AUDI A1 REVIEW

List price from £14,115 Lease price from £192 The verdict 8

The A1 is a proper Audi in pocket-sized hatchback form
The idea behind the A1 is so simple that it's amazing nobody thought of it earlier. Essentially, it takes the high-quality interior and prestige badge that have made Audis so popular and puts them in a small, city-friendly package.
Don't go thinking that you pay a fortune for the privilege of having that Audi badge, either. The A1 is no more expensive than many versions of the VW Polo.

SpaceThere's room for four, but not much of their luggage.

This is a great car for two people, and another two sat in the rear won't feel too cramped.
However, the boot is really only big enough for shopping bags or small cases. Cheaper hatchbacks, such as the Ford Fiesta, offer useful extra luggage space, although the A1 is more practical than a Mini.
As well as the standard three-door A1, there's also a five-door Sportback version. It has no more room, but access to the rear seats is easier.

Comfort
Cosseting, provided you choose the right version

On the whole this is a fairly quiet car, although it does produce quite a bit of road roar if you specify big wheels.
The S-line specification is also best avoided because this brings sports suspension that reduces comfort. However, Sport models cope well enough with bumps, while the softest, SE-spec cars are genuinely comfortable.
Well-bolstered front seats that hold their occupants firmly in place help, and the steering wheel can be adjusted for both height and reach, so it's easy to find a comfortable driving position.

Dashboard layout
Easy to use and feels expensive

The A1 is a proper Audi in miniature, with clear instruments, slick controls and materials that are easy on both the eye and the fingertips.
It also has some of the coolest dashboard air vents you'll find anywhere, with each looking like the entrance to a turbine-bladed jet engine.
Fortunately, all this style doesn’t come at the expense of ease of use. You operate most functions via a single rotary dial that's positioned within easy reach and linked to onscreen menus. What’s more, those menus are clearly laid out, and there are shortcut buttons that let you quickly flip between them.

Easy to drive
The A1 makes a great city car

The A1 is a compact car with a body that doesn't extend far beyond its wheels, so it's easy to place on the road.
Quick, responsive steering also helps, offering enough resistance to instil confidence while still being light for parking.
The side windows are deep enough to let you assess the immediate surroundings during that parking manoeuvre, although the view out back is a little restricted.
The manual gearbox and clutch are precise and easy to use, while the optional S-tronic automatic requires even less effort and thought. It can make the engine surge annoyingly as you come to a halt, though.

Fun to drive
Very satisfying if you choose the right engine

The A1 is available with everything from a 1.2-litre petrol engine to a 2.0-litre, plus there are a couple of diesel options. However, it’s the 1.4-litre petrols that strike the best balance between fun and affordability.
Even the cheaper 1.4 makes a good sound and has enough punch to whisk you along in breezy style. Meanwhile, the more powerful (and more expensive) version makes the A1 feel properly sporty.
All A1s have responsive, informative steering, too. Plus they grip well in bends and generally feel much sharper than the average hatchback.

Reliability
Some rivals are better here
Despite its solid feel, the A1 didn’t perform particularly well in the 2013 JD Power customer satisfaction survey, finishing 76th out of 116 cars. True, it was only a few places behind the Mini, but it was well beaten by the Citroen DS3.
Like these rivals, the A1 comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, although plenty of non-premium rivals offer superior cover.

Fuel economy
The 1.6-litre diesel is the star car here

The more powerful version of the 1.4-litre petrol engine has a hugely impressive official average of 60.1mpg, thanks to a clever cylinder-deactivation system that shuts down part of the engine when you're driving it gently. However, our experience suggests that this engine struggles to do much more than the lower-powered 1.4 (official average 53.3mpg) in real-world conditions.
The 1.6-litre diesel is the one to choose if you do big mileages, then; it averages 74.3mpg in Government tests and should be capable of close to 60 in a mix of town and country driving.

AffordabilityPremium car doesn't mean premium pricing
Surprisingly, the A1 is no more expensive – and in some instances it's cheaper – than a Volkswagen Polo with a similar spec level, the same engine size and less power. No wonder the A1 is so popular, when it costs barely any more than some Ford Fiestas.
Insurance costs are rather higher than for those two mainstream rivals, but the A1 will retain its value better which helps redress the balance.

Safety
Usual plethora of airbags and driver aids

The A1 was awarded the maximum five-star rating when it was crash tested by independent safety body Euro NCAP, so it’s clearly a safe car. And it scored higher than the similarly-stylish Citroen DS3 for adult occupant and pedestrian protection - although the Citroen had the edge for child occupant safety.
Like most modern cars, the A1 comes with front, side and window airbags, and a stability control system, which helps the car to correct a skid automatically.

Standard spec
Even the base model has all you really need

However, you do have to pay extra for satellite-navigation, cruise control, heated door mirrors, and automatic headlights and windscreen wipers.
The differences between the SE, Sport and S-line spec levels are mainly cosmetic.