the more powerful 1.4 isn't far behind, recording 53mpg and emitting 124g/km. Other running costs, such as servicing and maintenance, should be quite low but it's advised to take up one of Audi's comprehensive, fixed-price servicing plans. This, added to strong residual values and you've got a good value small car that holds on to a big part of its new price.