Low weight and frugal engines mean the Audi A1 delivers strong fuel economy. Both the 1.6 diesel and new 1.0-litre petrol engines emit less than 100g/km of CO2.

That comes with a caveat for the 1.0-litre engine, though. The claimed economy figures are hugely impressive, and if you drive gently, you should be able to get close to them on the road. But as with so many of the new generation of small-capacity petrol turbos, the warbling engine note and free-revving nature can be difficult to resist – and if you get carried away with the fun driving experience, you’ll soon send your overall economy plummeting. If ultimate efficiency is what you care most about, the under-stressed diesel model is the better choice.

Elsewhere in the range, the powerful 1.4 is pretty impressive, too – especially the 148bhp Cylinder-on-Demand version, which claims 58.9mpg and emits 112g/km. Even the super-quick S1 promises 40mpg with a light right foot.

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Other running costs, such as maintenance, should be quite low thanks to Audi's comprehensive fixed-price servicing plan. This, combined with strong residual values, means the A1 is a good value long-term buy.

Buyers can also choose to extend the standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty to five years at a cost of around £500.

Insurance groups

The 1.6 TDI will be the cheapest version of the A1 to insure – it sits in group 14 – while the 1.0 TFSI will work out only slightly more expensive, in group 15. The 1.4 TFSI models range from a low of group 15 to a high of group 29. The S1 sits in group 33.

Depreciation

There is a bewildering array of optional equipment and colours for the Audi A1, so choosing a specification for your model can be a bit of a depreciation minefield. You are playing in a relatively safe ballpark, though – on average, this car is predicted to retain an impressive 56.9 per cent of its original value after three years.