Audi A1 1.6 TDI

Has Audi managed to distil its brand values into a car that measures less than four metres long? Undoubtedly. The A1 looks great, boasts a quality cabin and surprising amounts of space, while the diesel engine tested here offers strong thrust and low running costs. No, it’s not as much fun to drive as a MINI, but it’s a better all-rounder and promises even higher residual values, too. Audi has definitely got a winner on its hands.

It’s the small Audi with big aspirations! This is the new MINI-sized A1 – the German firm’s most important compact car ever.

Arriving nearly 10 years after BMW launched the first generation MINI, the A1 gives Audi a new contender in the premium-badged small car category, going up against Citroen’s DS3 and Alfa Romeo’s MiTo, too.

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Audi A1

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With some 18,000 models expected to be sold every year, Audi is pulling out all the stops. There’s a wide range of turbocharged engines, a long list of options for personalisation and a focus on quality unseen in the class before. The icing on the cake is a price range that starts from £13,140.

So, what’s the A1 like to drive, and is it good enough to knock the MINI off the top spot? Well, the A1 is brimming with showroom appeal. Its chunky shape is attractive, classy and every inch the small Audi, with its bold front end, coupé-style sloping tailgate and optional contrasting roof rails.

Whether you go for SE, Sport or S line trim, you’ll get alloy wheels, stop-start, air-con and a six-speaker CD stereo with iPod connectivity – so there’s no lack of equipment, either. Of the three trims, S line (which we’ve driven here) is the most visually aggressive, with 17-inch alloys and a sharp bodykit.

But next year the A1 will be available with a £1,950 Competition Line pack, which adds even racier looks and stickers to make the car resemble the firm’s classic Quattro rally car.

Inside, the cabin offers quality none of its rivals can match. The dash is covered in a neat soft-touch moulding, all the switches feel slick, and the latest pop-up MMI cabin control system from the flagship A8 is available, too.

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As with the exterior, there’s scope for personalisation, with contrasting trim inserts and a range of packs that include kit such as 3D sat-nav, Bluetooth and a 20GB music hard drive.

For a car that measures 3.95m long, there’s loads of space as well. Tall adults have lots of room in the front, smaller adults will just about be comfortable in the back, while the boot is very impressive – it all makes the MINI seem cramped!

On the move, the A1 continues to impress. Here we tried what’s set to be the best-seller – the 104bhp 1.6-litre TDI diesel. Other options include the petrol 1.2-litre TFSI and 1.4-litre TFSI.

Thanks to 250Nm of torque from just 1,500rpm and a slick five-speed gearbox, the diesel is responsive around town and has plenty enough urge for easy overtaking. While the petrols are much more refined, they can’t match its incredible 70.6mpg combined fuel economy or emissions of 105g/km.

Running costs are further enhanced by a MINI-style, five-year, 50,000-mile service plan, which costs just £250. In fact the only thing that’s missing is the driver appeal that a MINI offers in spades. For instance, the steering is well weighted but feels a bit numb, and while the VW Polo-derived chassis is composed, it loses out on involvement.

Sport models offer a firm but comfortable big-car ride and impressive grip, yet S line versions are too stiff. Put simply, the A1 just doesn’t sparkle like a MINI. However, for many prospective buyers, the Audi will be no less desirable as a result. It’s a grown-up small car that offers a quality experience that’s never been seen in this class before.