Audi A1 hatchback (2010 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

The Audi A1 takes the elegant style of its larger siblings, and scales it down to compete with rivals the MINI Hatch and Citroen DS3. It lacks the cheeky charm of the MINI and the ultra-modern look of the Citroen, but is definitely striking, especially when fitted with bright, LED daytime running lights. The design lends a solid look, and there’s a certain flair unique in this class with a clamshell-type bootlid which wraps around onto the flanks. Opt for the more practical Sportback version, and the additional rear doors do nothing to alter the look, with a slightly more steeply raked C-pillar the only visual giveaway (other than the extra door handles, obviously). A range of attractive alloy wheels and a host of customisation options are available.

Our rating: 4

2. Interior

The interior offers few surprises for those familiar with the brand. It has the same switches, controls and instrumentation, but that immediately endows the car with quality equipment that’s intuitive. The air-con control panel is lifted straight from the Audi R8 supercar, and is a nice touch. The air vents are funky and reminiscent of those fitted to the original MINI, but they are fiddly to turn on and off. A host of coloured inserts in the doors, seats and around the air vents give a much-needed splash of colour, but the hue needs to be chosen carefully so it doesn’t clash with the bodywork.

Our rating: 4

3. Practicality

Choosing a funky supermini inevitably means space is compromised in the pursuit of good looks. The A1 is no exception with two seats in the back – unlike its rivals which mostly offer three – and poor headroom for adults, especially on long journeys. Space in the front is good, however, and there’s an adequate amount of storage space in the cabin. The boot is nearly twice the size of the MINI, but is still smaller than the DS3. The seats split and fold, and the rear seat bases flip up allowing the seats to fold flat. New for 2012, the five-door Sportback version ups practicality a tad, not only easing access to the rear cabin, but also coming equipped as standard with a three-seater bench, rather than the two individual seats.

Our rating: 3

4. Ride and handling

The Sport model – the second of three versions available – will be the most popular version in the A1 range, and that’s a shame because the sports suspension makes for a hard ride. But that does mean the chassis setup allows the car to corner with confidence, feeling stable at speed. The steering feels artificially-assisted at low speeds, but as the pace increases, the power assisted steering offers more feedback. The A1 drives very well, but it doesn’t offer the thrills of either the Citroen DS3 or MINI Cooper.

Our rating: 3

5. Performance

There are currently four engines available: a 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol and a 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel. The 1.2-litre punches well above its weight, developing 85bhp which makes it good for an effortless 11.7 second 0-62mph sprint and a 112mph top speed. It feels surprisingly strong and is a great option for around-town drivers. The 1.4-litre petrol is the performance engine in the range, and is the best all-round unit, developing 120bhp for an 8.9 second 0-62mph dash and a 126mph maximum. An 182bhp ‘twin-charged’ version is also available which lowers the 0-62mph time to 7.0 seconds and raises the top speed to 141mph. A 138bhp 1.4-litre engine is due to join the line-up in 2012, featuring cylinder-on-demand technology, which shuts off a segment of the engine when not in use, lowering emissions and fuel consumption. The 1.6-litre diesel is capable of hitting 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 118mph. A 2.0-litre diesel is also available. It’s a smooth unit that has been fitted to larger Audi’s for years but seems a little incongruous in the context of a diminutive super mini. There’s no denying its combination of power and economy (141bhp and 68.9mpg respectively) but its higher list price means it’s probably only suited to those who cover astronomical mileages. All versions come with either a five or six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with a semi-automatic DSG gearbox available as an option on the 1.4-litre. The twin-charged 1.4-litre features the DSG as its sole gearbox option.

Our rating: 4

6. Running costs

The Audi A1 is an upmarket supermini with a price tag to match. The entry-level model costs several hundred pounds more than the equivalent MINI and several thousand more than the Citroen DS3. The A1 is the best investment though, with strong resale values on the used market. Choose carefully from the options list – even mid-spec cars can creep towards £20,000 with a few extras. The 1.6-litre TDI is the cheapest to run, emitting 99g/km of CO2 and returning an average fuel consumption of 74.3mpg, although our test revealed this to be nearer 50mpg. The 1.2-litre is the next frugal option with 118g/km and 55.4mpg with the 1.4-litre option in third place recording between 119-124g/km and 53-54mpg. All models feature a fuel-saving start and stop system which stops the engine when the car is stationary.

Our rating: 4

7. Reliability

Audi’s reputation for reliability isn’t always backed up by the data. The A1 feels well-built, although there was some rattling from the dashboard on our test car. The engines, however, have been fitted to models from Volkswagen, Skoda and SEAT, and thus far no horror stories have emerged.

Our rating: 4

8. Safety

The Audi A1 has been awarded a full five stars from Euro NCAP, with particularly high scores for adult and child occupant safety. There’s a comprehensive level of safety kit, with driver, front passenger, side and head airbags as well as an electronic stability programme fitted as standard across the range.

Our rating: 5

9. Equipment

Three models are available: SE, Sport and S line. Entry-level models come fitted with alloy wheels, electric windows and door mirrors, air-con and an audio and information system with a retractable screen and SD card reader.  Sport offers larger alloys, sports suspension, Bluetooth connectivity with voice control, front sports seats with lumbar support and sporty interior trim. Range-topping S line models also feature a special bodykit, leather seats and LED interior lights.

Our rating: 3

10. Why buy?

The Audi A1 is the supermini that thinks it’s a posh saloon, with the same big car feel as larger Audis in the range. It’s the little car for the iPod generation, as useful as it is fashionable.

Our rating: 4